freedom of expression

Annual Report

In compliance with the requirements of 70 O.S. §2120 Canadian Valley Technology Center submits the following report: This report is posted on our district web page that is searchable with the keywords and phrases and not more than three links from the homepage. We have included language (see below) in our online student handbook that will also be included in subsequent printings of our student handbook and future student orientations. The language is consistent with policy, regulations, and expectations of students in their freedom of expression while on campus. Canadian Valley Technology Center has not established any zones that limit free speech, has no barriers to free expression, and has experienced no incidents or disruption occurring on its campuses linked to free speech issues. Furthermore, there have been no attempts to block or prohibit speakers and there have been no attempts to investigate students or student organizations for their speech.

Freedom of Expression

Canadian Valley Technology Center respects and values student activism. The technology center takes pride in our students’ interactions with social and political issues, viewing it as a desirable, if not essential, component of civic engagement. The outdoor areas of Canadian Valley Technology Center are deemed public forums for the campus community, and the technology center will not create “free speech zones” or other designated areas of campus outside of which expressive activities are prohibited. Any person who wishes to engage in noncommercial expressive activity on campus shall be permitted to do so freely, as long as the person’s conduct is not unlawful and does not materially and substantially disrupt the functioning of the technology center. Nothing in this policy shall be interpreted as preventing the technology center from prohibiting, limiting or restricting expression that the First Amendment does not protect or prohibiting harassment as defined in this policy. Nothing in this policy shall enable individuals to engage in conduct that intentionally, materially, and substantially disrupts another person’s expressive activity if that activity is occurring in a campus space reserved for that activity under the exclusive use or control of a particular group. Nothing in this policy shall prohibit the technology center from maintaining and enforcing reasonable time, place and manner restrictions that are narrowly tailored to serve a significant institutional interest only when such restrictions employ clear, published, content- and viewpoint-neutral criteria. Any such restrictions shall allow for members of the campus community to spontaneously and contemporaneously assemble, speak and distribute literature. Nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted as applying to student expression taking place elsewhere on campus.