The Rutgers University—New Brunswick, a public college in New Jersey, holds a yellow speech code rating, according to a campus free speech rating system belonging to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
A yellow light institution is “one whose policies 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 university has placed a number of restrictions on students and student organizations who want to reserve space for events on campus, including the designation of five areas on campus that are “Public Forum Areas.” These five areas are the only places on campus where students can engage in free speech and assembly.
Rutgers’ Public Forum policy states that public forums are only open for use from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and use of a table and two chairs are only allowed if the proper paperwork is first completed. The provided tables and chairs and limited and on a first come, first serve basis.
The use of amplified sound in these public forum spaces is prohibited.
“Student organizations that do not comply with Rutgers Public Forum Policy are subject to potential cost-associated penalties and may be referred to Student Conduct,” the policy states.
If students wish to make exceptions to these rules, such as make use of amplified sound, they must get written approval from the Dean of Students.
Policies like these inherently restrict students’ First Amendment rights on campus.
“I really don’t understand how free speech zones make sense to anyone,” Young Americans for Liberty’s Director of Free Speech Alexander Staudt told Red Alert Politics. “The First Amendment is not conditional or limited to arbitrary lines on a campus map drawn by some bureaucrat sitting in an office provided for by students’ tuition.”
The Rutgers University—New Brunswick did not respond to Red Alert Politics’ request for comment in time for publication.
