Opinion ID: 4561506
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: University Policies

Text: Hoggard blames several University policies for her inability to table at the Union Patio. She points to three policies in particular, which we outline briefly here. Arkansas State University’s Freedom of Expression Policy (“System Policy”) permits individual Arkansas State University campuses — including the Jonesboro campus Hoggard attended — to establish “Free Expression Areas” and impose reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on their use. It further explains that Arkansas State “has not opened its campuses as public forums.” -3- The Jonesboro campus has its own Freedom of Expression Policy (“Campus Policy”). It explains that the Jonesboro campus “is not a public forum open for assembly and expression of free speech.” But it establishes several Free Expression Areas throughout campus, which can be used for speeches, demonstrations, and expressive activities. According to the Campus Policy, anyone can use the Free Expression Areas, regardless of viewpoint, so long as they get advance permission and adhere to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. Other areas of campus may be used for speeches, marches, and demonstrations, so long as the University receives advance notice and grants permission. Finally, as an outgrowth of the Campus Policy, the Jonesboro campus has an unwritten policy restricting tabling at the Union Patio to registered student organizations and University departments (“Tabling Policy”). A student’s application to create a registered student organization must be first approved by the University. For approval, a student organization seeking registration must have five members, a faculty or staff advisor, and a constitution. And while the application form for an organization to become registered indicates that only registered student organizations and University departments can use certain tables inside the Union, it is silent on Union Patio tabling restrictions. It is unclear whether the average Arkansas State student even knew about this unwritten Tabling Policy.