Use of Space

PURPOSE / SCOPE:

The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) staunchly upholds its employees' and students' First Amendment rights. ICOM is committed to creating a campus environment where freedom of expression flourishes alongside mutual respect, intellectual curiosity, and academic excellence. By upholding these principles, we seek to cultivate a community of engaged scholars and responsible citizens who contribute positively to society.

While we affirm the freedom to express support or dissent for various viewpoints, any disruption of operations, acts of violence, vandalism, or other activities impeding ICOM's educational mission will not be tolerated. It is important to note that ICOM’s buildings and grounds are considered private property and, therefore, not subject to the same accommodations as public university campuses.

DEFINITIONS:

• Authorized Individuals - ICOM students and employees and authorized guests.
• Camping - The unauthorized use of ICOM property as a temporary or permanent place of dwelling, lodging, or living accommodations.
• Disruptive Activity - Activity, whether speech activity or not, which materially interferes with the normal use of a certain space, such as a classroom, office, or laboratory.
• Disruptive Noise - Noise where the sound, rhythm, melody, or instrumentation is Plainly Audible to the listener at a distance of 50 feet or more from the speaker or from within the ICOM building.
• ICOM’s Events Committee - A group of individuals who coordinate, plan, and organize internal and external events at ICOM. The team works together to ensure the success of events by overseeing various aspects such as logistics, marketing, and assisting with determining events aligning with the College's Strategic Plan.
• Private Property Areas - The outdoor areas of the campus, including the grass area in front of the building, are considered private property and off-limits to the general public without prior permission from the Administration. ICOM-recognized student groups and faculty sponsors may reserve areas for certain times and activities.
• Speech Activities - Demonstration, picketing, leafleting, petition circulation, distribution of written information, speech-making, oral presentation, and similar free expression-related activities. Fundraising, soliciting donations, and commercial advertising, marketing, and sales are not considered Speech Activities. Major Institution Events are not considered Speech Activities.
• Hosting Organization/Individual - The individual or entity responsible for the activity, including ICOM-recognized student organizations.

POLICY:

All Activities

The following prohibitions apply to all activities in all areas of campus, whether outdoors, inside ICOM Structures, or in parking lots:

1. May not be conducted in a manner that violates federal, state, or local laws.
2. May not be conducted in a manner that violates applicable fire and safety regulations.
3. May not impede the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, including ingress to and egress from ICOM’s buildings, nor disrupt Major Institutional Events.
4. May not be conducted in a manner or at a place or time that disrupts the educational, research, service, and other legitimate functions of the Institution.
5. May not be conducted in a manner that violates rules, regulations, and/or policies of the Institution, including, but not limited to, regulations set out below or other regulations that the Institution may develop.

Reserving Spaces for Events and Activities

ICOM’s Events Committee is responsible for reviewing facility use requests and assisting with execution if needed.

Upon Approval of Specific Activities

1. Tables, Displays, Exhibits: Activities involving tables, chairs, booths, displays, or exhibits that must be set up on the ground are allowed only within reserved rooms or spaces inside the Institution or within Private Areas addressed below.
2. Posts, Stakes, Flags: Activities involving using posts, stakes, or flags that must be installed into the ground are not permitted without permission from the Senior Director of Facilities.
3. Credit Card and Third-Party Solicitations: Vendors that solicit credit cards or require a third party banking or commercial contract are not permitted. This does not apply to vendors authorized to sell food or other merchandise for events sanctioned by ICOM.

Fundraising: Fundraising and solicitation are permitted in Private Areas so long as they do not constitute Disruptive Activity. Such activity may constitute Disruptive Activity inside ICOM and is therefore only allowed inside ICOM with specific permission. If an ICOM-recognized student organization is planning a fundraising activity, an On-Campus Event and Fundraiser Form must be filled out, submitted, and approved by Student Services. Forms are available on ICOM’s Student intranet.

Picketing: Picketing is not allowed in Private Areas or inside ICOM structures because it constitutes Disruptive Activity.

Posting of Signs and Banners

1. Spaces inside ICOM are provided to promote the activities and services of Institutionally Recognized student organizations and departments. To protect the personal property of the ICOM Community and the physical assets of the Institution, outdoor posting is not permitted, including, but not limited to, posting on vehicle windshields or trees or affixing materials to light posts or to the exterior of any other Institution Structure.
2. Within ICOM, specified areas are provided for Institutionally Recognized student organizations and departments. ICOM may post notices regarding Institutional business. Posting on walls, doors, whiteboards, or bathroom stalls is prohibited.
3. ICOM personnel may remove materials posted in violation of this policy. The sponsoring organization or individual responsible for the violation will be responsible for the cost of such removal and any damage to ICOM facilities or grounds.

Passing of Petitions: Petitions are allowed in Private Areas so long as they do not constitute Disruptive Activity.

Distribution of Literature: ICOM is a paperless campus; materials are highly encouraged to be distributed electronically. However, with permission from the Dean or Associate Dean for Student Services and as long as materials do not constitute Disruptive Activity, students may distribute pamphlets, signs, notices, brochures, handouts, flyers, and other free-expression materials in Private Property Areas.

Oral Presentation: With permission from the Dean or Associate Dean of Student Services, Speech- making, demonstrations, and other forms of oral presentation are allowed in Private Property Areas as long as they do not constitute disruptive noise or violate ICOM's Title IX, Anti-Harassment, and Sexual Harassment policy. Sound amplification, including equipment designed or used for sound production, reproduction, or amplification, which creates Disruptive Noise, is not permitted on campus without permission of the President, Dean, or Associate Dean of Student Services.

Camping: Camping is not allowed on ICOM property.

Reservations: Space in Private Property Areas is reserved through ICOM’s Events Team and Student Services. Major Institutional Events will be given priority; if available, reasonably comparable space will be provided to anyone with a reservation who is displaced.

Hosting Organizations/Individuals Will:

1. Dismantle and remove on a daily any table, chairs, displays/exhibits, or any other material used for the activity not belonging to ICOM; or
2. Protect any items left overnight; and
3. Ensure all trash is discarded in proper receptacles.

Parking Spaces: ICOM parking spaces on campus are not public areas.

Violations Enforcement

1. This policy is enforced by ICOM’s Campus Security, the Sr. Director of Facilities, and the Associate Dean for Student Services.
2. Student Doctors will adhere to ICOM’s Honor Code as outlined in the Catalog. The Code delineates instances of unprofessional and unethical conduct along with the corresponding consequences for breaching the standards.
3. Employees can refer to ICOM’s Employee Handbook’s Employment Guidelines.
4. Violations of this policy may result in rescheduling, redirection, relocation, fines, cleanup costs, security costs, exclusion from campus, or denial of future requests for permission to use Institutional property for activities that require such permission imposed upon the violating party.

PRIMARY POLICY OWNER(S):
Senior Director of Facilities

CROSS-REFERENCE AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
Information and links to other policies or supporting documents referenced within this policy.