Student Handbook Rules for Political Activities
In any year of political campaigns, questions arise as to the use of College facilities for speeches and other activities of political candidates and their College sponsors or supporters. Because the College is a non-profit institution with tax-exempt status, it cannot be put in a position where it is, or seems to be, providing facilities and other forms of support for partisan political activity. The College also must ensure that such activity does not interfere with the regular educational and extracurricular programs of students and faculty at the College.
Procedures for Political Activity
In order to ensure the fair and equitable treatment of all political parties, groups, and ideas, and to ensure that political activity does not interfere with the regular educational and extracurricular programs of the College, faculty, students, and staff must abide by the following regulations:
Mail Room
There will be no use of the College’s mail service or facilities for individual distribution of any political literature that does not come directly from the U.S. Postal Service. Persons wishing to distribute political literature on the general distribution shelves must request permission from the manager of the mail room.
Information Technology Services/Service Bureau
The use of any of the College’s computer facilities or services for the preparation of political materials is strictly prohibited. The College will not provide services for the duplication of political materials.
Use of College Name
No Grinnell student or employee should use the College’s name, letterhead, or logo in a communication in support of a political party or candidate. Letters to a newspaper editor or another periodical in support of or opposition to a candidate or party should avoid identifying the writer as being affiliated with Grinnell College, other than the usage of the person’s mailing address.
Person-to-Person Electioneering
Representatives of political parties or candidates may not solicit votes-either by confronting students, faculty, or staff, or by distributing literature in classroom buildings, the library, residence halls, or places other than the designated area in the Joe Rosenfield ‘25 Center.
- Candidates or their representatives must request permission from the Director of Campus Center Operations and Student Activities (or designee) in order to solicit votes. This should be done in advance of the visitation date.
- Political signs may be posted only in places designated by the Director of Campus Center Operations and Student Activities (or designee).
- Campaign workers may not impede the general flow of traffic within the Joe Rosenfield ‘25 Center. If individuals stop to pick up literature or express an interest in the campaign, campaign workers are free to discuss various issues with them.
Solicitation of Funds
Campaign workers, including students, faculty, and staff, are not permitted to engage in person-to-person or general solicitation of funds on campus for political purposes. Any mail solicitation must be through the U.S. Postal Service only.
Political Speeches
All announced candidates for public office may give talks at the College under the following conditions:
- Such talks are to be open to the entire community with rights of reply afforded to persons in the audience.
- We encourage campaigns to work through campus organizations to plan their events and to follow Campus Scheduling Guidelines.
- All candidates or their representatives must inform Barbara Trish, the chairperson of the College’s Program in Practical Political Education (PPPE), as far in advance of a candidate’s appearance as possible.
- All candidates or their representatives must contact the Office of Conference Operations and Events to arrange for an acceptable time on the Campus Calendar and a location for the event.
- All setup costs related to the speech that go beyond what are considered normal college setups, such as chairs and microphones, microphone in Herrick Chapel, etc., must be paid for by the candidate’s organization. A rental agreement must be signed if special setups are required.
Closed Political Meetings
Political meetings that are closed to the public for purposes of discussing campaign strategies with candidates must be scheduled with the Office of Conference Operations and Events. A rental agreement must be signed and rental fees will be charged for the use of such rooms.
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Author: Program in Practical Political Education (PPPE)
Rationale:
- to ensure the fair and equitable treatment of all political parties, groups, and activities;
- to ensure that political activity does not interfere with in- and out-of-class learning.
Protest and Demonstration Policy
The College affirms the right to assembly and supports student expression in the form of protest and demonstration under the following conditions:
- Protests and/or demonstrations may not impede access to the educational experience for other students, and may not impede access to the employment responsibilities for faculty or staff.
- Protests and/or demonstrations may not cause damage to persons or College property.
- Students engaged in protests and/or demonstrations may not access confidential spaces, confidential information, or private individual offices.
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Author: Dean of Students
Rationale:
- to ensure the rights of assembly while protecting educational access for all students and the faculty/staff who educate them, while also protecting persons, property, and confidentiality.
Advertising/Signs/Tabling
Guidance applies to ALL signs/tabling – not just political.
Additional sign guidance:
Visits by Politicians and Campaign Activities
All visits by politicians must be governed by the guidelines in this document, as well as those in the Student Handbook and the Faculty Handbook.
The handbook policies state, in essence, that such political activity must not jeopardize the College’s standing as a tax-exempt, non-profit institution by providing partisan support for a candidate or partisan political activity.
Full policies and procedures may be found at the following websites:
Conference Operations also has the following document on in GrinnellShare (login required) that is an easy guide for students: Scheduling Political Events.