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Resources and FAQ's

1. What is Time, Place and Manner and how does this effect gathering?
   1. In public forums such as gathering on the Oval, the university may not regulate the content of speech but can place and enforce reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions.
      1. Link to the “About Time, Place & Manner” subpage.
2. As a UM student, what are my rights and responsibilities when engaging in free expression and protected assembly?
   1. Student Safety and Activism.
3. As a UM employee, what are my rights and responsibilities when engaging in political activity?
   1. Former Policy
   2. .
4. Where can I engage in freedom of expression on campus?
   1. Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly may use outdoor public areas on campus. Such activity however, is still subject to time, place and manner procedures including if a space has been reserved, to not impede on the rights of those who have reserved the space for their exclusive use.
      1. Public forum areas do not include: Classrooms or academic buildings, campus offices, auxiliary space unless a room is being rented for the activity, protected natural areas and roadways and sidewalks necessary to permit the free flow of pedestrian, vehicular and maintenance traffic.
5. Am I required to have a sponsor for my event on campus?
   1. No, any person or organization who is or is not affiliated with the university who wants to use space on a temporary basis for freedom of expression or assembly, is not required to have a sponsor. Any planned outdoor gathering, other than an information table or sign posting, must fill out the UM Major Event Security Assessment Form.
6. Do I need to reserve space on campus to exercise my freedom of expression or to peaceful assembly?
   1. Freedom of speech and assembly are rights allowed under our US Constitution, however, having a space reservation provides you with first priority to use the requested area and is particularly encouraged if the assembly is expected to have a large attendance. Filling out the UM Major Event Security Assessment Form is required for any organized gathering outdoors on UM Property, but does not necessary reserve you space. If you would like to reserve an outdoor space, please book with the UM Conference and Event Services office, at least 3 business days in advance at 406-243-4119, ces@mso.umt.edu or visit their office University Center Room 340.
7. What happens if I do not respond to a request to leave a space?
   1. If you or your gathering are interfering with the academic mission of the university, university operations, or a scheduled event, we may ask you to move or assemble in another location on campus. If an individual or group does not respond to request to relocate after tying to resolve the conflict with time, place or manner, individuals or groups may be subject to appropriate UM code of conduct procedures for students, and/or state legal consequences if a law is broken.
8. What happens if an assembly creates a physical safety issue that is not resolved by relocation?
   1. The assembly may be dispersed to protect the general public and/or campus property. The University may prohibit, limit or otherwise restrict access to or use of its buildings, facilities or other property as may be necessary to provide for the orderly conduct of the University's educational, research and service programs and the safety and security of the campus property, students, employees, guests and other visitors.
9. What resources are available on campus if I’m upset by someone else’s free speech/assembly activities?
   1. We recognize that there are times when others exercise of free expression is upsetting to our campus community and may not fall within the values of UM. We encouraged students to reach out to a trusted person to talk to or to campus resources such as curry health center. If you believe the acts of an individual at the gathering are a hate crime or incident of bias directed explicitly towards you as an individual, you can report the event to the .
10. What is considered Hate Speech?
    1. As defined by the American Bar Association, hate speech is "speech that offends, threatens, or insults groups, based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or other traits." Hate speech is considered a form of bias which can and should be reported to the University's Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX. Potential hate crime victims may also report the incident to the University Police Department.
11. What is considered a Hate Crime?
    1. For the purposes of collecting statistics, the FBI has defined a hate crime as a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.”
12. Can I share information about or sell commercial products I sell goods on campus?
    1. Any person is allowed to share information on campus to those who want to listen. Commercial use of University property is permitted only in accordance with the terms and conditions of a fully executed sponsorship, rental, facilities use, or other such agreement or license.