Know Your Rights
Freedom of speech is a foundational value of our constitutional system in the United States, and it is at the core of San Diego State University’s mission.
The First Amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. The amendment guarantees freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely. It also guarantees the right of citizens to assemble peaceably and to petition their government.
Read the U.S. Constitution and its First Amendment by visiting the Legal Information Institution.
Also, in support of free and open expression, SDSU maintains a Freedom of Expression Policy, which states that the university can create “reasonable regulations” around speech and expression. Public universities and colleges are allowed to enact “time, place and manner” restrictions on free speech activities.
Information about the Time, Place and Manner Policy is listed below.
SDSU supports and promotes the freedom of expression and assembly by students, faculty,
staff and the general public on its campus. Public universities and colleges are legally
allowed to enact “time, place and manner” regulations regarding free speech activities
to promote order and safety on campus. Those regulations must be viewpoint and content
neutral.
Learn about our Buildings and Grounds Regulations.
The SDSU Time, Place and Manner policy exists so that speech does not unreasonably disrupt or interfere with SDSU’s educational mission and university-related business, violate the legal rights of other persons, obstruct ingress or egress of campus buildings or obstruct walkways, endanger the physical safety of the campus community, unreasonably pose risk of damage to university property or the campus environment, or disrupt the expressive activity of another person or group acting in compliance with university policy.
The existing university Time, Place and Manner policy will continue to apply to union-represented employees until the unions have completed bargaining. The Interim Systemwide Time, Place and Manner policy will apply to all employees following the conclusion of bargaining.
Read about Time, Place and Manner
Any restrictions must meet the following criteria below. They must:
- Be viewpoint neutral.
- Be tailored based on the use of a location for speech activities, as coordinated by the university.
- Serve a significant government interest and may not be more extensive than necessary.
- Leave open other channels for the communication of the information.
Per SDSU’s time, place and manner policy, the following are not permitted:
- Disruption or interference with the speech of others (or engaging in “heckler’s veto”)
- Camping, overnight demonstrations, or overnight loitering
- Unauthorized temporary or permanent structures, walls, barriers, barricades, furniture, or other objects
- Unauthorized commercial vehicles, moving vans or trucks, carts, carriages, trailers, wagons, or other vehicles of conveyance
- Entering campuses during non-public hours
- Disguises or concealment of identity used for the purpose of intimidating and harassing any person or group, or for the purpose of evading or escaping discovery, recognition, or identification in the commission of violations of applicable University policy or local, state or federal laws
- Firearms or weapons
- Fires or fireworks
- Explosive materials
- Ambushing or lying in wait
- Shooting of arrows, missiles, or projectiles
- Chemical sprays, gas masks, body armor, shields, or laser pointers
- Human urination or defecation outside designated facilities
- Unauthorized climbing, scaling, or rappelling university structures
Regulations exist to help assure that campus grounds and facilities are available in a fair and equitable manner and to encourage opportunities for the expression of diverse points of view.
Learn about our Buildings and Grounds Regulations.
SDSU’s Recognized Student Organizations Handbook contains summaries of the policies, procedures, privileges and responsibilities of recognized student organizations. It should be read carefully and retained annually for reference, as it defines the conditions under which your association must operate. Students and recognized organizations will be held accountable for adhering to all of the policies.