As a public institution, Slippery Rock University is dedicated to protecting free speech on its campus, but recently, students have raised concerns about how far some speech is going. In September of this semester, SRU’s chapter of Turning Point USA brought TPUSA spokesperson Will Witt to speak on campus. Witt often visits campuses offering students a chance to discuss topics most would consider to be politically charged. Since the murder of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, students have been worried about political violence coming to Slippery Rock.
Aubrey Rader, the assistant director at the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership, assures students that they are safe at events at Slippery Rock University. She states that security personnel are to be present and conduct weapon screenings at all events that are open to the public with more than 100 people in attendance and have a speaker that is from outside the university.
Slippery Rock University does not limit which speakers are allowed to come to campus, as long as all security measures are being followed. If students are uncomfortable with the ideas being expressed by a particular speaker, they have the right to protest in specified “protest zones” where a police officer is to be present.
“We try to allow things to happen, but control the safety aspects,” Rader said.
SRU allows the public to express free speech on its campus, but also implements time, place and manner restrictions. As part of the university’s 2024 Expressive Activities Policy, Slippery Rock community members are allowed to express themselves in designated “free speech zones.” These zones are located at the 9/11 memorial lawn next to Vincent Science Hall, the “S” block outside Weisenfluh Dining Hall, and the North Hall lawn.
They are allowed to do so at any time, but if they are using a device that amplifies sound, they must reserve a time in advance and stay outside of a 25-foot range of academic buildings when classes are in session.
The Expressive Activities Policy went into effect in 2024, but students are still learning about the policies outlined in it.
Journalism major Mae Alley states, “I don’t think I was super aware of [the policies] before I started taking my [communication] law class.”
Communication Law is a class offered at SRU for strategic media and communication majors, but knowledge of the free speech policies should not be limited to those within the department. Policy information can be found at sru.edu//offices/student-affairs/first-amendment-and-free-speech. Students can also find all SRU policies at https://rockpride.sru.edu/policies/.
Students also want their own voices to be heard at Slippery Rock University. When asked if she feels that students are able to freely express their ideas on campus, Alley said, “I see so many different kinds of people and so many different kinds of opinions being expressed at Slippery Rock.”
