Georgia Southern University is a public university located in Statesboro, Ga., that holds “yellow light” policies on free speech, as determined by the Foundation for Individual Right in Education.
According to FIRE, yellow light policies are those which “restrict a more limited amount of protected expression or, by virtue of their vague wording, could too easily be used to restrict protected expression.”
The most problematic policy for students attempting to voice their opinions on campus is the university policy on assembly and demonstration, which states that “requests to reserve campus grounds for an assembly and/or demonstration must be made at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the activity.” Students can request use of the space with a “Free Speech Area Request Form,” located on the school website.
The area in which students are allowed to hold these events is limited to a “Free Speech Area” located between Russell Union and Williams Center. Restricting students to a relatively small section of the 900-acre campus is unconstitutional.
It is ironic that the policy opens with a disclaimer that the university “reaffirms its commitment to the freedoms of speech, expression, and assembly by establishing this policy.” Requiring students to submit a formal request in order to exercise their First Amendment rights is a direct violation of the First Amendment. Furthermore, the need for a 48-hour advance notice limits students’ ability to hold protests or demonstrations that may be time-sensitive responses to current events.
“I’m solely concerned with freedom of speech … the policy does present problems for students on campus,” GSU Young Americans for Liberty chapter president Hannah Johnston told Red Alert Politics.
“This is so frustrating because the university is reaffirming the right to assemble and free expression with a single caveat — students must submit a free speech area request form for a specific location on campus,” YAL’s director of free speech Alexander Staudt told Red Alert Politics. “If the university truly cared about the First Amendment, there wouldn’t be a free speech area, let alone a mandatory form to ensure students have their constitutionally guaranteed rights.”
Georgia Southern spokesperson Jennifer Wise confirmed with Red Alert Politics that the Assembly and Demonstration guidelines are in fact current but would not provide further comment.
Richard Abel studies English at the University of Mary Washington. He is a media ambassador and a chapter president for Young Americans for Liberty.
