External Speaker Notification

If a sponsoring organization is presenting an external speaker, the organization has the responsibility to advertise that they invited the speaker and that the views of the guest speaker do not necessarily represent the views of Texas State or TSUS.

Students, faculty, staff, and registered organizations campaigning for public office on behalf of candidates for public office must abide by the provisions of UPPS No. 07.04.02, Posting/Distribution of Literature, Informational Booths & Banners on Campus (see Section 05.).

External speakers who have not been sponsored or invited by a registered student, faculty, staff organization, or Texas State administration, shall be prohibited from speaking to groups in university-owned or leased facilities unless the speaker is speaking to an off-campus organization that has been authorized to meet on the campus. Individuals not affiliated with the university may not invite an external speaker to use university facilities or buildings.

With the prior written approval of the president, or designee, the university may, at its sole discretion, lease or rent space in the student center or other appropriate buildings or grounds for political rallies and meetings, provided that space is made available to political candidates in a nondiscriminatory fashion, and the rent for such space is based on a fair market value.

A request to invite an external speaker will be considered by Texas State only when made by a registered student, faculty, or staff organization. Sponsoring organizations shall abide by and follow such time, place, and manner as the president, or designee, may impose.

No invitation will be extended to an external speaker without prior written approval by the president, or designee.

An External Speaker Notification Form must be electronically submitted by an officer of a registered student, faculty, or staff organization, or by an administrative department head desiring to sponsor a proposed external speaker, no later than 10 class days prior to the date of the proposed speaking engagement.

A request made by a recognized sponsoring organization may be denied only if the president, or designee, determines, after proper inquiry and consultation with the TSUS Office of General Counsel, that the proposed speech will constitute a clear and present danger to Texas State’s orderly operation.

When a request for an external speaker is completed by the president, or designee, and the speaker accepts the invitation, the sponsoring organization shall inform the president, or designee, immediately in writing of such acceptance. The president, or designee, may require that a statement be made at the meeting or event that the views presented are not necessarily those of the university, TSUS, or of the sponsoring organization. By accepting the invitation to speak, the external speaker shall assume full responsibility for any infraction of civil or criminal law committed by the external speaker while on campus.

Any person who chooses to protest an external speaker shall not impair the ability of any other person to see and hear the speech, performance, or event. Impairment includes, but is not necessarily limited to heckling, drowning out, or otherwise materially disrupting the speech, performance, or event.

Anyone impairing the speech, performance, or event will be asked, no more than twice, to cease the disruptive behavior. If the disruptive behavior continues, the university will employ all lawful measures to halt and eliminate the disruption. The offender may be subject to disciplinary action, civil action, or criminal prosecution.