Institutional Report on Free Speech| Texas Education Code 51.9315
TO: The Honorable Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas Texas Legislature
FROM: Dr. Kenneth R. Evans, President 黑料爆料网
DATE: November 30, 2020
RE: Compliance with Texas Education Code § 51.931
In the interest of protecting the expressive activity rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, Texas Education Code § 51.9315(k) requires 黑料爆料网 to submit a one-time report regarding 黑料爆料网 compliance with § 51.9315. To that end, we submit the following information.
黑料爆料网 is a member institution of the Texas State University System (TSUS) and under the organization, control, and management of the TSUS Board of Regents.[1] The Texas State University System Rules and Regulation specifically address expressive activities on all component university campuses, including 黑料爆料网:
- Chapter VII, Subparagraph 3.1 deems the grounds of all system university components as traditional public fora.[2]
- Chapter VII, Subparagraph 3.4 permits any group or person to assemble and engage in expressive activities, subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions.[3]
- Chapter VII, Subparagraph 3.3 permits all students, faculty, and staff to invite speakers to speak on campus, subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions.[4]
- Chapter V, Subparagraph 2.133 provides for the dismissal of any employee, including a member of the faculty, who obstructs or disrupts any activity authorized to be held on a component university campus.[5]
- Chapter VI, Subparagraphs 5.41(3), 5.6, and 6.45 establish the System’s prohibition against, and disciplinary procedures for, interference with the expressive activity rights of others by students or student organizations.
The above Texas State University System Rules and Regulations are posted on the System’s website and the 黑料爆料网’s Speech and Assembly policy’s website.
黑料爆料网 specific procedures are also available on the University’s website at /students/student-affairs-strategic-initiatives/conduct-and-care-services/policies/speech-and-assembly.html. Any applicable time, place, and manner restrictions therein comply with the specific requirements of § 51.9315(d) because they:
- are narrowly tailored to serve a significant institutional interest;
- employ clear, published, content-neutral, and viewpoint-neutral criteria;
- provide for ample alternative means of expression; and
- allow members of the University community to assemble and distribute written material without permit or other permission from the University.
黑料爆料网 reviews its policies on an on-going basis and will continue to modify applicable policies as necessary to ensure continued compliance with the requirements of §51.9315, Texas Education Code. 黑料爆料网 has updated its policy detailing students’ rights and responsibilities regarding expressive activities and such is posted on 黑料爆料网’s Student Handbook at /students/student-affairs-strategic-initiatives/about/student-handbook.html and Code of Student Conduct at /students/student-affairs-strategic-initiatives/about/code-of-conduct.html. The policy has been or will be made available to students during freshman and transfer student orientations and included in 黑料爆料网 student handbook. The policy is also included in 黑料爆料网 personnel handbook at /faculty-staff/human-resources/policy-manual/hr-manual-sec2-1.html and faculty handbook at /faculty-staff/_files/documents/academic-affairs/faculty-handbook-jan-2019-uploaded-with-faculty-senate-bylaw-revisions-060421.pdf.
黑料爆料网 has developed procedures to train employees responsible for educating or disciplining students to ensure they understand the requirements of § 51.9315, Texas Education Code and 黑料爆料网’s internal policies.
[1] This report is available online at /about-lu/mission-and-accreditation/institutional-report-texas-education-code-51.9315.html.
[2] Tex. Educ. Code § 96.61; see also § 95.01.
[3] See § 51.9315(c)(1).
[4] See §§ 51.9315(c)(2), (d), and (f)(1)(A).
[5] See § 51.9315(f)(1)(B)
[6] See § 51.9315(f)(2); see also TSUS Rules and Regulations Chapter V, Subparagraph 4.51(7).