Guest Speakers

Guest Speakers

Student organizations and groups must seek approval from the Dean of Student Services for any outside guest speakers the organization or group wishes to invite on campus to speak.

1. If a registered campus organization or student group is sponsoring an outside speaker, it has the responsibility of making clear the fact that the group/organization, not the College, is extending the invitation to speak and that any views the speaker may express are the speaker's own and not necessarily those of the Texas State University System or of the College.
2. No contract or formal commitment between any recognized group/organization and an outside speaker can be issued to an outside speaker without prior written approval by the Dean of Student Services. Requests may be obtained from the Director of Student Activities Office or complete the online Speaker Request Form.
3. A Speaker Request form, signed by the student organization advisor must be turned in to the Director of Student Activities at least ten business days in advance of the speaking engagement. Publicity regarding the event should not be done prior to approval, and will not be approved for posting on campus prior to approval.
4. Speakers to be paid from state funds to speak on campus shall speak in a facility that is open to the public. This subsection does not apply to classes, seminars, symposia, and conferences intended for the use and benefit of students, faculty, staff, and invited guests. No person may obstruct or lessen in any way the opportunity for the audience to see and hear the speaker. The number of students, faculty, staff, and guests may be limited to prevent a hazard to the safety of the audience.
5. Off-campus speakers who have not been sponsored or invited by a registered student, faculty, or staff organization/group or by the College administration shall be prohibited from speaking to groups in campus facilities and buildings unless the speaker is speaking to an off-campus organization that has been authorized to meet on the campus.
6. A person who has been convicted of a felony must be granted special approval by the Dean of Student Services to speak before a campus or group/organization.
7. The Dean of Student Services may, at his/her discretion, require that the meeting be chaired by a member of the administration or faculty, and may further require a statement to be made at the meeting that the views presented are not necessarily those of the institution or of the sponsoring group. By acceptance of the invitation to speak, the speaker shall assume full responsibility for any violation of the law committed by him/her while on campus.
8. The College reserves the right to assign facilities for all assemblies and demonstrations that are requested to be held in other campus locations besides the designated areas.
9. A request made by a group/organization may be denied for failure to comply with the policy or if it is determined that the proposed speech will constitute a clear and present danger to the institutions orderly operation by the speaker’s advocacy of such action as:
   1. The violent overthrow of the government of the United States, the State of Texas, or any political subdivision thereof; or,
   2. The willful damage or destruction, or seizure and subversion, of the institution’s buildings or other property; or,
   3. The forcible disruption or impairment of, or interference with the institutions regularly scheduled classes, or educational or service functions; or,
   4. The physical harm, coercion, intimidation, or other invasion of legal rights, of the institution’s officials, faculty, staff, or students; or,
   5. Other campus disorders of a violent nature.

      In determining the existence of a clear and present danger, all relevant factors will be considered, including whether such speaker has incited violence resulting in bodily harm to individuals and/or in the destruction of property or has willfully caused the forcible disruption of institutions. Consideration may also be given the climate of the campus in making a determination of probability of advocacy prompting a group or individual to actions that may need to a violent nature.

10. If an organization’s request for an outside speaker is denied, the organization shall, upon written application to the President, obtain a hearing at the earliest possible time following the filing of its appeal. The President shall either concur or reverse the decision of the Dean of Student Services.