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SKIDMORE COLLEGE EVENT PUBLICITY/POSTER POLICY

Policy Statement

Skidmore College welcomes and encourages campus organizations and members of the College community to share information about events, programs, concerns, or other matters of general interest. The College does not require approval of campus postings before they go up. Public posting locations are not intended as personal message boards. The College recognizes the importance of maintaining a climate of kindness and trust, as well as the desire to minimize the visual pollution on campus. This policy supports campus communications that are civil, respectful, and conducive to the College’s educational mission. Persons or groups not affiliated with the College do not automatically have the right to use College spaces for publicity. Postings on campus do not represent endorsement or sponsorship by the College unless otherwise specified.

Scope

This policy applies to all students, staff, and faculty members and includes all public academic, administrative, and common residential spaces. (Dorm rooms and offices are more private spaces and allow for more flexibility in expression.) Official College communications are not bound by these policies. The College strongly encourages the use of the Skidmore Weekly Bulletin as a timely, effective, and environmentally sustainable mode of communication of campus events and programs.

Speech and Expression

This policy does not infringe upon faculty, staff, or student freedom of expression. Skidmore College is deeply committed to the values of academic freedom and encourages robust discourse reflecting a broad range of ideas, perspectives, and opinions. The College also is deeply committed to educating our students about informed, responsible citizenship and to reflecting that commitment broadly throughout the campus community through civil and respectful expression. To that end, this policy has been established to help facilitate freedom of expression on campus with respect to postings, and is consistent with our educational mission. All posted materials must not violate any College policies including, without limitation, the Student Code of Conduct, the College’s anti-harassment policies, or any local, state, or federal laws, regulations, or guidelines.

Definitions

ADVERTISING: Any method or device for disseminating commercial, informational, or promotional materials on the Skidmore College campus.

BULLETIN BOARDS: Physical or digital boards where posters or flyers may be displayed.

CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS: For purposes of this policy, College administrative divisions, academic departments and programs, employee groups, and approved student organizations.

MEMBERS OF THE COLLEGE COMMUNITY: For purposes of this policy, all enrolled students, all persons employed by the College, including but not limited to administrators, faculty, and staff, and all organizations comprised of members of the College community.

PUBLICITY: Any poster, bulletin, circular, or other publicity information attached, tacked, tied, taped, stapled, or affixed to any surface on campus or distributed to members of the College community.

TIME, PLACE, AND MANNER RESTRICTIONS: This policy may not anticipate every possible issue that may arise with respect to publicity and posting. In addition, other College policies may come into conflict with publicity/posting policy. The College reserves the right to impose reasonable restrictions and/or requirements with respect to the time, place, and manner of publicity and posting, governing when, where, and how messages may be displayed on campus. These restrictions are viewpoint-neutral, narrowly tailored to serve significant College interests, and designed to leave open ample alternative channels of communication.

Publicity Regulations

Posting is permitted on campus locations in accordance with the restrictions below. Any posting that is not explicitly permitted below is prohibited.

1. Physical Bulletin Boards
   • Only campus organizations may post materials on College-maintained bulletin boards.
   • Academic and administrative department bulletin boards, whiteboards, walls, classrooms, and designated art display areas are restricted to approved academic or department materials.
   • Posting requirements:
     • Postings are limited to a maximum size of eleven (11) inches by seventeen (17) inches.
     • All postings must include the full name of the persons/groups responsible and the date of the event. Posters should be removed within two (2) days following this date. If a flyer/poster does not include the date of an event (i.e. a campus campaign), it may be displayed for a maximum of two weeks, and must include a date by which the poster will be removed. It is the responsibility of the campus organization to remove posters.
     • In keeping with Skidmore’s commitment to sustainability, no more than 25 posters for a given occasion may be posted.
     • Due to the limited amount of available display space and desire to provide equal opportunity for display of posters by campus organizations,the number of postings per event sponsored by a campus organization is limited to no more than one posting for any event on any single bulletin board.
     • Use of duct tape, paste, or glue is prohibited.
     • All QR codes on postings must be accompanied by text explaining the website that the code leads to.
     • Postings in unauthorized locations (e.g. trees, buildings, doors, windows, statues, furniture, foundations, machinery) are prohibited unless authorized by the Dean of Students Office.
2.  Digital Bulletin Boards
   • Campus organizations may submit digital postings through the designated administrative division or academic department contact who oversees a digital sign. (Not all digital sign locations accept submissions.)
   • Digital postings must follow the publicity/posting guidelines above.
3. Large Banner Spaces
   • Campus Organizations may post banners in designated banner areas only after reserveing online through the Scheduling Office using the Tables and Poster Spaces Form in EMS. Banner posting must be sponsored by a Skidmore academic office, college division, or specific club.
   • Outdoor banners may be posted only in designated outdoor areas identified and maintained by the Office of Leadership Activities.
   • Banners may be displayed for a maximum of ten consecutive days.
4. Tables
   • Campus Organizations may reserve table spaces across campus online through the Scheduling Officeusing the Tables and Poster Spaces Form in EMS.
5. Chalking
   • Chalking is only permitted on uncovered, horizonal, concrete, and asphalt surfaces where water can easily wash it way. Chalking is not permitted on the brick exterior walls of campus buildings. (Chalking on improper surfaces is extremely costly to remove.)
   • Messages or slogans of any kind shall not be painted, hung, or otherwise written on trees, buildings, windows, sidewalks, grounds, fountains, walls, or other structures or surfaces, or on the personal property of others.
   • Only erasable, water-soluble chalk may be used.
   • Aerosol chalks and the spraying of chalk with any other substance in order to preserve it are prohibited.
   • All chalking must be signed with the full name of the persons/groups responsible.
6. Table Tents
   • Table tents are small, freestanding advertisements placed in the dining hall and on common area tables to promote campus events or initiatives.
   • Table tent requirements:
     • Must clearly display the full name of the sponsoring organization or individual.
     • Must be removed by the responsible organization within 24-hours after the advertised event has concluded.
7. Lawn Signs
   • Small lawn signs may only be used to advertise an upcoming event or deadline held on the College campus, or sponsored by a campus organization, or to provide directions to such events.
   • All lawn signs must comply with the publicity/poster requirements listed above.

Distribution of Handbills, Petitions, and Other Written Material

• Any member of the College community may distribute non-commercial handbills, petitions, or other written material throughout campus without prior approval, provided they adhere to all applicable laws and Skidmore College’s reasonable and nondiscriminatory Time, Place, and Manner Restrictions.
• Handbills or other written materials may not be attached or affixed to private property (including but not limited to vehicles) without the owner’s permission and may not be dropped or left on the ground or floors, fixtures, furniture, or in other areas in violation of applicable littering laws.
• Distribution of commercial (i.e., for a sale or profit purpose) handbills, petitions, or other written material is prohibited.

Time, Place, and Manner Restrictions for Non-Commercial Handbills, Petitions, and Other Written Material

• Distribution of non-commercial handbills, petitions, and other written material on the College campus is permissible but must not interfere with the entrances and exits of College buildings or the normal flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
• Distribution may not occur within classrooms, academic and administrative departments, or offices; may not interfere with classes, teaching, or College activities related to the educational mission of the College; may not disrupt the functioning or events of the College; and may not interfere with the rights of other members of the College community.
• Distribution to or by employees is prohibited during the employee’s working time. Working time does not include meal periods, rest breaks, or other specific period of the day when employees are not engaged in the performance of their work duties.

Non-College Organization and Off-Campus Vendor Regulations

• Non-college organizations and off-campus vendors may only post on the designated bulletin board on the first floor of Case Center.
• Non-college organizations and off-campus vendors may advertise with the Skidmore News and WSPN Radio, subject to their review and approval processes.
• Non-college postings and publicity are subject to review by the College and may be removed if not in accordance with this policy.

Compliance, Enforcement, and Removal of Postings, Handbills, Petitions, and Other Written Material

• Those who post are obligated to remove posters when the advertised event is over, or after they have been posted for two weeks.
• Student employees may be directed to remove posters that are outdated at the direction of their supervisor.
• Campus Safety and Student Affairs may be contacted for policy violations. Individuals shall not remove others’ posters that they believe violate the policy, unless directed by Campus Safety or an appropriate College official.
• Repeated violations may result in restrictions on future postings or other disciplinary action.
• Appeals for removal of postings can be submitted to the Dean of Students Office.

Cross References or Related Policies

Student Code of Conduct

Civil Disturbance or Demonstrations

Policy on Political Activity