The First Amendment and freedom of speech are at the heart of great universities.
At CSU, the Lory Student Center Plaza is the primary public forum location for all kinds of speech. While not the only public forum location on campus, the LSC Plaza is a special place for expression.
On any given day the Plaza is a potluck of messages and activities, from photo ops with CAM the Ram, to student organizations recruiting members, to abrasive speech intended to provoke emotions – speech that may be in conflict with others’ views, is offensive, false, hurtful or even hateful.
Speech on the LSC Plaza is usually different from what students have experienced in K-12 settings, so it’s helpful to know what to expect:
1. What’s the Stump? In 1964, a huge tree stump was placed on the plaza as a small stage where individuals could stand above the crowd and express their views. The Stump has a storied past and is a steadfast symbol of free speech. It’s not unusual, particularly in nice weather, for someone to be using the Stump.
Read more about the Plaza’s role in speech.
2. Anyone can speak on the LSC Plaza about their beliefs and opinions.
Not all speech on the Plaza is controversial. It’s the most traveled space on campus and where CSU celebrates milestones, rallies school spirit and gives students access to information about clubs or volunteer opportunities – to name but a few examples.
But some Plaza speakers intentionally try to bait their audience into a reaction and may even record reactions for social media. These speakers gain notoriety by being provocateurs. Sometimes, the best response is to keep walking. Some speakers even visit campus year after year – along with regularly visiting numerous other universities.
3. The Plaza is the designated public forum for the University. In 1939, the Supreme Court ruled that some government spaces must be open to citizens’ speech. At CSU and other public universities, public forums are three-tiered.
- Traditional public forums are public spaces. At CSU, the LSC Plaza is the primary (but not the only) public forum where individuals or groups can reserve space for activities or simply stand on the Stump and share their opinions.
- Limited public forums are spaces like classrooms where speech can be directed toward academics and are generally not open to the public’s use for speech.
- Non-public forums are private spaces, such as offices or residence hall rooms, that are not open to public expression.
4. CSU generally cannot limit the content of speech on the LSC Plaza. The First Amendment protects speech on the Plaza – your speech AND speech of others, even when it may be hurtful and even hateful.
University policies can limit speech using content-neutral time, place and manner restrictions. An example of a content-neutral limitation is set hours of public speech in university public areas.
Learn more about how the First Amendment restrains CSU from deciding whose viewpoints may be heard and whose may not.
5. CSU offers information about free speech on campus. When it comes to free speech, “it depends on …” is a common phrase. The First Amendment is only 45 words, but the Supreme Court has made numerous rulings to further define these rights and restrictions – rights and restrictions that are complex and contextual.
CSU’s First Amendment website provides basic information and tips about what to do when encountering ugly or hateful speech as well as how to use your own voice.
