Expressing Disagreement
Expressing Disagreement During an Event
- Event participants/attendees may engage in peaceful, non-disruptive* protest (such as messages on t-shirts) if it does not create a disturbance or prevent the speaker from communicating to the audience, or otherwise prevent audience members from hearing and seeing the event.
- If you find the event’s message disagreeable and/or offensive, you may choose to leave the event if you do not obstruct or otherwise disrupt the event.
- If you disrupt or obstruct the event and fail to comply with directions of university officials to cease the disruption, you may be in violation of University policies and regulations or the law. This could be grounds for discipline or prosecution.
- Where access to an event may be controlled, events sponsors, including the University, may regulate what may be brought into the event (such as handheld signage, video cameras, etc.) and activities that attendees may engage in. Such restrictions are permitted as they related to conduct (time/place/manner) restrictions, not content restrictions.
- Be respectful, civil and courteous. Finding an event's message offensive or disagreeable does not justify disrupting or hijacking an event for one’s own purposes.
*Examples of prohibited disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to: 1) conducting protests inside University buildings; 2) obstructing entrances or exits to buildings; 3) interfering with educational activities inside or outside buildings; 4) interfering with or precluding a scheduled speaker from being heard; 5) damaging University property; 6) using sound amplification without prior permission; 7) interfering with scheduled University ceremonies or events.
Expressing Disagreement in Response to an Event
If you disagree with the speech or message of a campus event, you have the right to express your own speech or message in response. Ways in which you can respond to an event include:
- Utilizing the public outdoor areas of campus for peaceful protests including picketing, petitioning and utilizing handheld signage
- Scheduling your own event
- Contacting campus media such as writing an op-ed
If you encounter offensive speech or materials:
- Ignore the speaker if you do not wish to further engage their speech or ideas
- Maintain a safe distance, and do not respond with physical violence
- Keep in mind that you may find it offensive, but others may not
- Offensive speech, absent some other factors such as a threat of violence, is almost always protected speech
- Consider organizing a peaceful, appropriate response
- Seek assistance of a university official if you believe someone’s conduct violates the law or University regulations and policy
Example Scenarios
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A speaker in a public area of campus is saying things that you deem offensive or hateful.
Is this behavior protected by the First Amendment?
Why are they allowed to be on-campus?
Yes, it is.With limited exceptions, the First Amendment protects nearly all speech, including hate speech. As a public university in Florida, UNF’s outdoor areas of campus are open to all for use as a public forum where free speech has the most protection.
What can you do?
There are many options. Some speakers are deliberately provocative hoping to get a rise out of people and gain an audience. Simply ignoring these speakers deprives them of the audience they seek. If you would like to engage speakers, you have the right to your own counter speech. However, you must accept that you may be directly engaging with speech and ideas that you find offensive. Additionally, you can organize your student peers for support, join a student organization or local group, organize your own events, and write your campus newspaper. Additionally, if you believe you have experienced or witnessed a violation of UNF policy or regulation, or law violation, report it to a campus administrator.
What can you not do?
It is very important that you do not touch or otherwise physically engage a speaker, no matter how offensive or hateful their speech. Further you cannot threaten speakers or incite others to commit crimes upon the speaker. Doing so may bring consequences upon yourself and diminish the validity of your own viewpoint. -
For a class a professor has invited a guest speaker/lecturer that you believe is inappropriate or offensive
Is this protected by the First Amendment?
Yes
Why is the guest speaker allowed to be here?
Academic freedom encompasses the First Amendment principles of freedom of inquiry and research, freedom of teaching and freedom of expression within academic coursework. Academic freedom is enjoyed by students, educators, and the university itself. Exposure to and learning to vigorously debate and question ideas that some may disagree with or even find offensive is vital to the mission of any university. UNF seeks to educate well-rounded students capable of confronting complex issues they will inevitably face in their future professional lives.
What can you do?
As previously mentioned, there are many options that do not involve disrupting a speaker. While attending the guest speaker you can ask questions. You are not expected to agree with or accept another’s ideas, however, listening to the speaker and asking questions or raising points of rebuttal may help you gain a better understanding of the speaker’s position or your own thoughts on the subject matter.
What can you not do?
You cannot disrupt the class or speaker. Faculty have a right to control the decorum in their classroom and disruptions may lead to disciplinary action under UNF’s Student Conduct Code. -
A Registered Student Organization Invites a Controversial Speaker to Campus
Is this speech protected by the First Amendment?
Yes
Why are they allowed to be here? As previously mentioned, the First Amendment protects nearly all speech, including speech that some may find hateful, rude, or offensive. As a public university in Florida our facilities are available for rental and use by all members of our community, including student groups, to host speakers and hold other events. UNF does not and cannot discriminate based on content or viewpoint regarding use of our facilities.
What can you do? As mentioned previously, there are many options including peacefully protesting outside of the event or organizing your own event. Additionally, you can attend the event and express your disagreement or even challenge the speaker’s views during the discussion or question/answer portions of the event.
What can you not do? You cannot disrupt or otherwise obstruct the speaker or event or prevent anyone from seeing or hearing the speaker. You may not block attendees from entering or exiting the event. You cannot physically engage the speaker no matter how offensive of hateful you find their views. Doing any of these things or otherwise violating UNF policies or regulations, or laws may subject you to disciplinary action or arrest. -
You disagree with the University Administration
What can you do?
As previously mentioned, there are many options. You can circulate petitions, petition student government, and submit a letter to your campus newspaper. You can request to meet with university officials to have a good faith, civil discussion of your concerns. You can engage in peaceful protest in public outdoor areas of campus.
What can you not do?
As previously mentioned, you cannot disrupt educational activities or normal functioning of university operations. You may not engage in occupations/sit-ins in university buildings, offices, or non-public areas. You may not block vehicle or pedestrian traffic, entrances or exits to buildings. You may not damage university property. You may not infringe on the free expression rights of other members of the university community or public.
Reporting Violations or Concerns
If you believe a crime has been committed or you are experiencing an emergency that requires immediate attention, please call the UNF Police Department at (904) 620-2800 or dial 9-1-1. If you witness an incident you believe may be a violation of a campus policy or regulation including the Student Code of Conduct, learn how and where to report it here.