Student Centers’ Policies

Campus Speakers

The Student Rights and Responsibilities Statement, revised by the faculty in 1980, governs the invitation of persons outside the University to speak on the campus, as follows: Registered student groups are allowed to invite and to hear any person of their own choosing, subject to the University’s reasonable time, place and manner restrictions.  Guest appearances must not interfere with the University's regular instructional, research, and service programs.  Except for ceremonial occasions, invited speakers should be prepared for a reasonable public discussion of their expressed views.

To help students learn to think critically and to maintain a mature academic community, the University encourages the invitation of speakers from outside the University community, even though in some instances these speakers may advocate positions unacceptable to the majority of the people on campus, as long as the following provisions are met by the host campus organization:

• Invitations may be extended by one or more bona fide campus organizations after approval from the Director of the Student Centers or his or her designee based on the following considerations:

• While reasonable time, place and manner restrictions may be imposed by the University, content will not be considered.
• Certain speakers or events may require special responsibilities for the University or a meeting with the President of the University.  In these cases, the group extending the invitation may be asked to coordinate with the Office of the University President.
• Invitations may not be extended to speakers when it is deemed likely they will call for the overthrow of our government by force.  Because Section 5103 of Title 14, Delaware Code, forbids the University from showing favoritism or preference among political candidates or political parties or among religious personages, denominations or sects, host organizations should remind the speaker to indicate that he or she is not speaking for the University.
• The costs of all necessary arrangements must be absorbed by the host organization. (The host group is responsible for ensuring the safety of the speaker as well as those who listen, and the expense for such arrangements must be borne by the host group.)
• Contracts for paying speakers must be approved by the Director of the Student Centers or his or her designee.
• Invitations issued in the name of the University must be made by the Office of the President. All other invitations should clearly indicate that the host, and not the University, is the person or group issuing the invitation.