The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a community which embraces diversity. The university supports activities that encourage understanding, respect and appreciation for different points of view. In pursuit of this goal, the university aspires to protect its educational mission while also protecting the first amendment right to free speech. The granting of this privilege does not imply any university endorsement or support for the views expressed by the individual or group.

Policy

The following policy provides standards and guidelines necessary to maintain the orderly and essential operation of the university.  Any individual or group who violates the policy may lose all privileges to assemble on campus in the future.

Freedom of Expression permits may be granted between September first and November thirtieth, and between February first and April thirtieth, and additional dates may be unavailable due to the scheduling of certain campus events.

Any individual or group (hereafter referred to as “speaker”) seeking the opportunity to speak on campus must register with the Office of the Dean of Students at least 2 business days prior to any activity.

The speaker will be assigned to a specific area and granted permission to assemble for a duration of no longer than two hours.

The speaker will be required to have and submit upon request a copy of the registration approved by the Office of the Dean of Students.

The speaker will not under any circumstances be permitted to sell items or solicit funds, nor use any means of sound amplification.

The speaker will be allowed to continue to assemble for the full duration of time approved on the registration unless:

1.           university activity or operations are disrupted, or the speaker is impeding the flow of traffic of passersby, or

2.           university property is being damaged, or

3.           the university receives a complaint that any individual is being unlawfully harassed or intimidated by the speaker, or

4.           the physical safety and well-being of any member of the university community or visitors on the campus is threatened, or

5.           the speaker incites a breach of peace on campus.

Speakers who wish to distribute written information must indicate so on the “Freedom of Expression Permit,” and may not distribute materials in a way that interferes with the normal flow of passersby or causes litter.

If the UNCW Police Department and/or Office of the Dean of Students determine that a registered speaker is in violation of this policy, the speaker will be asked to leave campus and may be escorted from campus by the University Police.