At their regular April meeting, the Northwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees approved a second reading of a new college “Campus Expression Policy.”
NMC has always been committed to the free and lawful exercise of expressive activity, and that commitment is unchanged by this policy.
The policy is intended to allow for the expression of free speech in a civil manner and forbids NMC from limiting public expression of ideas based on the content or source of the ideas being expressed. This policy does not prevent public demonstration, protest, petition or similar activity.
The policy’s intent is to identify spaces for expressive activity, based upon the need to maintain an orderly and peaceful environment to ensure the mission and operation of the college. The policy was developed by NMC with input from counsel, campus safety and local law enforcement, and drafted to be consistent with that of similar policies in effect at other higher education institutions.
The restrictions in the policy are set to prevent a person or persons from assembling in a manner that prevents or obstructs the free movement of persons around the campus, free and normal use of college buildings and facilities or impedes the normal activities of the college.
The full policy can be found at: https://www.nmc.edu/about/policies/board-staff/D-505.15.html
Examples of other Michigan community colleges with similar policies: