Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A) Policy statement and purpose
In furtherance of the fundamental constitutional right to free
speech, the university provides a marketplace for the free exchange of ideas.
The university reserves the right to determine the time, place and manner of
use of campus grounds for such free exchange so as not to interfere with the
mission and regular operation of the institution. All reservations for use of
campus grounds must conform to this policy and to local, state and federal
laws.
(B) Definitions
"Approving office" is the office designated to receive an
application to reserve campus grounds.
"Campus grounds" are designated campus grounds and
non-designated campus grounds.
"Decisional authority" is the office designated to receive an
appeal.
"Designated campus grounds" are the Union oval, Carillon park,
Wolfe center terrace, Alumni gateway, and Bowen-Thompson quadrangle. Anyone
(including visitors) may apply to reserve designated campus grounds.
"Non-designated campus grounds" are all other outdoor campus
areas not included in the definition of designated campus
grounds.
(C) Policy
(1) Application to reserve campus grounds
Each application to reserve campus grounds must be in writing;
identify the applicant and their affiliation with the university (if any);
describe the nature of the event; and state the proposed location, date, and
time of the event.
(2) Where
to apply
(a) Anyone (including campus
visitors) desiring to
reserve designated campus grounds must submit a
reservation request to the conference and event services (C&ES) located in
no. 231 Bowen-Thompson student union, 419-372-9000.
(b) Recognized student organizations,
academic departments, and other university units may reserve non-designated
campus grounds located adjacent to residence halls and the Greek village. These
reservations may be made directly with the office of residence life at no. 301
Hayes hall, 419-372-2011.
(c)
Recognized student organizations, academic departments, and other university
units may reserve intramural fields with the department of recreation through
requests to the Perry field house, 419-372-9000.
https://www.bgsu.edu/recwell/outdoor-recreation-spaces.html.
(d) Non-designated campus grounds areas other
than those described in the preceding paragraphs may be reserved through
C&ES for activities sponsored and approved by university departments and
recognized student organizations. Academic use has priority, and a reservation
may be changed or cancelled if a conflict with any academic program develops.
In general, grounds adjacent to academic buildings are not available when
classes are in session.
(3) When to apply
An application must be submitted at least five university
working days before the requested date of use to facilitate review by multiple
university departments. If the event does not involve factors that require
multiple university department approvals, the approval may be given in as few
as three university working days.
(4) Approval of application
The approving office may contact the applicant to resolve any
questions concerning the request, and to determine the compatibility of the
event with operations of the university. The approval of an application will be
in writing and will specify the boundaries of the area to be used, the date for
which the use is approved, the time at which the reservation for the use
expires, and any special provisions concerning the use of the space. The
university will approve an application unless there is reason to believe that
one or more of the following are present:
(a) The proposed time is between five p.m. of
the Sunday before each week of final exams through the end of the final exam
period.
(b) The proposed location
is unavailable at the time requested because of an event previously planned for
that location.
(c) The event would
prevent, obstruct, or unreasonably interfere with the regular academic,
administrative, or student activities of the university or other
university-approved activities.
(d)
The event would unreasonably obstruct pedestrian or vehicular
traffic.
(e) The applicant is a
recognized student organization that is subject to a disciplinary restriction
or loss of privileges that prohibits the event or has damaged university
property and failed to pay in full for the damage.
(5) General provisions
All uses of campus grounds are subject to the following
requirements:
(a) Use of amplification
equipment must be in accordance with regulations as stated in rule
3341-6-03 of the Administrative
Code, "Use of Amplified Sound on University Premises."
(b) No structure may be erected on campus
grounds without prior written approval. See paragraph (D) of this
rule.
(c) Notice of cancellation
must be given to the approving office at least two university working days
before the scheduled activity or event.
(D) Use of temporary structures
Any use of temporary structures on campus grounds requires the
prior approval of the director of the Bowen-Thompson student union or
designee.
(1) Temporary structures of
any type may have no more than three closed sides.
(2) Generators, space heaters, cooking
equipment, or any other appliances cannot be used in temporary
structures.
(3) Temporary
structures must comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
(4) Personal property in a temporary
structure must be attended to at all times as the university will not be held
responsible for any damaged, lost, or stolen items.
(5) Any use of university utilities requires
prior written approval of the director of the Bowen-Thompson student union or
designee.
(E) Appeals
(1) If a recognized student organization's
request for the use of campus grounds (designated or otherwise) is denied, they
may appeal to the dean of students or designee. If an academic unit's request
for the use of campus grounds (designated or otherwise) is denied, they may
appeal to the provost or designee.
If any other request to use designated campus grounds is
denied, the requestor may appeal to the vice president for finance and
administration or designee.
(2) All appeals must be made as follows:
(a) A written appeal describing the
objections to the denial must be filed no later than five university working
days after receipt of notice of the denial. Notice of the appeal must be
provided to the office which denied the request.
(b) The decisional authority shall decide the
appeal as soon as practicable, and in any event within five university working
days of receipt of the written appeal.
(c) The decisional authority shall convey the
appeal decision, in writing, to the appealing party with a copy of the decision
being provided to the office which denied the request.
(3) The decisional authority's decision is
final.
Equity impact statement: the policy has been assessed for
adverse differential impact on members of one or more protected
groups.
