AboutUST
Effective date:9/1/1999
Pertains to: All students, faculty and staff
Policy Index: www.stthomas.edu/policies
Speakers Policy (Adopted by Student Life Committee)
A policy for speakers on campus should be guided by several principles and an
awareness of existing practice.
The first principle is that there are varying degrees of responsibility with the
effect that the university is eminently responsible for speakers that it invites
on campus to speak to students or other members of the community. But obviously
when the university allows legitimate outside groups to use its facilities, the
burden of responsibility is autonomous with the sponsoring group. It is a
corollary that the university, in allowing such groups to use its facilities, is
governed by fairness and equity toward various conflicting views and interests,
being mindful of the needs for wider information on the part of students and the
larger community.
The principle of freedom, holding high respect in academic life and in our
spiritual heritage, is never divorced from responsibility on the part of
sponsoring groups or sponsors.
Another factor governing speakers on campus is our concern that a wide variety
of issues and viewpoints be given expression. We take pride in the scope and
quality of programs on campus during the past years. The value of freedom in the
classroom is reflected in the campus forum, measuring the need to develop a
critical mind against the appreciation of authority and competency in a given
field.
Criticism in a constructive vein of speakers, or the selection of speakers is
welcomed, especially where the quality of expression, depth and relevance is at
stake. Success in this area depends on the initiative, objectivity and
earnestness of sponsoring groups, such as university clubs and department
offices.
