Invited Speakers
Overview
The University supports the notion of a “marketplace of ideas,” where speech that a person disagrees with is met with more speech that encourages engagement and debate. Such discourse is a core tenet of the First Amendment and is fostered by the University. Registered student clubs and organizations are welcome to invite speakers to campus and provide access to campus venues, in accordance with the policies outlined in the Community Guidelines for Recognized Student Organizations. The University cannot take away that right or withdraw resources based on the views of the invited speaker. While student clubs and organizations have the right to free speech and to invite speakers of all kinds to campus, these groups are encouraged to consider that such autonomy comes with a responsibility for the consequences of their words and actions. Controversial viewpoints should encourage open dialogue. Vehement disagreement does not foreclose dialogue or the right to promote a campus environment where unusual/unorthodox thought is allowed.
Case Study - Middlebury College - Student Government Requests A Process to Vet Speakers
Case Study - Middlebury College - A Student Club Invites a Polarizing Speaker
Case Study - Harvard Kennedy School - Student Protest Betsy DeVos
The Law
The Supreme Court has said that public entities, including Stony Brook University, have discretion to regulate the "time, place, and manner" of speech. The right to speak on campus is not a right to speak at any time, at any place, and in any manner that a person wishes. The University can regulate where, when, and how speech occurs in order to ensure the functioning of the campus and achievement of important goals – such as protecting public safety.
When it comes to controversial speakers, Stony Brook University invokes this necessary authority in order to hold events at a time and location that maximizes the chances that an event will proceed successfully and safely. The University heeds the University Police Department’s (UPD) assessment of how best to hold safe and successful events. The University may invoke its time, place, and manner discretion, for example, to ensure that an event with a highly controversial speaker would be held in a venue that UPD believes to be protectable (e.g., one with an ample number of exits, etc.).
The need to consider time, place, and manner regulations is the reason that we require students to work with Student Affairs when setting up their events, as opposed to scheduling and creating events on their own.
Our Principles
- The right to speak on campus is not a right to speak at any time, at any place, and in any manner that a person wishes. The University can regulate where, when, and how speech occurs in order to ensure the functioning of the campus and achievement of important goals – such as protecting public safety.
- The University supports the notion of a “marketplace of ideas,” where speech that a person disagrees with is met with more speech that encourages engagement and debate. Such discourse is a core tenet of the First Amendment and is fostered by the University.
- Critical statements, even the ridicule of individuals are still largely protected by the U.S. Constitution. The law under the First Amendment is clear – Stony Brook University cannot exclude speakers on this basis. If the campus believed that a speaker was going to engage in speech that was directed at an individual and not protected by the First Amendment – such as by repeating statements that had been found to be defamatory or by revealing publicly very private facts about an individual – the University would do all that it could to prevent this and to protect the person.
- The University will support the right of individuals/groups who object to a speaker to protest and to make themselves heard. Protesters will not be permitted to shut down, shout down, or obstruct speech, preventing others from hearing the speaker.
- Stony Brook University is dedicated to open inquiry, knowledge, and insight. As such, free speech and peaceful assembly are fundamental to our mission. When a speaker is invited to the campus who contradicts our values, the University will strenuously and unequivocally affirm our values, explaining our position in considerable detail, while still permitting the speaker to speak.