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MSU Denver supports student activism.
Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) supports and promotes freedom of expression and peaceful assembly by students, faculty, staff, and the general public. Student activism is a powerful catalyst for transformation and social change. Activism can be an effective method of educating, raising awareness to help empower our communities, opening new ways of thinking, and enabling students and others to confront and solve problems facing our society.
Accordingly, MSU Denver encourages students to be actively engaged in their communities and supports students’ rights to engage in activism both on and off campus, including through protests and demonstrations. The campus is interested in maximizing the safety and preserving the rights of those participating in the activities as well as those impacted by them. Therefore, the Division of Student Affairs strives to provide proactive education and information to individual students and student organizations who express interest in organizing such activities.
Students: It is important for you to know that you can organize and/or participate in protests with the assurance that you will not face repercussions from the University solely for your participation in or organization of protests or similar forms of activism.
You should not rely completely on any of these materials without critically examining each of them. Instead, you should use these materials to create your own action plan that serves your respective activism/advocacy goals.
The Role of The Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion
The MSU Denver Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion (CMEI) supports students who seek to express their first amendment right to freedom of speech and provides resources such as this guide to help with their activism/advocacy endeavors. This website was created to be used as a resource for students and student organizations interested in utilizing the power of their voice and ensuring their safety in doing so on the Auraria Campus.
The CMEI aims to provide numerous resources in order to provide context, history, and methods for student action. It is important that you understand that the resources shared in this guide are pieces of an evolving and complex framework of activism and advocacy, and the University shares all of these items not as an endorsement, requirement, or absolute but as an opportunity to provide you with as much relevant information as possible.
What the CMEI does: The CMEI does provide support and resources (like this guide), direct students to appropriate University and external partners, and show student organizations how to apply for funding for their events and initiatives.
What the CMEI doesn’t do: The CMEI does not plan protests, demonstrations, or other advocacy events for students. MSU Denver student voices and work must drive activism/advocacy initiatives at the university.
Where to Begin
Participation and involvement in activism and protests are not a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Please note that violations of the Student Code of Conduct that occur as part of a protest or similar event could be pursued for response by the University.
In this guide, you will find numerous links to laws, policies, procedures, and support.
We begin our resource guide by citing the structure used in the Advocates for Youth’s “Youth Activist Toolkit”. For more information on the toolkit and details of the structured laid out below, please visit the Youth Activist Toolkit.
The Youth Activist Toolkit suggests that you should do the following:
- Getting started
- Understand what organizing is.
- Identify the change you want to see.
- Examine the root cause.
- Determine your demands.
- Create a strategy
- Understand what a strategy is.
- Complete a power analysis.
- Utilize the power map tool.
- Craft your message
- Understand what messaging is.
- Learn how to tell stories (yourselves and others).
- Conduct a narrative power analysis to understand ideas.
- Consider using art and social media for your activism/advocacy.
- Build a collective/collective power
- Understand what collective power is.
- Recruit people who support your ideas.
- Develop leaders for your movement.
- Push supports to become and stay engaged.
- Use your power
- Determine what your tactics are and what popular tactics are.
- Recognize what your tactics are and how to escalate.
- Consider non-violent intervention tactics that fit your movement.
- Sustain your movement
- Practice self-care to sustain your movement/organization.
- Develop methods to deal with group conflict.
- Determine what progress, winning, and accountability looks like.
Hosting an Event on Campus
Events are a common way of educating others, bringing together individuals with shared interests, or otherwise calling attention to an important issue. In the context of the University and on the Auraria campus, there are several key considerations and steps to take in order to support an event’s success – regardless of the cause/purpose.
We are situated on a unique college campus that calls for special considerations for events and activities on campus. The Auraria Campus is a dynamic academic environment shared by three separate and distinct institutions of higher learning that are all designated Hispanic Serving Institutions:
- Community College of Denver
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- University of Colorado Denver
The Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) is a separate state entity whose role is to provide and manage shared services, facilities, and property to support these prominent institutions in achieving their goals. The collective student population is nearly 38,000, with approximately 5,000 faculty and staff.
The Auraria Campus acknowledges and respects the rights of individuals or groups to gather on public property for the purpose of peaceful assembly. Peaceful assembly is defined as any purposeful gathering on campus common exterior property by one or more persons whose conduct is peaceful and is in accordance with the campus rules, policies, procedures and laws including the Campus Weapons Policy, State of Colorado laws and rules with respect to weapons, and other policies outlined in this and other campus policies. Peaceful assembly includes but is not limited to; meetings, speeches, debates, demonstrations, marches, vigils, rallies, protests and similar meetings or gatherings that do not threaten or violate policies and rules, interfere with the administration or conduct of campus business or normal campus functions, regular schedules, or events, infringe on the rights of others, endanger the health or safety of others, or damage or destroy property.
An act by persons engaged in such assemblies which interferes with the rights of others, disrupts the normal functioning of the campus, damages property, or endangers health or safety is grounds for suspension or dismissal from the campus and/or removal from campus property. In addition, such actions may also be the basis for criminal charges by law enforcement authorities. Such assemblies are prohibited inside any campus building, classroom facility, or in any instance which interferes with educational functions or other scheduled activities. Persons refusing to vacate premises upon request are subject to immediate suspension of activities, and arrest under applicable municipal and state laws. Students or student organizations will be held to the standard of the Code of Conduct at their respective institutions if any standards in the code are violated during the assembly.
Recognized student organizations or campus community members at large should work with their Student Activities/Student Life Offices and the Auraria Campus Events Services Office (ACES) to ensure proper coordination. Other persons or organizations planning assemblies on the Auraria Campus are strongly encouraged to work with a campus entity, either a student organization or a recognized institutional department. Further, other persons or organizations are strongly encouraged to coordinate their activities and plans in advance through the Auraria Campus Events Services Office (ACES). This coordination is requested so as to prevent disruption of normal campus activities and avoid endangering the health or safety of persons or damage to property. Non-campus community members should register with ACES prior to engaging in peaceful assembly type activities and to assure that other activities will not be impacted.
Resources for Hosting an Event on Campus
There are resources in place to assist with your event reservation process. It is helpful to gather the following information before meeting with the appropriate resources:
- Type of facility desired (i.e., reception room, lecture space, performance space, etc.).
- Date and time of the proposed event.
- Sponsoring group name.
- Complete name, phone numbers and address of responsible party, and faculty/staff advisor name and number (for student organization).
- Type of event.
- Estimated attendance.
- Special requirements (AV equipment, special access, etc.).
- Admission charge or registration fee information.
- Food and Beverage services required.
- Campus account number (when applicable).
- Parking needs (for speaker or guests).
- Completion of an Event Permit Application if necessary.
- Space Reservation
- Reserving Event/Meeting Space Through Auraria Campus Event Services (ACES)
- Contact Auraria Campus Event Services for event policies and procedures, space/venue rental, catering, rental rates, etc. All reservations for Auraria Campus facilities and grounds shall be coordinated through the ACES Office, located in Room 325 of the Tivoli Student Union (303-556-2755). For more guidance and information about space reservations, please read the Auraria Campus Event Services Policies and Procedures.
- Auraria Campus Events Services (ACES) is a department of the Auraria Campus Programs Division of the Auraria Higher Education Center and is responsible for all non-academic scheduling which includes the facilities of the Tivoli Student Union, St. CajetanĘĽs Center, the Event Center, all common areas in the shared/ jointly owned classroom buildings and all exterior spaces (including the Tivoli Quadrangle (Quad) & Commons, the Lawrence Street Academic Mall, 9th Street Park, etc.).
- All facilities are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis (except as noted in the “Special Use Facilities” section and the “Tivoli Scheduling Priorities” section). ACES staff will guide organizations and persons in assigning a facility which will best meet the needs of each client, whether they are planning a social, recreational, educational, or other program.
- Any outdoor event held on the Auraria Campus must submit to ACES an application for outdoor event permit and meet required criterion before being considered for approval. For more information on outdoor events, please visit the Auraria Campus Event Services Policies and Procedures.
- Large or complex events, including but not limited to those anticipated to gather a high concentration of people will require that the event be scheduled a minimum of 180 days in advance to ensure proper coordination of event needs, staffing levels, costs identification, etc. By consensus of the President or Chancellor of the sponsoring institution, and the Chief Executive Officer for Auraria, the minimum advanced notice may be modified or waived provided that adequate resources are available to appropriately provide for the event. Recognized student organizations may also be required to attend a planning meeting held not less than 30 days in advance of the event, at the discretion of their Student Activities/Life Office and/or the Auraria Campus Police. These meetings are intended to allow for maximum coordination and communication to ensure a successful event.
- Reserving Event/Meeting Space Through Auraria Campus Event Services (ACES)
- Reserving Event/Meeting Space for University Owned Buildings Through the Department of Facilities
- Contact the Department of Facilities at [email protected] and/or visit their website for more information and guidance.
- Both the Jordan Student Success Building and Aerospace and Engineering Sciences Building have a variety of indoor and outdoor event spaces. Space in these two buildings is free for MSU Denver student organizations. For more information visit the following website. To book space in these two buildings, please contact the Event Scheduling Assistant at [email protected]
For more information on event set up, facilities needs, and safety protocols and measures, please visit the Auraria Campus Event Services Policies and Procedures.
- Set-Up Needs: In order to maximize safety, ingress/egress and technical needs such as power, etc., the ACES staff may determine specifics of set-up needs, including such items as stage placement, etc. All aisles leading to exit doors must be kept clear and unobstructed. During the period of use, exit doors must not be fastened and/or obstructed so that doors cannot be readily opened from the inside.
- Clean Up: Events including clean-up and band equipment tear down must fall within the scheduled reservation time.
- Event End Time: “Event” end times may not be scheduled beyond 12:00 am for any facility. This is considered to be the maximum end time/vacate time of an event (meaning all attendees must leave the area at this time). Last call must be planned accordingly. Please refer to the Special Events Involving Alcohol Policy for more information. The maximum “reservation” end time (allowing for tear down) may not exceed 1:00 A.M. This means that tear down and removal of equipment must be completed no later than 1:00 A.M. All individuals must have vacated the area by this time. Organizations not complying with these end times will be assessed a penalty fee and may not be allowed to schedule future after hours events. In addition, organizations needing additional set-up and tear down time either before or following an event, whether planned or unplanned, will be assessed an additional charge for use of the facility for that purpose.
- Signage: Signs advertising same day location of an event must comply with posting policies. Contact the ACES Office for assistance in the appropriate locations and sizes of directional signage.
- Decorations: In order to maintain the facilities in ideal condition for everyone’s use, and for safety and liability reasons all decorations, displays and exhibits must be approved in advance by the ACES staff.
In the Tivoli Turnhalle, no decorations, attachments or alterations of any kind may be done to the staging curtains. Any movement or adjustment of these curtains MUST be done by ACES staff.
Decorations, displays or exhibits which require flame or water cannot be used in any Auraria Campus facility. Candles in appropriate containers must be approved by ACES. Decorations must meet minimum safety standards. The use of hay or other dry tinder is also prohibited. The use of tape, paint, glue or aerosol sprays is not permitted in interior spaces. No glitter or confetti is permitted.
Time(s) for decorating must be arranged in advance and is considered as part of the reservation period. All decoration materials must be removed immediately following the event unless prior permission is given (pre-approved additional time allotment for decoration removal may also result in additional rental charges).
- Fire and Safety Measures: Capacities are established by fire and safety code, in conjunction with room configurations. In order to assure the safety of all in attendance at events, ACES and Auraria Campus Police have the right to restrict access if it is deemed that the designated capacity has been exceeded.
- Event Permit Application (if applicable): All reservations require lead-time dependent upon the nature and details of the event. A minimum 45 business day notice (or more, dependent upon the nature and size of the event) is required for large or complex events. Large and/or complex events will further require an Event Permit Application that will be subject to additional review and approval. Be sure to consult with the ACES Office to determine the specific notice required for each event type and the potential necessity for an Event Permit Application.
- Liability Insurance Coverage (if applicable): Certain events will require additional Liability Insurance Coverage which lists the Auraria Higher Education Center and the Department of Student Facilities & Services as additional insured, in conjunction with adhering to other State requirements, and will be outlined in detailed contract agreements coordinated by the ACES Office. In such cases, a certificate of insurance will be required in advance of the event. Failure to provide the certificates will result in cancellation of the event.
- Security Measures at Event (if applicable): ACES and the Auraria Campus Police may require that adequate security measures be taken to provide protection for event speakers, for persons seeking attendance at an event, for the Auraria Campus property involved and for the Auraria Campus Community. Sponsors of events are responsible for these costs related to the event. When possible, ACES and the Auraria Campus Police will make every effort to determine these costs in advance of the event. Sponsors may be required to make a security deposit and will be held responsible for additional costs resulting from the event, including but not limited to payment for turf damage related to the event, excessive cleanup and/or support staffing requirements, etc. ACES and the Auraria Campus Police may require other restrictions to participation or observing an event based on conditions that are present at the time of the event. These restrictions may include banning of items such as backpacks or large bags/purses etc. or requiring passage through metal detectors, other types of discovery, etc. enforcement of reasonable dress code requirements, and other such requirements as deemed necessary to ensure the safety of events on campus.
Protesting and demonstrations are not the only form of activism, but they can often be a powerful part of movements. Other forms of potential events that may occur on campus include, but are not limited to march/rally, peaceful protests/assembly, public forums, vigils, workshops, and other applicable events that may fit a specific cause/purpose.
Protesting and demonstrations require preparation and planning, including understanding how to keep everyone safe, making sure everyone knows their rights on campus and off campus, and putting protocols in place to protect those who participate. Below are resources to learn more about students’ rights as they engage in activism.
- Before Your Event
- Communication Timeline: Your marketing agenda and communication schedule will be influenced by deadlines for deciding on your event. Here are some general timeline rules to stick to when planning your communication strategy:
- By 12 weeks (at least) before the event, you’ll want to announce the event.
- Spend the next 10 weeks (or more) executing your marketing campaign and working on a strategy for communicating necessary information. Keep in mind that you won’t know all this information at once; it will come to you gradually, and you’ll want to be strategic about when you release it.
- You’ll need to keep your other organizing teams informed about your communication strategy so they can send you information you might not have shared otherwise.
- On the week of the event, communicate any and all vital information and share directly with attendees.
- Communication Timeline: Your marketing agenda and communication schedule will be influenced by deadlines for deciding on your event. Here are some general timeline rules to stick to when planning your communication strategy:
- Important Details to Communicate: Communicating the following information will help to prevent unpleasant surprises for both your team as well as the attendees:
- Speakers’/hosts’ names: Since your speakers and hosts are a huge part of what draws attendees to your event, you’ll want to start introducing speakers early on in your event communications. Information to include on your speakers might be keynote titles, photos, and brief introductory bios. You can also consider sharing their presentation slides or any necessary handouts.
- Event agenda and activity: Attendees will need to know the event agenda ahead of time to plan their event activities and make the most of the day.
- Communication channels & necessary downloads: You need to decide the communication channels to use to update your attendees and engage them from the initial moment. It can be an event app, social media, event website, or emails. By considering your attendees demographics, select effective ones and let attendees know how to access them.
- Food and drinks (at least one week out): This is helpful so that people know whether they need to eat beforehand or bring food, especially if they have a food allergy.
- Dress attire: Make sure all participants know how to dress for your event.
- Weather: Outdoor events, transportation and even attire can depend heavily on this crucial detail. You likely won’t know this information until less than one week out.
- Communication Tools: Knowing how to communicate information effectively is important in your event planning process. Beyond merely announcing information, you should engage attendees and get them involved in your event as much as possible. Here is a checklist for you of communication tools.
- Event page on your website: This will help anyone who is interested in learning more about your event easily find updated information in one spot. Potential attendees will most likely come to this page.
- Email marketing: Gather the emails of your past and current attendees as well as your supporters to build a newsletter list. Make sure to build a strong campaign to introduce and confirm any headliners or venue changes all the while featuring your event’s page on your website.
- Mobile Event App: Help to communicate with your attendees going above and beyond providing a mobile agenda and logistics. It is important to select the right event app for your event by considering social media outlet, community board, group chat, push notifications, or all-in-one management system.
- Social Media: Each social network serves as a different tool with a gauge for a unique audience. Who are your attendees?
- Twitter: Twitter is a good place where you will want to feature an up-to-date stream of what’s happening, ask for feedback, answer any questions, share interesting comments and engage more. You can acquaint followers with all speakers and hosts’ official handles.
- Facebook:Â If your audiences are in Facebook, it is a good idea to set your event as public to promote more invitations throughout the Facebook community and moderate shared comments, photos, and videos.
- Instagram: A great place to share high quality sneak peeks of speakers, location, and anything relevant of the event’s story. Be sure to utilize your event hashtag here.
- Posting on Campus: Visit AHEC’s Posting on Campus Policy for more information. Posting of announcements, handbills, posters, advertisements, flyers or printed material of any kind is prohibited everywhere on the Auraria campus, except on authorized kiosks, bulletin boards, and other expressly designated areas. Prohibited areas include the following:
- Light posts
- Windows (interior & exterior glass surfaces, except as permitted in the Tivoli Student Union section.
- Motor vehicles
- Trash cans
- Building exteriors
- Fences
- Trees
- Restrooms
- Parking lots
- Signs
- Doors (common hallway or building doors, except as permitted in the Tivoli Student Union section)
- Classrooms
- Painted surfaces
- During Your Event
- Important Details to Communicate: Remind your team of the day’s agenda and communication plan so that everyone is on the same page. Regarding communication with your attendees, make sure you update attendees with the following information:
- If you use an event app, make sure attendees know how to download the app ahead of time and have access to the event agenda and information.
- Remind everyone of your event hashtag, along with promoting where to share and engage across your social media channels.
- Share what’s going on with those who couldn’t attend. Post photos, videos, and quotes across social media, so your audience at large can feel involved.
- Important Details to Communicate: Remind your team of the day’s agenda and communication plan so that everyone is on the same page. Regarding communication with your attendees, make sure you update attendees with the following information:
- Revisit Your Communication Toolkit: Once your event begins, the significance and purpose of the communication tools may change so make sure to revisit your communication plan.
- If you use a mobile survey, live polling, twitter wall, slide sharing, etc., through your mobile event app, remind your attendees of this during opening remarks. Check if your app can send out an automatic or manual reminder via push notification and emails.
- Be sure to schedule important posts for Twitter and Facebook ahead of time, so organizers and volunteers can focus on capturing real-time content and making sure everything runs smoothly.
- It is up to you to live-stream your event or not, but there are pros and cons of each live streaming app, so make sure you’re aware of any risks of reporting live, functionality or any additional equipment you may need on hand. Here is a checklist for you to consider:
- Choose your location carefully (seat, angle, lighting, lack of zoom, etc.).
- Keep it professional, avoid handheld.
- Avoid any confusion for viewers by keeping a banner with the event name and information in the shot or having someone moderate the feed by posting comments to inform the other viewers of what’s happening.
- Double check that your device has enough hard drive space available and plenty of battery life. Remember to bring a charger.
- Let speakers and anyone within earshot know that you’re filming.
- If you use a mobile survey, live polling, twitter wall, slide sharing, etc., through your mobile event app, remind your attendees of this during opening remarks. Check if your app can send out an automatic or manual reminder via push notification and emails.
- After Your Event
- Thank everyone involved and conclude the event.
- Did you collect attendees’ feedback from a live poll or a mobile survey before/during the event? You can share these results with attendees.
- If you didn’t collect feedback through a mobile survey during an event, you can create a survey and send that out over email within one week.
- Take a moment to consider how you want folks to share their experience afterwards and perhaps capture all their content into a memorable photo album to include on event pages or a thank you email.
- It is important to engage attendees after an event as you will want to get them back for upcoming events. Send out newsletters about this event and the next event within one week after the event through your websites, emails, announcements and bulletin board provided by an event app, and social media.
Media Involvement
The news media can help you communicate issues and timely topics that are in the public interest. Student leaders may want to share unique perspectives with the media to amplify a particular message or to take a position on a public-policy issue.
When engaging with news media, please remember that MSU Denver, expects students to treat all journalists – in public media and student media – equally and with the same level of transparency, integrity and mutual respect.
When speaking with the news media, students may represent themselves or student organization, but they are not authorized to speak on behalf of or represent the official position of the University. Students should make this clear to journalists prior to an interview. MSU Denver has a specified designee, Tim Carroll, Director of Media Relations, to guide all media responses on behalf of the University. If students plan to contact the media, please keep him informed so he can appropriately advise the media on who to contact for more information about student’s public-advocacy efforts.
- Invite Media to Your Event: If you are interested in inviting media to cover your event, it is important to contact them in advance. Below are some things to think about before engaging with media:
- Make sure your media list is in good shape: Start building a basic media list. A media list is your group’s running list of media contacts: local TV affiliates, one or two local radio stations, the political reporters at your local newspapers, notable bloggers, or Met Media (MSU Denver’s student media platform). Consider Spanish-language media outlets too. For help putting this together, start with:
- Look up the main phone numbers of your local TV stations; news radio stations; and the main newspapers in your area, big and small.
- Call the main phone number, ask for the newsroom, and ask them for the main email addresses to send “media advisories” to. Add those emails to your list.
- Start adding specific reporters’ names as you meet them at events or follow them in the paper.
- Make sure your media list is in good shape: Start building a basic media list. A media list is your group’s running list of media contacts: local TV affiliates, one or two local radio stations, the political reporters at your local newspapers, notable bloggers, or Met Media (MSU Denver’s student media platform). Consider Spanish-language media outlets too. For help putting this together, start with:
- Write a media advisory: A media advisory is essentially an invitation for members of the press to attend your event. It’s shorter than a press release (one-two paragraphs) and covers the basics of your event: Who, What, Where, When and Why.
- Send your media advisory to your media list – then, follow up:Sending your advisory to the right people with a compelling subject line is the first step because reporters’ inboxes get flooded with advisories every day. The critical next step is pitching your event – following up to make sure the right information gets seen by the right people at the right time.
- Media Coverage: As you plan your event, here are some things to keep in mind should your event be covered by media:
- Timeliness: Is your event focused on a topic that’s relevant in the news right now? If not, can it relate to an anniversary, holiday, or other event that journalists will be interested in? The day before your event if possible, or the morning of – send your media list a media advisory email with the basic information about what’s happening.
- Visuals and audio:What would a TV camera see at your event? What would a radio reporter capture? Take videos/pictures of your action to share with the media to amplify your voice. When sending in videos/photos to the media, remember to add a short description of videos/photos; name of your group or organization; and names of people in the videos/photos (with their permission first).
- Scheduling:Will it be easy for media to make it? Typically, reporters will be available mid-morning and early afternoon. Are you competing with any big local events on the calendar? Your group will need to balance these considerations with other factors, such as finding a time that makes it easy for your members to turn out.
- Interviews: Different members of your group may be the best choice to speak with reporters on different times or days of your event. Always assume that if you say something on camera, it can be used later, and if you write it in an email, it could be published.
- What to do should you experience challenges on the day of your event: If media or a group is counter protesting or attempting to interfere with your initial event:
- Remember that counter-protestors have free speech rights, and police are allowed to keep protestors and counter-protestors separate. However, protestors and counter-protestors are generally allowed to be within sound and sight of each other.
- Do not engage in conflict and discourage interaction that might lead to conflict.
- Maintain distance from other group(s) and aim to conduct your event as if counter-protesters were not present.
- When you are lawfully in a public place, you may document through photos and videos anything in plain view. When you are on private property, the owner may establish the rules. Contact Auraria Campus Police Department immediately if a threat to safety is presented or if counter-protestors attempt to illegally disrupt your event.
Relevant Laws and Policies for Student Activism
In order to build, use, and sustain power for students’ activism work, it is important to understand the laws and policies that exist inside and outside of the institution. Understanding of laws, policies, and regulations will be important components for crafting tactics to fit your movement. These laws and policies should serve as a starting point for understanding protests and demonstrations, and student activists should be cognizant of how each policy, procedure, or law applies to their specific situation.
Federal and State Laws
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
This law means that generally students and others have a right to peacefully assemble or protest on public property to express, promote, pursue, or defend their collective or shared ideas.
CO – Colorado Revised Statutes Annotated C.R.S. 23-5-144 Title 23. Postsecondary Education
The Colorado Revised Statutes are Colorado laws stating that the rights of students to exercise their freedom of speech on the campuses of public institutions of higher education are protected, while recognizing the right of the institutions to enact reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions that preserve their ability to fulfill their educational missions as well.
MSU Denver Policies
Auraria Campus Police Department First Amendment Assemblies Policy
*We recognize the complex relationship and challenges that many in our community have with policing and police departments. We also acknowledge the harm that many in our community have faced as a result of policing. We share this information with that knowledge in mind, so students are aware of the policies in place concerning activism on campus.
The First Amendment Assemblies policy provides guidance for responding to public assemblies or demonstrations. It is the policy of the Auraria Campus Police Department not to unreasonably interfere with, harass, intimidate or discriminate against persons engaged in the lawful exercise of their rights, while also preserving the peace, protecting life and preventing the destruction of property.
MSU Denver University Policy Library
Please visit the policy library to learn more about the University’s governance and operational policies applicable to students and their rights and responsibilities regarding free expression and peaceful assembly.
MSU Denver Social Media Policy
This policy defines the rules and procedures for the creation and use of official, University social media sites in accordance with federal and state law and other University policies. Additionally, this policy advises MSU Denver employees and students who indicate institutional affiliation on their personal profiles on their rights and responsibilities regarding free expression, as well as how to balance their institutional affiliation with personal use. This policy applies to University employees, students, organizations and others who create and/or maintain an official, University presence on social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, LinkedIn, YouTube, and others, to conduct official, University business.
MSU Denver Student Code of Conduct
The MSU Denver Student Code of Conduct outlines community responsibilities for students during their time at MSU Denver. As students pursue their education, the academic and community environment is supported by values of accountability, respect, justice, and equity.
Resources and Support
MSU Denver Resources
In order to sustain movements, it is important that you understand how to practice self-care, how to deal with conflict, and how to prioritize accountability as you engage in student activism. MSU Denver has numerous resources that can support individuals and groups as they navigate which methods of engagement and activism work best for them. Below are resources that you may reference and seek out for support as you engage in student activism on campus.
The MSU Denver Counseling Center can help you find ways to manage difficult times and provide you with a comforting place to examine your life and learn more about yourself as you engage in and navigate the complexities and challenges of activism.
Freedom of expression is important to MSU Denver’s commitment to ensure inclusive educational opportunities for students. The Dean of Students Office is a great resource if you have questions about your rights as a student.
The Dialogues Program brings together students who engage in activism to participate in small group facilitated dialogues. Dialogue brings people together to deeply engage in listening, sharing our lived experiences, and challenges us to think about different perspectives other than our own. Above all, dialogue is about having a space to learn from each other despite differences and to create change by talking about action.
MSU Denver Restorative Justice Coalition
Another service offered to students who engage in activism is the Restorative Justice Coalition, which help students to explore restorative practices as a response to conflict and harm that occurs at MSU Denver.
Additional Information and Resources
Advocacy vs. Activism
Advocacy and activism both have a place in movements to promote, direct, or intervene in social, political, economic, or environmental reform with the desire to create changes toward a perceived greater good. When crafting your plans, it is important to understand whether individuals are acting as activists, advocates, or both. It is through advocacy and activism that students develop communication, relationship building, connections, and critical thinking skills. Eva Lewis has stated: “To be an activist is to speak. To be an advocate is to listen. Society can’t move forward without both.” Below are a few resources to help students understand the significance and impact of advocacy and activism so that they are more intentional about their goal and outcomes as they engage in the work.
- Advocacy versus Activism: What is the Difference?
- Defining Racial Justice Terms: Advocacy vs. Activism
- Four Levels of Activism
- What’s the Difference Between an Advocate and an Activist? Have You Been Mislabeling?
Being an Activist in College
Activism is not easy, especially in college. As students consider what methods and tactics to use, they must balance the needs of the movement with their needs as a student. Below are a few resources in guiding students’ work as activists on campus as they navigate the challenges of being first a student.
- A Student Should Have the Privilege of Just Being a Student: Student Activism as Labor
- Patterns of Student Protests
- Want to be a College Activist? 6 Tips From Successful Protests
Inclusiveness in Activism
Activism does not occur in silos. You will find that successful activism means being intentional about including the wants and needs of various groups. Through harnessing the power of inclusive activism, people can tap into the dynamic power of community to achieve more than would be seen as previously possible. As such, it is important for student activists to have the resources necessary to have an intersectional and inclusive movement as they partake in building inclusivity within activism. Below are resources to guide student activists in ensuring that their campus activism is intersectional as they engage in the work of activism and advocacy.
- Activists’ Guide to Intersectionality and Inclusivity in the Amendment Movement
- How to be Inclusive: An Introduction
- The Intersection between Chickering’s Theory and Generation Z Student of Color Activism
Allyship
Many people want to show support and solidarity or act as allies with a movement. Often, we see that people have good intent, but the impact is not always positive. So, it is important to understand what it means to be an ally, what type of ally to be, and how to avoid performativity. Below are resources to help students understand the concepts and framing around allyship as they engage in the work of advocacy and activism.