UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 15, Page 11
December 15, 1994
Faculty Senate affirms freedom of expression

     At its Dec. 5 meeting, the University Faculty Senate approved the
following Statement of Freedom of Inquiry and Expression. The final
version was the result of a recommendation from the Faculty Senate
Executive Committee and several amendments that were voted upon during
the monthly meeting.
     The statement reads:

          Members of the University community are free to examine and
       to discuss all questions of interest to them and to express
       opinions publicly and privately. They are free to support
       causes by orderly means, including any means of peaceful
       assembly or advocacy which do not infringe upon the rights or
       freedoms of others.
          Members of the University community are allowed to invite,
       to hear and to see speakers, creative performers and artistic
       presentations of their own choosing. Guest appearances must
       not interfere with the University's regular instructional,
       research and service programs. Except for ceremonial
       occasions, invited speakers and art presenters should be
       prepared for a reasonable public discussion of their expressed
       views.
          Invited speakers and art presenters are accorded the full
       courtesy and protection appropriate to a university community.
       Individuals or groups who engage in actions designed to
       obstruct or in any way to prevent the speaker from speaking
       and the art presenter from presenting or displaying any form
       of artistic expression are subject to discipline and to
       financial responsibility in the event of damage to property or
       person.
          The institutional control of campus facilities is not to be
       used as a device of censorship. Sponsorship of guest speakers
       and art presenters does not imply approval or endorsement of
       the views expressed, either by the sponsoring unit or the
       University.

     The new statement will appear in the Faculty Handbook.