Bates recognizes and supports free speech by students, including peaceful protest on the Bates campus. Bates has the authority to regulate the time, place, and manner of protests. Protests may take many forms, including, but not limited to: assemblies, demonstrations, rallies, picketing, displaying flyers/posters/banners, distribution of leaflets, petitions, chalking, tabling, and the temporary installation of an object. If protesting as a recognized student club or organization, the group must make clear that they are representing the club or organization’s views and not those of Bates or all students.

Students, especially clubs and organizations, are strongly encouraged to consult with Campus Life in advance of a planned protest for assistance to help plan a protest that is responsible and adheres to college policies. Students are encouraged to give 5 business days’ prior notice of their plans for a protest or other act of public expression to Campus Life. 

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Public Expression Guidelines | Protest Guidelines | Off-Campus Protests | Protests During Summer Break | Resources for Protests

Public Expression Guidelines

The college has established the following rules to mitigate risk to the community while also protecting the principles of freedom of inquiry and expression. Bates College students are held responsible for their conduct at all times. Any student who engages in academic or social misconduct shall be subject to student conduct action by the Office of Community Standards and/or the Student Conduct Committee.

• Acts of public expression may not violate or conflict with local, state, or federal laws.
• Acts of public expression may not violate local Lewiston ordinances.
• Acts of public expression may not violate the College Code of Student Conduct , or the Equal Opportunity, Non-Discrimination, and Anti-Harassment Policy.    
• A single person or group of people does not have the right to prevent the public expression of others (e.g., preventing an invited speaker from being heard).
• Acts of public expression may not violate college policy and may not jeopardize public or individual safety.
• The public expression of views and opinions may not prevent, obstruct, or interfere with the normal operations of the college. Normal operations of the college include, but are not limited to:
  • Academic activities, such as classes, labs, activities in any academic building, etc.
  • Business activities of the college.
  • Events or speakers hosted in accordance with college policy by academic departments, administrative departments, alumni events, or recognized student clubs and organizations.
  • The functioning of the college’s student residences.
  • Pedestrian and vehicular traffic flow.
  • Access to any college facilities.
• Damage or alteration, whether temporary or permanent, to any campus structure or landscape is not permitted unless authorized in advance by the college. Formal requests can be made through Campus Life.
• Non-college individuals or groups are not permitted to engage in public expression on college property.

Protest Guidelines

Bates students are permitted to engage in the following acts with the following guidelines. Individuals other than Bates students, faculty, and staff are not permitted to engage in these acts on the Bates campus. Physical resources for protests may be provided at the discretion of Campus Life and must be reserved at least 5 days in advance.

• Rallies and Picketing: Alumni Walk, the Historic Quad, the Library Quad, and the area surrounding Lake Andrews are acceptable locations for rallies and picketing. Rallies and picketing may not interfere with access to the buildings adjacent to these areas. The college reserves the right, however, to determine an appropriate time and location for a protest to ensure that this policy and these guidelines are followed, and to relocate or suspend any protest that becomes disruptive to the normal operations of the college or that violates college policy.
• Flyers, Posters, and Banners: Flyers, posters, and banners may be displayed on established bulletin boards and poster areas for a maximum of seven days. Posting on other areas, including, but not limited to, doors, windows, buildings, lamp posts, and in stairwells is not permitted. Flyers found in these locations will be removed by college staff.
• Chalking: Chalking must abide by the college Chalking Policy. Chalking is permitted on campus sidewalks only and may be in place for a maximum of seven days. Only regular chalk (non-oil based) that can be removed with water may be used.  Chalking that contains threatening or discriminatory words or imagery are not permitted and will be removed.
• Tabling: Tabling in Commons must be reserved via the Event Management System (EMS), and must be coordinated in conjunction with Dining, Conferences, and Campus Events (DCCE). The college does not permit tabling in Commons by non-college individuals or groups.
• Physical Installations: Temporary physical installations may be in place for a maximum of seven days, unless they are approved as public art by the Committee on Public Art, in which case they may remain installed for a maximum of fourteen days. The building of any structure or placement of decorative objects must not create a safety hazard or interfere with the normal operations of the college. The college reserves the right to restrict the building of any structure or the placement of flags, decorations, or other objects in campus free spaces in association with protests and other acts of public expression. 
  • Encampments, such as tents and/or temporary or permanent shelter structures, are strictly forbidden on campus property and will be removed promptly.  
  • No open flames or torches are allowed. 
  • Physical installations and structures found in other locations will be removed by college staff unless approved as public art. Alumni Walk, the Historic Quad, and the Library Quad are acceptable locations for physical installations and structures that have been approved by Campus Life. 
• Petition drives, person to person solicitation, and Distribution of Leaflets: Alumni Walk, the Historic Quad, the Library Quad, and the area surrounding Lake Andrews are acceptable locations for obtaining petition signatures and distribution of leaflets; petition circulation and leaflet distribution are also permitted at tabling in Commons. Non-college individuals and groups are not permitted to facilitate petition signing or distribute leaflets on college property.
• Amplification Equipment: Individuals or groups seeking the use of amplification on campus must secure approval in advance from Campus Life. The college reserves the right to restrict amplification in order to ensure that it does not interfere with the normal operations of the college.
  • Disruptive amplification, including the use of loudspeakers, bullhorns, or other amplified sound devices that disrupt normal activities or disturb the peace, are not permitted without prior authorization from Campus Life or otherwise designated department.
  • Sound levels should be maintained at reasonable volumes and in accordance with the City of Lewiston’s noise ordinance to minimize disturbance to nearby businesses, residents, or other activities.

Off-Campus Protests

Students who choose to participate and/or coordinate protests off-campus should be mindful of the context and the implications both legally and within the college’s policies. This includes, but is not limited to, the College Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Processes, Equal Opportunity, Non Discrimination, and Anti-Harassment Policy and Non-Retaliation Policy. Students should be mindful that when protesting off-campus, they are representing their views as an individual student, student club, or organization, not Bates as an institution. When planning protests, students should consider how their actions reflect positively or negatively on the institution, and conflict with or reinforce Bates’ values. 

Resources, including staffing support, are limited for off-campus protests. Students are encouraged to meet with a staff member in Campus Life when considering participating and/or coordinating an off-campus protest at least one week in advance when possible. 

Students should consider the reasonableness of the time, place, and manner of off-campus protests. This includes:

• Being respectful and adhering to laws, regulations, and policies during the protest.
• Emphasizing safety when planning and attending protests, including an awareness of the surroundings and potential risks.

Protests During Summer Break

During the summer months, when classes are not in session and clubs and organizations are inactive, resources are limited for supporting protests on campus. Students who remain on campus during the summer months should plan to consult with Campus Life if considering organizing a protest on campus. Students should note the following:

• Protests cannot occur during a student’s working hours.
• Protest participants must make clear that they are not representing the views of Bates, but rather their own. 

Resources for Protests

Resources for protests may be available through Campus Life or other campus partners. There may be a cost affiliated with some of the resources that a student or student group, club or organization would like to utilize, including, but not limited to, transportation and production equipment. Students should expect to incur these additional costs and plan accordingly.

• Audio/Amplification Equipment: Individuals or groups may contact Campus Life to receive assistance with obtaining amplification equipment such as speakers and microphones.
• Transportation: If an individual or group would like to protest in a destination that requires travel off-campus, Campus Life can assist with coordinating transportation. For example, buses may be arranged to help larger groups travel to destinations off-campus. 
• Logistical Support: Campus Life can offer support to individuals or sponsoring organizations that are navigating the resources available to them. For example, the office may assist with reserving a space for tabling, help​​ individuals post their messages to digital signage or through other forms of advertising, and assist with brainstorming with individuals organizing a protest to effectively be heard.
• Production, Security, and Additional Personnel: Campus Life can connect you with a local production company, and can help you to coordinate with Bates Campus Safety, private security companies, Dining, Conferences and Campus Events, or other groups necessary to support the logistics of your protest.