Policy on Speech and Advocacy

Chabot College is committed to assuring that all persons may exercise the constitutionally protected rights of free expression, speech, assembly, and worship. It is the responsibility of the college president to assure an ongoing opportunity for the expression of a variety of viewpoints.

The time, place, and manner of exercising the constitutionally protected rights of free expression, speech, assembly, and worship are subject to campus regulations that provide for non-interference with college functions and reasonable protection to persons against incitements to actions that would place them in reasonable fear, as determined by college and district policy, for their personal safety.

District policy addresses this matter as follows:
Speech on District property shall be prohibited that is defamatory or obscene according to current legal standards, or which advocates for the use of force or law violation where such advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action, or which causes the substantial disruption of classroom or college/district/campus activities or operations.

Chabot College supports the principle that a college or university campus should be a venue for the expression of diverse perspectives, including those that may be deemed controversial or uncomfortable. In doing so we uphold the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which protects not only popular perspectives but unpopular perspectives.

Please contact the President's Office with any questions you may have about these free speech policies.

 

CLPCCD Policies on Speech: Time, Place, and Manner: