Free Speech Area

The Free Speech Zone at Mission College is a designated area on campus where individuals and groups can exercise their right to free speech and expression. These zones are set aside to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to share their views and ideas while maintaining a safe and respectful environment for the entire campus community.

* Please refer to Board Policy/Administrative Procedure 3900 for additional information.

Free speech area on map.

Time: The Free Speech Area(s) is/are open from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm, Monday through Friday. If deemed necessary, the College President, or designee, may impose additional reasonable time limits to ensure equal access to all wishing to use the Free Speech Area(s).

Place: The Free Speech Area(s) is/are the space(s) identified on the attached campus map. The College President, or designee, may expand or relocate the Free Speech Area(s), or may open additional temporary space(s), as he/she may deem necessary.

Manner: There are no restrictions on the subject matter or viewpoint that may be expressed by users.

Persons Using the Free Speech Area(s) Shall Not

  • Use any means of amplification;
  • Physically touch, strike, batter, or assault any person;
  • Impede the progress of passersby;
  • Undertake any activity that substantially disrupts the orderly operation, or substantially interferes with the education activities, of the College;
  • Use speech or expression which is obscene according to current legal standards;
  • Engage in illegal activities or activities which violate WVMCCD or campus rules;
  • Solicit donations of money or solicit or conduct any sale or business of any kind, except as otherwise provided in any applicable Board Rules or administrative regulations.

More Details

  • All persons who distribute materials, such as circulars, leaflets, petitions, and other printed matter shall not litter. All persons are encouraged to remove or properly discard any materials that were not removed or discarded in an appropriate receptacle in or around the areas used for expressive activities prior to their departure from the College that day.
  • All persons who wish to use a table or place any large object on the campus, must obtain permission from the Office of Outreach & Student Life only to ensure that the placement of the table or large object will not obstruct the college’s emergency fire lanes and normal college business.
  • The Office of Outreach & Student Life should be notified at least five (5) business days in advance if the expressive activities are anticipated to require security, impede pedestrian traffic, pose a substantial risk of disrupting the functioning of the College, or draw a crowd of at least fifty (50) people. Prior notice is requested to ensure: there is sufficient space for the large group event, the large group event does not conflict with any other scheduled use of the space, there are sufficient resources available for crowd control and security, and there is continued access to the college campus.
  • If such advance notice is not feasible because of circumstances that could not be reasonably anticipated, such as because of very recent or still-unfolding news developments, the person or group should provide the Office of Outreach & Student Life with as much advance notice as circumstances reasonably permit.
  • No unauthorized vehicles are allowed on the campus.