Freedom of Expression

Tulane University’s purpose is to create, communicate, and conserve knowledge in order to enrich the capacity of individuals, organizations, and communities to think, to learn, to act, and to lead with integrity and wisdom. In service to this purpose, Tulane recognizes and commits to the essential role freedom of expression, thought, inquiry, speech, and lawful assembly serve in protecting and upholding our University purpose. From global, national, state, and local human rights to the values of our shared Tulane community, freedom of expression leads to collective evolution and the common good.

Freedom of expression is often the catalyst for change. Our ability to practice the free exchange of ideas – even when we disagree – and stay in the discussion is a hallmark of a quality education. Freedom of expression includes the ability to engage with each other through expression or to choose not to engage, but it does not provide a right to disrupt someone else’s expression or to prohibit others from engaging. Disturbance becomes antithetical to freedom of expression when it disrupts the rights of others. Therefore, Tulane is committed to creating and sustaining an environment in which we welcome and practice the free exchange of ideas, the critical examination and discussion of them, and respect the dignity and freedom of others.

Tulane Guidelines are intended to protect freedom of expression, protest, and demonstration (Freedom to Demonstrate: Campus Demonstration Guidelines and Counter-Demonstration Guidelines), as well as promote the safety of all members and operations of the university community from disruption to learning, teaching, research, administrative procedures, and other activities (Freedom from Disruption: Campus Disruption Guidelines). In order to create this environment, Tulane’s framework explicitly restricts expression that is unlawful, defamatory, or threatening, and includes reasonable regulations of time, place, and manner of expression.

Community members who disrupt individuals’ freedom of speech and/or the university’s ability to carry out its mission will be held accountable as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct and the Staff Handbook.

Tulane University is committed to fostering an environment where members of the university community may freely express, exchange, and examine ideas through speech, protest, demonstration, and other forms of peaceful expression.

These Campus Demonstration Guidelines are intended to support and protect those opportunities while promoting the safety of the university community and minimizing disruption to teaching, research, university operations, and other university activities.

These Guidelines apply equally to all demonstrations, regardless of the viewpoint or message being expressed. The university administers these Guidelines and makes decisions regarding demonstrations based on reasonable time, place, and manner considerations to support safety, university operations, the effective use of university space, and the rights of all participants.

Definition of Demonstrations

• A demonstration is an activity conducted on university property for the primary purpose of expressing or drawing attention to a viewpoint, concern, or cause. 
• Demonstrations may take many forms, including but not limited to protests, rallies, vigils, marches, temporary flag installations, and other temporary expressive displays.
• For the purposes of these Guidelines, an individual who participates in the activities of a demonstration is considered a demonstration participant. 

Eligibility & Participation

• Demonstrations on university property may be organized only by currently enrolled Tulane students and Recognized Student Organizations in good standing with the university. 
• Individuals who are not affiliated with Tulane may not organize or participate in demonstrations on university-owned property.
• Demonstrations may not be organized on behalf of an unaffiliated individual, group, or organization. Reserving university space for an outside organization ("fronting") is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action.
• Recognizing that members of our community may wear masks or face coverings for personal, health, cultural, or religious reasons, university officials may request presentation of a valid Tulane Splash Card to verify university affiliation. Consistent with university policy, university representatives may request identification from individuals on university property. 

Registration 

• Demonstrations may be conducted during the fall and spring semesters, except during university closures and the study and final examination periods. 
• Demonstrations must be registered through WaveSync at least two full business days before the proposed demonstration date, excluding weekends, and university closures. Two full business days must occur between the date the registration is submitted and the date of the demonstration. For example, a demonstration scheduled for Monday must be registered by the end of the preceding Wednesday, and a demonstration scheduled for Thursday must be registered by the end of the preceding Monday.
• The university may determine whether a proposed event or activity constitutes a demonstration under these Guidelines. If so, the event or activity must be registered and conducted in accordance with these Guidelines.
• The university may require modifications to a proposed demonstration or deny a requested demonstration to ensure compliance with these Guidelines. 
• The university will register no more than one demonstration per day.
• Demonstration organizers must participate in a pre-demonstration meeting, serve as point of contact, and remain present and visible for the duration of the demonstration.  

Duration

• Demonstrations are limited to a single calendar day and may not extend across multiple days or be registered as consecutive daily events. 
• The approved demonstration period includes all set-up, demonstration, and tear-down activities. 
• The approved duration of a demonstration period may not exceed six hours. 
• Demonstrations must conclude by the approved end time.

Locations

• Demonstrations may be held only in the following designated locations:
  • Uptown Campus: Pocket Park or Academic Quad
  • Downtown Campus: J. Bennett Johnston (JBJ) Plaza
• Demonstrations must not interfere with scheduled university activities or previously reserved use of these spaces.
• The university may modify or relocate a demonstration based on safety, operational, or scheduling considerations. 

Marches

• Marches may take place on campus. On-campus marches must begin and end at designated campus demonstration locations.
• The proposed march route must be included with the demonstration registration.
• Marches that extend onto public streets or sidewalks may require permits or approvals from the City of New Orleans and other agencies. Organizers are responsible for obtaining any required permits, complying with applicable laws and regulations, and paying any associated fees.

Sound

• Demonstrations may use sound in accordance with the University's Sound Guidelines. 
• Demonstration organizers may request use of a university-provided microphone and speaker system, subject to availability. 
• If demonstration activities - whether amplified or not - disrupt teaching, research, administrative procedures, or other university activities, university officials may request adjustments. Demonstration participants are expected to comply with those directions.  

Signs 

• Participants may use signs, banners, and other temporary expressive displays made from lightweight materials.
• Signs may be affixed only using non-damaging methods such as string or blue painter’s tape. The university may require adjustments to the placement, attachment, or display of signs.
• Signs may not be attached to university buildings, trees, or equipment used to mark or define the demonstration area, such as barricades. Signs must otherwise comply with the University's Uptown Campus Advertising and Installation Policy.
• Demonstration organizers may request use of university-provided A-frame boards, subject to availability. Demonstration organizers are responsible for the pick-up and return of the A-frame boards to the Student Organization Center, LBC Suite G11.
• Signs may remain in place only for the duration of the demonstration and must be removed and properly disposed of immediately afterward. 

Care of Property

• Demonstration participants are expected to avoid damage to university property and the property of others. 
• At the conclusion of a demonstration, organizers are responsible for removing demonstration materials and returning the demonstration area to its pre-event condition. 
• Organizations and individuals may be held responsible for costs associated with cleaning, repairing, or replacing property damaged during a demonstration.

Freedom from Disruption

• Demonstrations are subject to the University's Freedom from Disruption Protocol. 
• Participants may not coerce, intimidate, or harass another person into viewing, listening to, or accepting any communication. 
• Participants or demonstration materials may not obstruct or restrict the free movement of people, or block access to university buildings or other university property.
• Observers and counter-demonstrators may express their own viewpoints but may not materially disrupt or interfere with a demonstration or prevent others from observing or participating in the demonstration.
• If a demonstration violates these Guidelines or other university policies, university officials may direct participants to modify their activities to achieve compliance. Failure to comply may result in the demonstration being modified or ended and/or referral through the appropriate university processes.

Safety

• The university may take immediate action to protect the safety of individuals, prevent damage to property, or respond to an imminent threat.

Accountability

• Participants must comply with these Guidelines, all other applicable university policies, and the directions of university officials acting within the scope of their responsibilities.
• Failure to comply with these Guidelines, applicable university policies, or the directions of university officials may result in the demonstration being modified or ended.
• Individuals and organizations that violate these Guidelines or other applicable university policies may be referred for action under the Student Code of Conduct, the Staff Handbook, applicable faculty policies, or other university policies and procedures, as appropriate.

Applicability

• These Guidelines apply in conjunction with applicable university policies, procedures, guidelines, and standards, including the Code of Student Conduct and the Equal Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Policy.

Questions & Assistance

• For questions about these Guidelines or campus demonstrations, contact Kaitlyn "KP" Poe, Associate Director of Civic Engagement & Expression, at kpoe1@tulane.edu. 
• Questions or concerns involving discrimination, harassment, or other potential violations of university policy should be submitted through the Tulane Concerns Report. 
• Emergencies or immediate safety concerns should be reported to the Tulane University Police Department at 504-865-5911.

Review & Revisions

• These Guidelines will be reviewed periodically and may be revised to reflect changes in university policy, operational needs, and best practices.

Tulane University is committed to fostering an environment where members of the university community may freely express, exchange, and examine ideas through speech, protest, demonstration, and other forms of peaceful expression.

These Counter-Demonstration Guidelines are intended to support and protect those opportunities while promoting the safety of the university community and minimizing disruption to teaching, research, university operations, and other university activities.

These Guidelines apply equally to all counter-demonstrations, regardless of the viewpoint or message being expressed. The university administers these Guidelines and makes decisions regarding counter-demonstrations based on reasonable time, place, and manner considerations to support safety, university operations, the effective use of university space, and the rights of all participants.

Definition of Counter-Demonstration

• A counter-demonstration is an expressive activity conducted in response to another demonstration, event, speaker, or expressive activity.
• For the purposes of these Guidelines, an individual who participates in the activities of a counter-demonstration is considered a counter-demonstration participant. 

Eligibility & Participation

• Individuals who are not affiliated with Tulane may not organize or participate in counter-demonstrations on university-owned property.
• Counter-demonstrations may not be organized on behalf of an unaffiliated individual, group, or organization. 
• Recognizing that members of our community may wear masks or face coverings for personal, health, cultural, or religious reasons, university officials may request presentation of a valid Tulane Splash Card to verify university affiliation. Consistent with university policy, university representatives may request identification from individuals on university property.

Registration

• Counter-demonstrations may occur without advance registration in response to another demonstration, event, speaker, or expressive activity.
• Based on the size, location, or nature of the activity, university officials may establish time, place, and manner requirements. 

Duration

• Counter-demonstrations must conclude when the university event or campus demonstration they are responding to concludes. 

Locations

• The university may work with counter-demonstration participants to establish time, place, and manner requirements to support safety, university operations, and the rights of all participants. Counter-demonstration participants are expected to comply with those directions.

Sound

• Counter-demonstrations may not use amplified sound, live or acoustic music, percussion, or other organized sound-producing activities. Counter-demonstrations must otherwise comply with the University's Sound Guidelines.
• If counter-demonstration activities disrupt teaching, research, administrative procedures, or other university activities, university officials may request adjustments. Counter-demonstration participants are expected to comply with those directions.

Signs 

• Participants may use signs, banners, and other temporary expressive displays made from lightweight materials.
• Signs may be affixed only using non-damaging methods such as string or blue painter’s tape. The university may require adjustments to the placement, attachment, or display of signs.
• Signs may not be attached to university buildings, trees, or equipment used to mark or define the demonstration area, such as barricades. Signs must otherwise comply with the University's Uptown Campus Advertising and Installation Policy.
• Signs may remain in place only for the duration of the university event or campus demonstration to which they are responding to and must be removed and properly disposed of immediately afterward.

Care of Property

• Counter-demonstration participants are expected to avoid damage to university property and the property of others. 
• At the conclusion of a counter-demonstration, organizers are responsible for removing counter-demonstration materials and returning the area to its pre-event condition. 
• Organizations and individuals may be held responsible for costs associated with cleaning, repairing, or replacing property damaged during a counter-demonstration.

Freedom from Disruption

• Counter-demonstrations are subject to the University's Freedom from Disruption Protocol. 
• Participants may not coerce, intimidate, or harass another person into viewing, listening to, or accepting any communication. 
• Participants may not obstruct or restrict the free movement of people, or block access to university buildings or other university property.
• Observers and counter-demonstrators may express their own viewpoints but may not materially disrupt or prevent others from attending or participating in the activity.
• If a counter-demonstration violates these Guidelines or other university policies, university officials may direct participants to modify their activities to achieve compliance. Failure to comply may result in the counter-demonstration being modified or ended and/or referral through the appropriate university processes.

Safety

• The university may take immediate action to protect the safety of individuals, prevent damage to property, or respond to an imminent threat.

Accountability

• Participants must comply with these Guidelines, all other applicable university policies, and the directions of university officials acting within the scope of their responsibilities.
• Failure to comply with these Guidelines, applicable university policies, or the directions of university officials may result in the counter-demonstration being modified or ended.
• Individuals and organizations that violate these Guidelines or other applicable university policies may be referred for action under the Student Code of Conduct, the Staff Handbook, applicable faculty policies, or other university policies and procedures, as appropriate.

Applicability

• These Guidelines apply in conjunction with applicable university policies, procedures, guidelines, and standards, including the Code of Student Conduct and the Equal Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Policy.

Questions & Assistance

• For questions about these Guidelines or campus demonstrations, contact Kaitlyn "KP" Poe, Associate Director of Civic Engagement & Expression, at kpoe1@tulane.edu. 
• Questions or concerns involving discrimination, harassment, or other potential violations of university policy should be submitted through the Tulane Concerns Report. 
• Emergencies or immediate safety concerns should be reported to the Tulane University Police Department at 504-865-5911.

Review & Revisions 

• These Guidelines will be reviewed periodically and may be revised to reflect changes in university policy, operational needs, and best practices.

The following Campus Disruption Guidelines are intended to protect both invited guests’ and Tulane community members’ freedom of expression, protest, and demonstration, in addition to protecting the safety and operations of the university community from disruption to teaching, research, administrative procedures, and other activities.

The Campus Disruption Guidelines promotes and protects the free exchange of ideas through prohibiting the physical or virtual disruption, shouting down, blocking or suppressing a protest, demonstration, or invited speakers’ right to speak; simultaneously, no one may attempt to coerce, intimidate, or harass any other person into viewing or listening to any communication.

Privileges and Responsibilities

• Hosting: the privilege of hosting a speaker on Tulane property is reserved solely for Recognized Student Organizations and University departments. As hosts, Tulane affiliates should follow all Tulane Event Registration policies.
• Invited speakers have the ability to express their message and Tulane affiliates have the privilege to receive it safely and without disruption that interferes in either’s ability to deliver and/or receive the message.
  • Disruption is the process of physical or virtual shouting down, obstructing, suppressing, or impeding the speaker’s ability to deliver their message and others’ ability to listen;
  • The Tulane community should be able to view or listen to invited speakers without disruption;
  • Invited speakers should be able to perform or speak without disruption.
• Tulane affiliates must not be coerced, intimidated, or harassed into viewing, listening to, or accepting a copy of any communication in-person or online.
  • No one may attempt to coerce, intimidate, or harass any other person into viewing, listening to, or accepting a copy of any communication in-person or online.
• Tulane affiliates should have free movement on sidewalks, roads, pathways, driveways, hallways, doorways, stairs, and exits from University facilities.
  • No one may obstruct or restrict the free movement of persons on sidewalks, roads, pathways, driveways, hallways, doorways, stairs, and exits from University facilities.
• Unregistered counter demonstrations that emerge in reaction to a speaker or demonstration are allowed, however, with exception to registration, they must adhere to time, place, and manner guidelines of this protocol and the Freedom to Demonstrate Protocol.
• Examples of allowed disturbance versus not allowed disruption include but are not limited to:
  • Allowed:
    • Holding paper or poster board signs in front of one’s body that do not block the view of others.
    • Asking questions during an invited Q&A session.
    • Wearing clothing with words or images on it, unless those words or images are themselves unprotected speech.
    • Symbolic and/or silent acts such as kneeling or turning away.
    • Holding a counter-demonstration in an approved location that does not disrupt the protested event.
    • Distribution of literature in an approved location separate from the protested event.
  • Not Allowed:
    • Deliberately blocking the audience’s view of the speaker or presenter.
    • In-person or virtual shouting down or producing noise with the intent to prevent the speaker or presenter from being heard.
    • Intentional distraction through use of alarms, phones, lights, pointers, etc.
    • Zoom bombing or using online, virtual resources to distract or shut down event or university resources.
    • Physical disruption of a registered campus demonstration.
    • Creating in-person or virtual barriers to entry or access to the event.
    • Destructive or disorderly conduct.
    • Inciting violence, intimidating, or threatening others.
• Care for Safety: The university may take immediate action to protect the safety of individuals, prevent damage to property, or respond to an imminent threat.
• Tulane affiliates who disrupt individuals’ freedom of speech and/or the university’s ability to carry out its mission will be held accountable as specifically outlined in the Student Code of Conduct and the Staff Handbook.

University Response Team

The University Response Team (URT) is a cross-campus university team of faculty and staff who recognize and embrace the importance and complexity of upholding Tulane’s Freedom of Expression Philosophy, Protocols, and Procedures. As part of this team, they uphold Tulane’s commitment to Freedom of Expression across the diversity of views within our Tulane community.

Specifically, URT members educate and uphold, with content neutrality, the university’s Freedom of Expression Philosophy and Guidelines through campus-wide educational programming as well as attendance at: demonstrations, protests, invited campus lectures, and university programs. Members of the URT receive training and support in their facilitation and de-escalation role at events, programs, and demonstrations. The team is coordinated through the Division of Student Affairs Assistant Vice President for Campus Life and Executive Director of the LBC, Leadership, & Engagement. In addition to regularly scheduled training and development meetings, URT members gather after events to debrief and process in order to gain learnings and evolve processes as needed.

The URT is the response team for registered and/or lawful assemblies. Unlawful assemblies or when a registered/lawful assembly shifts in scope to unlawful, the URT is deactivated. University community members may request the presence of the URT at their events and programs if needed.

Register a demonstration via the Demonstration Registration Form.