The First Amendment is part of the U.S. Constitution. It is comprised of 45 words that create the rights of free speech, freedom of the press, right to peaceably assemble, freedom of religion and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

As a public university, CSU is legally required to comply with the First Amendment.

The First Amendment supports the open exchange of ideas, which is the foundation of our democracy – and of a great university. Universities are places for discourse, debate and learning from people with different views and experiences.

Our students and even people from outside of the university may come to campus and exercise their rights to free expression in ways that you may not agree with. In many cases, the First Amendment prevents CSU from controlling or censoring what people say or limiting their expression, even if you disagree with their message or find it offensive, hurtful, or hateful. 

Speech can include:

• Expression of ideas, perspectives and values
• Peaceful protests or demonstrations
• Clothing
• Posters or flyers
• Refraining from speaking

No. The Plaza is a public free-speech zone where people can exercise their right to free speech, and CSU, as a public university, can’t interfere with that right.

Learn more about the Plaza and speech.

Like classrooms, residence halls are considered non-public areas, even at public universities. The courts have ruled that in these spaces, and on the sidewalks leading up to them, students have the right to be left alone from unwanted speech – in the same way that someone living off campus has the right to decide who gets to come into their home and talk to them.

CSU offers a bias reporting website that is open to everyone at biasreporting.colostate.edu. All reports receive a thoughtful review by a university team well-trained in the First Amendment and bias incident response.

CSU, as a public university, generally can’t control what you post on your private social media channels, but the First Amendment does not apply to private actors, including those companies that operate private social media sites, in the same way.

A private business owner or citizen has the ability to control their private space as they see fit. If a business owner, roommate, or friend asks you not to say something in their private space, they have that right – they’re not the government.

So it’s important to think about how we talk to each other.

No, as a public university CSU will do everything in its power to support the right to free speech and peaceful assembly, though reasonable restrictions around time, place, and manner may be enacted.

The university acknowledges the right of students and others to assemble in groups at certain locations on the university campus for peaceful rallies, counter demonstrations, and gatherings, so long as the act doesn’t unreasonably interfere with the rights of others to peaceably assemble or to exercise their right of free speech, disrupt the normal functioning of the university, damage property, or endanger the health or safety of oneself and others.

Allowed

Peaceful assemblies: Assembling in groups for peaceful rallies, demonstrations and gatherings on parts of the university campus that are designated public forums and comply with applicable policy guidelines. Free speech and peaceful assembly policy.

Countering speech: The First Amendment encourages speech and counter speech, and you may exercise your own First Amendment rights to counter someone else’s speech with your own, provided it does not interfere with the rights of others to peaceably assemble or exercise their right to free speech.

Events: Authorized organizations may reserve spa­ces on campus and in university facilities for events. The sponsoring organization and participants must comply with law enforcement and the university’s relevant policies and event guidelines.

Chalking: In certain designated locations, you may express yourself with washable chalk (no spray chalk or paint) on horizontal concrete ground (no steps, paving stones, buildings, or walls). Please check the applicable policy beforehand to learn where chalking is or is not permitted.

Posters: Only posters that are sponsored by registered student organizations or an official university unit or department are allowed in designated areas, with university permission. Signs, posters, banners and flyers policy.

Silent and symbolic protests: Displaying a sign in certain locations on campus, gesturing, wearing symbolic clothing, or otherwise protesting silently is permissible unless it is a disruptive activity or impedes access to facilities. In addition, such acts should not block the audience’s view or prevent the audience from being able to pay attention to a lawful assembly or an official university event.

Campaigning: CSU encourages its students, faculty, staff and other community members to participate in political discourse, enlightenment and action, and welcomes these activities to our campuses. As a public university system of the state of Colorado, CSU is subject to the limitations of the Colorado Fair Campaign Practices Act, which generally prohibits CSU (and other public entities) from expending any public money for contributions to a campaign for elected office or from urging electors to vote in favor or against any ballot issue or referred measures.

Employees and students are free to express their political opin­ions when speaking or writing as individuals in their personal capacity and not as a representative of an institution.

Not Allowed

Unlawful activity.

Disruptive activity: Any act that unreasonably inter­feres with the rights of others to peaceably assemble or to exercise the right of free speech, disrupts the normal functioning of the university, damages property, interferes with a university event, function, or endangers health or safety is specifically prohibited.

Blocking reasonable access: The university is requ­ired by law to provide and maintain reasonable access to, and exit from, any office, classroom, laboratory, or building. This access must not be obstructed at any time.

Silencing or attempting to silence a speaker.

Preventing others from seeing or hearing at an event: Displaying a sign, gesturing, wearing symbolic clothing, or otherwise protesting silently is permissible unless it is a disruptive activity or impedes access to facilities. In addition, such acts should not block the audience’s view or prevent the audience from being able to pay attention to a lawful assembly or an official university event.

Unsafe items: The display of firearms or weapons and illegal possession of firearms or weapons, as well as possession of torches or other items with an open flame greater than one inch, sticks, poles, shields or other items that may be used to cause injury is prohibited.

People may carry signs or flags as long as those signs or flags are not attached to a stick or pole.

Depending upon the event and its location, the university may have additional restrictions that limit the possession of other items.

Unpermitted events outside public hours: Using campus public areas, including the Lory Student Center Plaza area, for events, demonstrations, meetings, assemblies or other expressive activity before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m., without a prior reservation for an official university event that has been approved by the university, is prohibited.

Posting signs, posters, or banners of any kind on university trees. It’s just hard on the trees and wildlife.

Posting signs, posters, or banners without official permission or in areas not designated for this purpose. University poster policy.

Disrupting classes. Classroom speech is different from speech in public forum areas. Certain types of speech aren’t allowed, including any activity that interferes with a faculty member’s ability to conduct class.

CSU can apply content neutral policies on speech on university campuses. Policies that apply to speech-related activities at CSU are listed on this page.

Recognize that the First Amendment protects your right to express yourself AND it equally protects the rights of others to express themselves, even if you strongly disagree with their speech.

CSU is required by the First Amen­dment of the U.S. Constitution to have an open exc­hange of ideas and dissenting points of view, even when expression might be deemed offensive and runs counter to our Principles of Community or other institutional values. Embracing free speech is a core value, and our Principles of Community declare that the university is “committed to freedom of expression, critical discourse, and the advancement of knowledge.”

Criminal threats and harassment of individuals, as well as violence, are not protected speech.

We also uphold the rights of our university community to present counter narratives through peace­ful means.

• When speech gets ugly

Flyers are a form of expression contemplated by the First Amendment. University policy prohibits flyers from being left in buildings for others to pick up. Flyers may only be handed directly to a person in an area that is recognized as a public forum.

Posters must be approved by Facilities Management and sometimes University Marketing and Communications before they can be posted. They must also meet other university requirements.

See the Signs, Posters, Banners and Flyers policy for more information.

This policy is specific to the interior of the Lory Student Center regarding event announcements, informational signs and other materials.