Overview

The Atlanta, Clairmont and Oxford campuses are all covered by the Open Expression Policy. The policy does not extend to off campus locations, unless a registered Emory event is occurring at an off-campus venue.

Demonstrations may not occur in the following locations*.

However, if the focus of the Expression, Protest, or Dissent includes one of these areas, there is an affirmative support to ensure protests occur in places like the outdoor spaces in front of the buildings or common gathering places close to these locations.

• Offices
• Research laboratories or associated facilities
• Libraries
• Computer centers
• Museums
• Specific areas of offices, museums, libraries, and other facilities that contain valuable or sensitive materials, collections, equipment, and records protected by law, or by existing University policy such as educational records, student-related or personnel-related records, or financial records.
• Classrooms, seminar rooms, auditoriums, meeting rooms, or outdoor spaces in which classes, private events, or meetings are being held or are scheduled to be held during the time of the Protest.
• Outdoor and indoor locations when the free flow of traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian, is unreasonably impeded.
• Where entrances or exits to private offices, classrooms, and meeting spaces are being blocked.
• When undue health and safety risks are created.
• Hospitals, clinics, and surrounding green space or grounds (including, but not limited to, sidewalks, access roads, parking areas, etc.), the facilities of healthcare service providers, emergency facilities, communication systems, utilities, or other facilities or services vital to the continued functioning of the University.

*Please note additional facilities and administrative departments may have their own restrictions for demonstrations.

Community members, in the course of their actions, violate this Policy if they:

• Unreasonably infringe on the rights of other community members to engage in open expression, protest, and dissent.
• Cause substantial disruption to a meeting or event that impedes the rights of attendees of that meeting or event, including excessive noise, continually interrupting a speaker, or preventing an audience from seeing/engaging with a speaker during a meeting or event.
• Create undue hardship that substantially impedes a community member’s right to open expression, such as unreasonable space reservation or usage policies.

Community members, in the course of their actions, violate other policies of the University (such as the Undergraduate Student Code of Conduct, Codes of Conduct in the Graduate and Professional schools, and others that can be found at www.policies.emory.edu) and are no longer operating within the spirit of Open Expression at Emory if:

• They violate any federal, state, local or other applicable law (e.g., gaining unauthorized access to restricted areas, refusing to leave restricted areas if instructed, defacing of public and/or private property, etc.).
• They interfere unreasonably with the activities or rights of other persons. Factors that may be considered in determining whether conduct is reasonable include, but are not limited to, the time of day, size of audience, and noise level of a Meeting, Event, or Protest.
• They interfere unreasonably with the general operations of the University.
• They hold Meetings, Events, or Protests under circumstances where the health or safety of persons is endangered.
• They knowingly interfere with unimpeded movement in a University location. Examples may include preventing access to a building, or blocking any entrances or exits in a way that causes safety concerns.
• They cause injury to persons or property or threaten to cause such injury.
• They use or threaten violence or force, or encourage others to use or threaten violence or force.
• They cause harassment, as defined by state law.
• They violate reasonable noise levels, such as but not limited to DeKalb County noise ordinances. They violate reasonable noise levels, such as but not limited to DeKalb County noise ordinances.

All space reservation begin no earlier than 7 a.m. and conclude at 11:59 p.m. Students, faculty and staff can reserve spaces at studentcenter.emory.edu

Emory does not allow activities to occur in any building after that facility’s business hours. Building occupations and/or building takeovers are not permitted.