This blog is intended to cronicle the happenings in the lives of those currently living in 2103 Prince George's Hall.

20050301

University of Maryland Reservations Office seeks to deny student groups first amendment rights

Last semester officers of the Students for Life club were denied use of Mckeldin mall for a little cemetary of the innocent demonstration.
I have been able to reserve Mckeldin Mall on behalf of Students for Life, but not without the reservations office, in particluar Steve Adams, telling me I had no right to do so. However, each time I show him the Guidelines on Demonstrations and Leafleting he suddenly remembers one can reserve McKeldin Mall for such things. I am therefore publishing this link for posterity. Look for the following text:
Special Guidelines for Scheduled Demonstrations
Recognized University organizations, full or part-time students and current employees of the University who wish to schedule a demonstration, rally or equivalent activity, may request the space through the regular reservation procedure. Any such request must be made no less than one business day in advance of the activity. The Office of Campus Reservations will respond promptly to any reservation request. In the event a request is denied, an appeal may be made to the Vice President for Student Affairs who shall respond promptly to any such appeal. Demonstrations will be permitted at the following locations, unless another University department or organization has previously reserved the space: McKeldin MallEngineering FieldSouth Chapel FieldHornbake PlazaStamp Student Union (South East Plaza)Nyumburu Amphitheatre
Demonstrations may be held at other locations on campus with the approval of the Vice President for Student Affairs on a first-come, first-serve basis after an assessment that such demonstrations will not otherwise interfere with scheduled University use or fail to comply with the guidelines applicable to all demonstrations.

It's really irritating that he denies our first amendment right while letting other groups reserve it no problem, for the day after we requested the mall some group protesting something in the middle east got the mall without hassle. Someday maybe someone will report this to the vice president for student affairs as perscribed in the guidelines, but as long as Mr. Adams is cooperating why let some other bureaucrat's bias mess up our club's plans.

For the record such statements as "Mckeldin is public domain therefore no one is supposed to really do things on it at all" or "they just changed the policy and now events will only be held on Hornbake Mall" are total BS.

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