Student Life and Leadership Procedures

poster regulations for students and student organizations | regulations for use of student literature table

POSTER REGULATIONS FOR STUDENTS AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Lansing Community College is continually sensitive to the fact that there is a need for students, staff, and offices to communicate regarding various activities, events, and services. The College is also sensitive to the right of freedom of expression, particularly as provided for in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. At the same time, the College is responsible for providing reasonable procedures and regulations to protect public and private property, and provide for the general safety and welfare of all members of the College community, and which preclude disruption of the normal functions of the College.

The following statements are designed to regulate the use of posters within the College facilities while providing students, College personnel, and College properties reasonable protection from commercial exploitation and court suits. While the courts have said that College property is considered a “public trust,” these same courts have ruled that College property is not “public property” subject to unregulated use by any and all individuals. This regulation is designed to facilitate communication through the use of posters while complying with the legislated instructional mission of the College.

DEFINITION: A poster is any written communication designed to apply to a wall or other surface for the purpose of relating information about an event, service, idea, or activity. A poster may be in the format of, but not limited to, a sign, an announcement, or banner.

General Poster Regulations

1. Within any and all buildings, placement of all signs and posters is restricted to approved bulletin boards.

2. Each poster must identify the sponsoring organization, department, or individual (no abbreviations). Each poster must display a telephone number or an office location where more complete information can be obtained.

3. Each poster is required to have in the lower left-hand corner, its posting date (month, day, and year) and, in the lower right-hand corner, its date (month, day, and year) to be removed. Each poster should be up for a reasonable length of time depending upon the activity.

4. Designated bulletin boards are available in each building for the posting of student and staff personal notices. All student and staff personal notices will be confined to these designated bulletin boards.

5. A poster shall not exceed 18 inches by 24 inches.

6. No poster shall be placed in such a way that it covers all or part of a previously posted approved poster whose take-down date has not expired.

7. The removal of posters at or prior to the take-down date shall be the responsibility of the sponsoring organization or individual. Unauthorized individuals shall remove no posters prior to the take-down date.

8. Lansing Community College respects the constitutional rights of freedom of expression. There are, however, responsibilities, which are attendant to the exercising of these constitutional rights. The following statement is made to provide an operational balance between the rights and responsibilities of the freedom of expression regarding the contents of posters: The content of posters shall avoid the liabilities of libel; obscenity; invasion of privacy; and incitement of disorder, violence, and disruption of the normal operation of the College.

9. Students and student organizations wanting to post posters must gain approval in the Office of Student Life and Leadership for compliance with general regulations.

10. College staff and faculty must gain approval in their departmental office or from the office of their administrative supervisor.

11. Student and College staff personal notices placed in designated bulletin boards within the College buildings do not need approval. Examples of personal notices are selling used books, sharing a ride, sharing an apartment, and selling personal articles. Profit-making commercial notices are not considered personal and will be removed.

Student or Student Organization Appeal of Poster Denial or Removal

If a student or student organization feels that a denial of posting or removal of a poster infringes upon their First Amendment rights or is in violation of this regulation, an informal appeal may be made by the poster sponsor to the Director of Student Life and Leadership. A meeting will be held between the appealing poster sponsor or sponsors with the Director of Student Life and Leadership to discuss the appeal. If the appeal is not resolved, a formal appeal may be presented to the Director of Campus Life. This appeal must be in writing, must indicate the reason(s) for the appeal, and must be dated and signed by the appealing party. The Director of Campus Life will gather information and respond to the appealing party within five (5) days of receipt of the appeal. If the student or student organization is not satisfied with the response of the Director of Campus Life, a second written appeal may be made to the Director of Campus Life. This written appeal must contain the reason(s) for the appeal, and a copy of the poster must be made available to the Dean of Student and Academic Support for review. The appeal to the Dean of Student and Academic Support must be dated and signed by the appealing party. The Dean of Student and Academic Support will gather information and respond to the appealing party within five (5) days of receipt of the appeal, giving the decision rendered and reason(s) therefore. The decision of the Dean of Student and Academic Support shall be final.

Failure to comply with the above regulations will lead to the denial of approval, the removal of posters, and/or disciplinary action. In order to protect the student body, individual members of the College community and the resources of the College, the College reserves the right and accepts the responsibility to deny approval or remove any poster or posters which it believes to cause significant disruption of the normal function and operation of the College.

Poster Regulations for Off-Campus Organizations and Individuals

Lansing Community College is sensitive to the fact that there is a need for some off-campus organizations and individuals involved in non-commercial enterprises to communicate with Lansing Community College students and staff members concerning various activities, events, and services. The College is also sensitive to the right of expression, particularly as provided for in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. At the same time, the College is responsible for providing reasonable procedures and regulations to protect public and private property and providing for the general safety, welfare, and positive learning environment for all members of the College community.

Therefore, the College has provided a kiosk, centrally located on the downtown campus, for the use of noncommercial groups and individuals who are not affiliated with the College. Such groups and individuals may place their posters on this kiosk without seeking prior approval from any College office, and the College disclaims any and all responsibility for items posted.

REGULATIONS FOR USE OF STUDENT LITERATURE TABLE

Lansing Community College is continually aware of and supportive of the concepts of freedom of expression, particularly those provided by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. The College also perceives that one of its functions is to provide a wide range of learning experiences and learning opportunities for the students of the College. At the same time, the College is mandated to provide orderly processes that avoid material disruption, protect public and private property, and provide for the general safety and welfare of students, faculty, and College staff.

The following statements are designed to facilitate student distribution of literature within the College facilities, while providing students and College personnel and property reasonable protection from commercial exploitation and legal actions. Court rulings have determined that College buildings, while considered a public trust, are not considered public property subject to unregulated use by any and all individuals. The procedural regulations below are designed to facilitate the legislated instructional mission of the College to serve the citizens of the College community. The following procedural regulations shall be followed:

1. The distribution of literature within College buildings by students shall be limited to student literature tables made available for such distribution. Student literature tables will be made available in the following areas within the College buildings:

1. In the first floor lobby of the Arts and Sciences Building.

2. In the second floor lobby of the Arts and Sciences Building.

3. In the first floor lobby of West Campus.

4. In the second floor lobby of West Campus.

5. In the second floor lobby of the Gannon Building.

6. In the first floor lobby of the Health and Human Service

At least one single table will be available in each of these areas. The maximum number of tables made available in any area will be determined in a reasonable manner based on the use of the area and regulations regarding fire safety and student welfare.

2. Only registered students and College-recognized student clubs and organizations shall have access to the student literature tables. Non-students who wish to use college facilities must gain permission by following procedures established for this purpose through the Student Life and Leadership Office.

3. The student literature tables will be available Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Fridays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the days of regularly scheduled semesters.

4. Registered students and College-recognized clubs and organizations are required to register for the use of the student literature tables with the Student Life and Leadership Office at least 72 hours prior to the time of desired use. Registrations will be accepted on a first request-first serve basis. Individual students and recognized student clubs or organizations may register for the use of a table for three consecutive days. If there are no pending requests, a registration may be renewed at the end of a previous registration. If there are no pending requests, a recognized student club or organization may request the use of more than one table or more than one location. If during the use of multiple tables or locations, additional students or recognized student groups request the use of a table or location and additional tables or locations are not available, the multiple user or users will be required to give up the multiple use of tables and locations to provide for the new request.

5. A copy of the completed registration form obtained from the Student Life and Leadership Office must be available at the student literature table while distribution is taking place.

6. In order to determine accountability, a sample of the material to be distributed must be placed on file with the Student Life and Leadership Office at the time of the registration for use. In addition, a recognized student club or organization must have a copy of the material to be distributed on file with the club’s or organization’s advisor.

7. The student literature table will be staffed at all times by the individual student or members of the recognized student club or organization registered for the use of the tables while the distribution of materials is taking place. The registered student or recognized club or organization will have the responsibility to ensure that the distribution process is orderly at all times and that the general area surrounding the student literature tables is not littered.

8. Individuals shall have the option to pick literature from the tables or receive a copy from the individuals sitting at the tables. No literature shall be forced upon any individual nor shall there be any obstructions created in the path of the general flow of traffic.

9. Individual students or recognized student clubs and organizations may collect funds for worthy causes, such as muscular dystrophy, blood drives, or College-sponsored activities. There shall be no commercial solicitations of funds or business, nor shall individual students solicit funds for personal gain.

10. The College has the right and responsibility to halt the distribution of literature, which it believes to be libelous, obscene, an invasion of privacy, or literature designed and reasonably believed that it will have the effect to cause immediate disruption of classes, violence, or substantial disorder of the normal operations of the College.

11. Failure to comply with the above procedural regulations may lead to the denial of the use of the student literature tables and/or may lead to disciplinary action.

Literature Table Use Request Flow Chart

Please see current copy of the printed catalog for chart.

1. Register for reservation for use of table.

2. Have Director of Student Life and Leadership review copy of literature.

3. Place copies of literature on file in Student Life and Leadership Office.

4. Have a copy of registration form at table while distributing literature.

5. Have table staffed at all times by individual student or student organization member.

Appeal of Denial of Use of Literature Table

Any individual, registered student, or recognized student club or organization which has been denied access to the student literature tables or has been required to halt distribution based on procedure 10 may appeal the denial or requirement to halt distribution. The appeal shall be in writing and shall be directed to the Director of Campus Life within 10 calendar days of the denial or requirement to halt distribution. The Director of Campus Life shall make a prompt investigation of the appeal, contacting the parties involved, and shall, within 10 calendar days from the date of appeal, make a decision to reinstate the distribution rights denied or halted or to uphold the original decisions. If the decision of the Director of Campus Life is not satisfactory, the individual student or recognized student club or organization may appeal the decision to the Dean of Student and Academic Support. This second appeal must be in writing and presented to the Dean of Student and Academic Support within 10 calendar days of the decision of the Director of Campus Life. The Dean of Student and Academic Support shall make a prompt investigation of the appeal, contacting parties involved, and shall within 10 calendar days from the date of the appeal, make a decision to reinstate the distribution rights or upholding the denial or required halt of distribution. The decision of the Dean of Student and Academic Support shall be final.

Where it is contemplated that a violation of the student literature distribution procedural regulation warrants the imposition of disciplinary action upon an individual student, disciplinary action shall be taken in accordance with Due Process as outlined in the Lansing Community College Catalog.

Appeal of Denial Flow Chart

Please see current copy of the printed catalog for chart.