While most speech is protected by the First Amendment, not all speech is protected speech. Speech that is NOT protected includes: harassment, defamation, fraud, fighting words, obscenity, incitement, and true threats.
Under the First Amendment, hate speech, while insensitive and offensive, is protected speech.
Students can peacefully assemble to protest and express themselves in an appropriate manner, with respect to the safety and daily operations of the institution.
Please see the Maverick Guide for free speech policies
Visitors and community members are welcome on the CMU campuses and must follow the same guidelines as our CMU Campus Community Members regarding free speech and civil discourse.
The University affirms the rights of students and others to assemble on the University campus for peaceful rallies, demonstrations, and gatherings. There are, however, some circumstances in which behavior so violates our community's standards that formal University intervention may be appropriate; which include time, place, and manner and safety directives.
The University may restrict expression if it:
- Violates the law
- Falsely defames a specific individual
- Constitutes a genuine threat or harassment
- Unjustifiably invades substantial privacy or confidentiality interests
- Is otherwise directly incompatible with the functioning of the University
In the exercise of free speech, the rights and privileges of all persons shall be respected and there will be no tolerance for activities that endanger the health or safety of the campus community, visitors, or guests. Additionally, such demonstrations must not unreasonably disrupt the normal conduct of University operations, impair the learning environment or endanger University property or persons.
For this reason, the University may reasonably regulate the time, place, and manner of expression to ensure that it does not disrupt the ordinary activities of the University.
Non-campus community members, including controversial speakers who are invited to campus by student groups are granted full protections of the First Amendment and are expected to adhere to the University’s established guidelines for peaceful assembly and expression.
Students who oppose controversial speakers can engage in their right to peacefully assemble and counter-protest.
All assemblies must adhere to the University policies set forth and remain peaceful without disruption to the operations of the institution. Disruption to the daily operations and / or violence are not protected and violations which pose a threat to the campus community may be ordered to disassemble. The University reserves the right to regulate the time, place, and manner of expression to ensure assembly does not disrupt the ordinary activities and operations of campus.
Faculty and students have a responsibility to uphold academic freedom. While faculty can establish classroom protocols and standards of conduct / scholarship to ensure orderly discussion and the achievement of student learning outcomes for the course are met, students have the freedom to raise questions and share their expressions pertaining to the materials being discussed.
Students who enroll in a course are solely responsible for meeting the standards of conduct and scholarship of the course – academic freedom does not void the course requirements or failures to meet the standards of academic performance set forth, even if / when the student does not agree with those requirements or standards.
Additionally, students are responsible for upholding the integrity of the academic environment. Academic freedom does not grant students the right to disrupt the class or take away from the positive learning environment for others; further, it does not allow for students to disregard the classroom protocols and procedures for constructive discussion.
Please see the Maverick Guide for Academic Policies