Board Policy - Maintenance of Public Order

Responsible Executive  

• VP of Student Affairs
• Director of Public Safety

Review Cycle

• June 2025; Annually

References

• NYS Education Law §6430
• Civil Rights Act of 1964  

Purpose and Scope

This policy governs the conduct of students, employees, licensees, invitees and all other persons, whether or not their presence is authorized, upon the campus of Tompkins Cortland Community College. They also apply to the same individuals with respect to any other premises or property, under the control of the College, and that are used in teaching, research, administrative service, cultural, recreational, athletic or other programs and activities.  

Policy Statement  

The college promotes free speech and discussion because of the tremendous benefits this freedom confers on our students’ education. Tompkins Cortland Community College is also obligated to observe the protections for speech provided by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article 1, Section 8 of the New York Constitution, and support protections offered by The Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and other federal, state and local civil rights laws and regulations. However, the college must continue to function if the search for knowledge and truth is to be meaningful.  

An academic institution cannot function properly in its search for knowledge and truth in an atmosphere that is not open. Therefore, no person, individually, or in concert with others, will engage in activity that interferes with the operations of the college or its affiliate organizations, including:  

• Willfully or recklessly cause injury to another person, create a significant risk of doing so, or threaten to do so;  
• physically restrain or detain any other person;  
• remove anyone from any place where they are authorized to remain;  
• willfully or recklessly damage or destroy property of the campus or property under its care, nor create a significant risk of doing so;  
• remove property of the campus or property under its care without authorization;  
• use campus property or property in the campus’s care without authorization;  
• enter into any private office without implied or explicit permission;  
• enter into and remain in any campus building or facility in such manner as to obstruct its authorized use;  
• remain in any building or facility after it is closed without authorization;  
• refuse to leave a campus building or facility after being required to do so by an authorized personnel or police authority;  
• obstruct the free movement of people and vehicles in any place to which this policy applies;  
• deliberately disrupt or prevent the peaceful and orderly conduct of college or affiliated organizations’ business;
• deliberately disrupt or prevent the freedom of any person to express their views, including invited speakers;  
• excepting law enforcement officers, knowingly have in their possession upon the premises to which this policy applies, any firearm or weapon without the written authorization of the Director of Campus Police, whether or not a license to possess the weapon has been issued to the person;  

Violations

The penalty for violations of these rules shall include the ejection of a violator from the College and its property. Student or employee violations will be governed by the Code of Conduct or applicable employee disciplinary procedures and may include suspension, termination, expulsion, or other appropriate disciplinary action. An organization which authorizes such conduct by its members shall be subject to rescission of permission to operate on campus property.  

Freedom of Speech and Assembly  

No person shall be subject to any limitation or penalty for expressing their views or for assembling with others for such purpose so long as there is no violation of the above rules.  The Vice President for Student Affairs, in consultation with The Director of Public Safety or their delegates are authorized to develop processes for persons planning to assemble and demonstrate. Such processes must be approved by the President and Executive Council. The College has the right to limit the time, place, and manner of demonstrations or protests in accordance with federal law. Demonstrations may take place between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and the close of normal College hours of operation; be located in such place(s) designated by the College’s administration. The Vice President of Student Affairs, Director of Public Safety or their delegates are further authorized to designate specific location(s) of approved areas that will be concomitantly published with this policy on webpages, and other appropriate publications or postings. Peaceful picketing and other orderly demonstrations in such designated areas of the campus are not subject to interference provided there is no violation of the above rules.  

Hazing  

The practice commonly known as “hazing” will not be permitted on the Tompkins Cortland Community College campus and no recognized student organization may practice an initiation rite or require it as a condition for membership or affiliation, that involves reckless or intentional acts that create risk to the health, well-being, and lives of individuals. Individuals may not be harassed, humiliated, or abused, and may not be forced to consume liquor or drugs for the purpose of initiation into, or affiliation with, an organization.  In addition, these organization may not take any action, create or participate in the creation of any situation, which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of anyone for the initiation into or affiliation with that organization.      

The charter of all recognized student organizations will contain a statement prohibiting hazing and all new students will be made aware of the college position relative to hazing.  

Individuals or organizations involved in hazing practices shall be subject to college disciplinary procedures, as well as to applicable local, state, or federal laws.  

The Board of Trustees of Tompkins Cortland Community College authorizes the President of the college, or their delegates, to develop additional reasonable processes and procedures to administer this policy.  

History

• 6/19/69 – 2nd Working draft/regulation of conduct of TC3 campus memorandum – no resolution number; 
• 4/24/86
• 2/16/17

Policy Reference Code

• SA-01