TO: The Honorable Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas Texas Legislature
博士:. Kenneth R. Evans, President Lamar University
DATE: November 30, 2020
RE: Compliance with Texas 建造ation Code § 51.931
In the interest of protecting the expressive activity rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, Texas 建造ation Code § 51.9315(k) requires Lamar University to submit a one-time report regarding Lamar University compliance with § 51.9315. To that end, we submit the following information.
Lamar University is a member institution of the Texas State University System (TSUS) and under the organization, 控制, and management of the TSUS Board of Regents.[1] The Texas State University System Rules and Regulation specifically address expressive activities on all component university campuses, including Lamar University:
- Chapter VII, Subparagraph 3.1 deems the grounds of all system university components as traditional public fora.[2]
- Chapter VII, Subparagraph 3.4 permits any group or person to assemble and engage in expressive activities, subject to reasonable time, 的地方, and manner restrictions.[3]
- Chapter VII, Subparagraph 3.3 permits all students, 教师, and staff to invite speakers to speak on campus, subject to reasonable time, 的地方, and manner restrictions.[4]
- Chapter V, Subparagraph 2.133 provides for the dismissal of any employee, including a member of the 教师, who obstructs or disrupts any activity authorized to be held on a component university campus.[5]
- Chapter VI, Subparagraphs 5.41(3), 5.6和6.45 establish the System’s prohibition against, and disciplinary procedures for, interference with the expressive activity rights of others by students or student organizations.
The above Texas State University System Rules and Regulations are posted on the System’s website 和 Lamar University’s Speech and Assembly policy’s website.
Lamar University specific procedures are also available on the University’s website at http://0lp6.wxzjnt.com/students/student-engagement/dean-of-students/policies/speech-and-assembly.html. Any applicable time, 的地方, and manner restrictions therein comply with the specific requirements of § 51.9315(d) because they:
- are narrowly tailored to serve a significant institutional interest;
- employ clear, published, content-neutral, and viewpoint-neutral criteria;
- provide for ample alternative means of expression; and
- allow members of the University community to assemble and distribute written material without permit or other permission from the University.
Lamar University reviews its policies on an on-going basis and will continue to modify applicable policies as necessary to ensure continued compliance with the requirements of §51.9315, Texas 建造ation Code. Lamar University has updated its policy detailing students’ rights and responsibilities regarding expressive activities and such is posted on Lamar University’s Student Handbook at
http://0lp6.wxzjnt.com/students/student-engagement/about/student-handbook.html and Code of Student Conduct at
http://0lp6.wxzjnt.com/students/student-engagement/about/code-of-conduct.html. The policy has been or will be made available to students during freshman and transfer student orientations and included in Lamar University student handbook. The policy is also included in Lamar University personnel handbook at
http://0lp6.wxzjnt.com/faculty-staff/human-resources/policy-manual/hr-manual-sec2-1.html and 教师 handbook at
http://0lp6.wxzjnt.com/faculty-staff/_files/documents/academic-affairs/faculty-handbook-jan-2019-uploaded-031020.pdf#page=140.
Lamar University has developed procedures to train employees responsible for educating or disciplining students to ensure they underst和 requirements of § 51.9315, Texas 建造ation Code and Lamar University’s internal policies.
[1] This report is available online at
http://0lp6.wxzjnt.com/about-lu/mission-and-accreditation/institutional-report-texas-education-code-51.9315.html.
[2]特克斯. 建造. 法典第96条.61; see also § 95.01.
[3] See § 51.9315(c)(1).
[4] See §§ 51.9315(c)(2), (d), and (f)(1)(A).
[5] See § 51.9315(f)(1)(B)
[6] See § 51.9315(f)(2); see also TSUS Rules and Regulations Chapter V, Subparagraph 4.51(7).