Central Ohio Technical College and The Ohio State University at Newark are committed to protecting the First Amendment right to free speech and expression on our campuses. Intellectual freedom and civic engagement are foundational to the institutions’ values and enhance the academic community. COTC and Ohio State Newark support the right for everyone to peacefully express their views and to speak out about issues that are important to them.
Accordingly, the institutions make available certain designated indoor and outdoor spaces for hosting events which support their missions. The purpose of these standards is to assure the right of free expression on the campuses while supporting the ability of institutional community members to carry out academic and administration pursuits without substantial disruptions.
The institutions’ buildings, grounds, facilities, and other property (for the purpose of these standards, “space”) are dedicated to the fulfillment of their educational missions. The institutions are also responsible for ensuring the continued safe and effective operation of the business of the campus and college. The institutions allow designated outdoor and indoor spaces to be reserved for events consistent with the institutions’ educational missions, administrative and other official functions, and students’ campus-life activities. The institutions may limit access to or use of its space as may be necessary to provide for the safety of the campus/college community and the orderly conduct of the institutions’ educational missions, administrative and other official functions, and students’ campus life activities.
Accordingly, the institutions have designated their classrooms, laboratories, recreation areas and facilities, residential facilities, as well as administrative, office, research, and facilities buildings as closed for public use, unless otherwise specified. Select buildings have spaces, including but not limited to outdoor spaces, conference rooms and classrooms, and designated areas within facilities that may be reserved for activities or events that support the institutions’ teaching, research, and service missions, administrative or other official functions, or students’ campus-life activities consistent with these standards. Non-affiliates are free to visit and walk through our campuses; however, they must comply with these standards to conduct events.
These standards work in conjunction with other college and university rules, policies, standards, and related governing documents including:
- OSU Faculty Rule 3335-11-02;
- OSU Code of Student Conduct;
- COTC Code of Student Conduct;
- OSU Campus Free Speech Policy;
- COTC Freedom of Expression Policy;
- OSU Non-Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy;
- COTC Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-discrimination Policy, and,
- University Signage Standards, including the university’s temporary signage and chalking rules (COTC adheres to these signage standards).