New Mexico State adopts revised free-speech policy

By The Associated Press

03.26.01

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LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A new free-speech policy allowing students, faculty or staff to use any public outdoor area to distribute information without prior approval has been adopted at New Mexico State University.

The Board of Regents on March 23 approved the new policy, which reverses rules that required university approval for such activities and confined the activities to three locations on campus.

The policy change follows a First Amendment lawsuit brought against the university by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of two graduate students who were arrested by campus police for distributing materials on campus.

As part of a settlement, the university agreed to change its policy.

The new policy sets out specific rules about what types of activities are allowed.

For example, sponsors of large group activities must inform police in advance and sound equipment is limited to certain areas.

Two regents expressed concern that the new policy would give individuals or groups not associated with the university greater access to the campus.

"I see a lot of potential for things to get out of hand," said James C. Manatt Jr. of Roswell, the new president of the regents.

The new policy gives off-campus people almost unlimited access to the campus, he said.

Although he supports the new policy, Manatt said he would have preferred to require some pre-notification rules, especially for outside groups.

William McCamley, president of the Associated Students of New Mexico State University, praised the new policy, saying it gave students more freedom.

After the meeting, Manatt said the lawsuit raised a legitimate issue and that the threat of a lawsuit if the policy was not changed did concern him.

NMSU President Jay Gogue said he felt the policies were a bit restrictive when he arrived at NMSU last summer and had directed a review. The arrests and lawsuit moved the process along more quickly, he said.

Previous

New Mexico State, students settle free-speech lawsuit
'Students will no longer be limited to a couple of out-of-the-way places to distribute literature,' says ACLU attorney.  11.03.00

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