Political Activity Guidelines
RESOURCES AND GUIDELINES REGARDING POLITICAL ACTIVITY ON CAMPUS:
As we begin fall semester of this election year, questions are likely to arise regarding permissible campaign activities on campus. This document is a compilation of relevant policies governing political campaign activities at UW-River Falls. The campus supports the values of a free exchange of ideas, reasoned discourse and civil discussion. The intent of these guidelines and policies is to insure an equal playing field for political candidates.
Campaign activities at UW-River Falls are addressed in the following sections:
I. USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
II. USE OF UNIVERSITY FACILITIES
IV. POLITICAL ACTIVITY BY EMPLOYEES
Other Related Content from UW-System
Should disagreements arise over the administration of these guidelines, those concerns may be taken to an oversight committee comprised of the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, the Director of Public Affairs and the Dean for Student Development and Campus Diversity.
I. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES FOR POLITICAL COMMUNICATION
General Guidelines
Information Technology on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus provides a means to quickly communicate with students, faculty and staff. However, this ease of access does not allow unfettered transmission of information because state statutes and Board of Regents Policy regulate their use.
Regent Policy 97-2 on Use of University Information Technology Resources states it is the Board policy to "afford broad access to information technology resources for university students, faculty and staff for use in fulfilling the university's missions, and for appropriate university-related activities." Further, the Policy states that the Regents seek "to foster the robust dialogue" expected in a university setting. Finally, the Policy states that the primary purpose for information technology "is primarily for university purposes and university-related activities."
To balance the Regents' encouragement of a robust dialogue of issues that are within the scope of university-related activities, the following uses of information technology are allowed by category of campus community.
Students: All students, whether acting independently or through a university-sanctioned organization, are allowed access to student campus email directories to provide information on issues advocacy whereby that organization shares information about an issue directly relevant to UW-River Falls as a higher education institution. The content area for these topics is restricted to enabling legislation or appropriations that impact the institution, its students, faculty or staff.
Students are allowed access to student campus email directories for candidate or political party advocacy only to the extent that they may communicate information about events sponsored on campus with or on behalf of a candidate for election so the greater campus community can participate, if they so choose. This information is restricted to event information including the date, time and location of the event.
Communications that oppose or support a specific candidate for election to local, state or federal office are strictly prohibited.
Faculty and staff: Regent Policy 89-8 strictly prohibits political campaigning by UW-RF employees during their regularly scheduled university duties. UWS 18.06 further bars the use of university resources, including facilities and information technology, for communications or activities that are directly intended to support or oppose a political candidate for local, state or federal office.
Faculty and staff are allowed access to campus email directories to communicate information about appearances on campus by candidates for office, with the information restricted to event information including the date, time and location of the event.
Faculty and staff are allowed access to campus email directories to provide information on issues advocacy in which they are sharing information on a subject directly relevant to UW-RF as a higher education institution. The content area for these topics must be directly related to enabling legislation or appropriations that impact the institution, its students, faculty or staff.
Access to email directories will be regulated by Information Technology Services. Those communications that are deemed to be in violation of this Policy will not be distributed, and the sender will be notified of this decision.
See also UW-River Falls Information Technology Services Acceptable Use Policy at: www.its.uwrf.edu/info-news/policies/aup.php
II. USE OF UNIVERSITY FACILITIES BY POLITICAL GROUPS:
Please consult the UW System website for general policies regarding the use of university facilities for political purposes.
See also UW-River Falls Administrative Policy Paper #19, section 3.4 below, also posted at
www.uwrf.edu/administration/policies/ad_pol/adpol19.html
3.4 Use of University Facilities for Political Purposes –
University facilities can be used by legislators, senators, and other elected state and federal officials or their representatives for meetings with students, faculty or staff. These meetings will be scheduled through the Chancellor's Office or through the Director of Public Affairs Office. There will not be a charge for these events.
If a political candidate or a political party wants to hold an event on campus (meeting, get acquainted session, press conference, campaigning) and it is not at the invitation of the Chancellor or Director of Public Affairs, a contract and rental fee must be established. Use of University facilities in such cases shall be coordinated by the Director of Conference and Events.
The University must remain neutral in the use of University facilities for political activities. Sponsors should ensure that any opportunity that is provided to one party or candidate is extended to other candidates. (As an example, faculty or staff who extend an invitation to a candidate to meet with them in a University meeting room or a division conference room to discuss election issues should extend an invitation to other candidates to that meeting or to a similar meeting.)
Student organizations such as the College Democrats and College Republicans can sponsor political events such as an "information table" or "get acquainted meeting" in the Student Center without a facility rental or contract. However, the use of other buildings on campus will require a University contract and rental fee.
State Elections Board rules and State Statutes prevent fund raisers in any State buildings for political candidates or political parties. The only exception is for residence halls, dining halls or lounges that are considered a "residence" for students. Student groups must go through the Residential Living Committee to secure approval for such a use.
No candidate can take a donation in a State building, except for those events that are approved for residence halls.
Use of UW-River Falls Residence Halls for Political Purposes:
UWS 18.06 (16m) – CAMPAIGNING IN STATE-OWNED RESIDENCE HALLS. (a) The residence halls students of each institution, subject to the approval of the chief administrative officer, shall establish policies and procedures assuring that political literature may be distributed and political campaigning may be conducted in state-owned residence halls consistent with the rights of residence halls students, and prescribing the time, place and manner in which these activities may be conducted.
(b) Where appropriate and consistent with the rights of residence halls students, the policies and procedures developed under this subsection shall apply to all residence halls at an institution. Matters to be addressed in institutional policies and procedures shall include at least the following:
- The hours of the day and the time of year, if any, to which particular activities shall be limited.
- The locations in residence halls, if any, to which particular activities shall be limited.
- Any requirement for registering or obtaining permission to enter a residence hall before engaging in a particular activity.
(c) Notwithstanding s. UWS 18.09, institutional policies and procedures developed pursuant to this subsection shall be reported to the board of regents for approval.
(d) Institutional policies and procedures developed pursuant to this subsection shall be available at each residence hall, at the office of each chief administrative officer of an institution, and at the office of the secretary to the board of regents.
Political campaign activity in UW-RF Residence halls falls under the heading of Solicitation and thus is covered by the following policy. Based on this policy, campaign activities must be approved by the hall council and limited to the common area of the hall designated by the hall council.
UW-RF RESIDENCE HALLS POSTING POLICY
If someone wants to post items in a residence hall, place the materials in the Hall Manager(s) mailbox for approval prior to being posted. Approved items will be distributed to the desk staff to post.
Individuals/organizations/businesses wishing to have promotional materials posted in University residence halls must have the items delivered directly to the individual residence halls for Hall Manager approval . Campus-affiliated groups/offices may use the inter-campus mail service. Personal deliveries must be made to the front lobby desks during residence hall desk hours, 3:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.
It is generally recommended that posting materials be limited to one item per wing and lobby area (subject to posting space availability in lobbies). The totals are listed below.
Recommended distribution numbers for posting materials:
Crabtree Hall (3156)-8 Johnson Hall (3549)-9 Parker Hall* (3780)-8
Grimm Hall (3255)-8 May Hall (3330)-8 Prucha Hall (3835)-7
Hathorn Hall (3295)-10 McMillan Hall (3551)-8 Stratton Hall (3980)-7
TOTAL 73 *women’s hall, the other 8 are coed
Actual posting of the materials must be done by hall staff members or their designees. There will be some general exceptions (i.e. Homecoming and Winter Carnival royalty posters with prior approval from the Leadership Center). The recommended maximum size for items to be posted is 11” x17”. Items larger than 11”x17” will run the risk of not being posted depending on available space.
Solicitation
Door-to-door solicitation and placing materials on or under resident room doors is not allowed. With prior approval from the respective Hall Council in each residence hall, solicitation may be approved for certain common areas of the building (front lobby, basement, etc.).
Bulk Mailings
The bulk stuffing of individual resident mailboxes has in the past been found to be a waste of paper products, annoying to residents, and ineffective as a promotional strategy. Individuals/organizations/businesses wishing to send items to each resident must pre-address each piece, have items sorted by residence hall in room order, and deliver them through inter-campus or U.S. Mail.
The Leadership Center (425-4911) can provide updates on the number of wings and total numbers of residents in each residence hall.
Again, please note: Nonresidents are not allowed to enter residence hall living units (wings or floors) to solicit, distribute or post materials. If you notice this occurring, document it in an incident report and notify the Hall Manager or Public Safety.
UWS 18.06 (17): SIGNS. No person may erect, post or attach any signs, posters, pictures or any item of a similar nature in or on any building or upon other university lands except on regularly established bulletin boards, or as authorized by the provisions of this code or by the chief administrative officer.
See also UW-RF Administrative Policy Paper #7 below:
Signs. No person may erect, post or attach any signs, posters, pictures or any other item of a similar nature in or on any building or upon other University lands except on regularly established bulletin boards or as authorized by the provisions of this code or by the Chief Administrative Officer. The following buildings have individual established posting policies: Student Center, Library, Rodli Commons, and the Residence Halls. They do not necessarily follow the regulations contained herein.
Bulletin boards which are under the jurisdiction of the college department, residence hall, or administrative office that maintains them be reasonably restricted to the posting of material(s) relevant to the functions of the offices involved.
University building walls and trees are not to be utilized for the posting of materials. The custodial and grounds department are instructed to remove all materials posted on these facilities and objects immediately. Posters or table tents designed with the primary purpose of promoting consumption of alcoholic beverages will not be permitted.
Posters or table tents pertaining to explicit or implied pornography and those containing explicit or implied vulgarity will not be permitted. Posters/notices may be no larger than 14" x 22".
All posters/notices must be removed within 24 hours after the advertised event has taken place. The removal of these posters/notices is the responsibility of the sponsoring organization/department.
Bulletin boards are cleared completely the last day of each semester by the custodial department.
Functions by University groups will take precedence over non-university groups.
Building supervisors have the right to relocate or temporarily remove signs in accordance to relative space.
Any questions regarding the University sign posting policies should be directed to the Director of Facilities Management.
IV. POLITICAL ACTIVITY BY EMPLOYEES:
Please consult the UW System website for general policies regarding Political Campaign Activities of University Employees
See also UWS Board of Regents Resolution #5364 below. Also posted at the www.uwsa.edu Website
POLICY FOR EMPLOYEES ENGAGING IN POLITICAL ACTIVITY OR SEEKING ELECTIVE OFFICE
- Service as an elected official on off-hour demand activities (e.g., school boards, city councils, county boards or local, state or national commissions) would not normally require a reduced appointment or leave of absence. Each case should be reviewed by the appropriate administrative supervisor.
- No political campaigning activities shall be engaged in during hours when an employee is expected to be performing his or her regularly scheduled university duties. Further, as provided by state law, no officer or employee may solicit or receive or be involved in soliciting or receiving any contribution or service for any political purpose from any officer or employee of this state while on state time or engaged in his or her official duties as an officer or employee.
- If a staff member chooses to enter a primary campaign, he or she, in consultation with the appropriate department chairperson and dean or director, should determine whether this activity will impair or encroach on performance of university duties. If it is determined that the activity will have an adverse effect, a reduced-time appointment should be arranged for the period of the primary campaign.
- If a staff member is a candidate in a regular election, step 3 should be followed with the expectation that a reduced-time appointment would be in order.
- If a staff member is elected and the time demands of the office would not allow continuance of full- or part-time performance of university duties, he or she may request a leave of absence under the provisions of Section I. If UW-River Falls wishes to extend the leave of absence in this instance, justification should be advanced to the president of the University of Wisconsin System and the extension must receive the specific approval of the Board of Regents.
Bulletin MRS 227 from the Department of Employment Relations (now Office of State Employment Relations) covers political activities by classified state employees.
http://oser.state.wi.us/bulletins/bulletin_get.asp?bid=49
The broadcasting policy is to comply with the equal time provisions described below.
See Board of Regents policy 80.7 at http://www.uwsa.edu/bor/policies/
This affirms that stations operate under the provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 as amended, and rules of the Federal Communication Commission.
See the following relevant sections of the Code of Federal Regulations below:
Sec. 73.1941 Equal opportunities.
(a) General requirements. Except as otherwise indicated in Sec. 73.1944, no station licensee is required to permit the use of its facilities by any legally qualified candidate for public office, but if any licensee shall permit any such candidate to use its facilities, it
shall afford equal opportunities to all other candidates for that office to use such facilities. Such licensee shall have no power of censorship over the material broadcast by any such candidate. Appearance by a legally qualified candidate on any:
(1) Bona fide newscast;
(2) Bona fide news interview;
(3) Bona fide news documentary (if the appearance of the candidate is incidental to the presentation of the subject or subjects covered by the news documentary); or
(4) On-the-spot coverage of bona fide news events (including, but not limited to political conventions and activities incidental thereto) shall not be deemed to be use of broadcasting station. (Section 315(a) of the Communications Act.)
(b) Uses. As used in this section and Sec. 73.1942, the term “use” means a candidate appearance (including by voice or picture) that is not exempt under paragraphs 73.1941 (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this section.
(c) Timing of request. A request for equal opportunities must be submitted to the licensee within 1 week of the day on which the first prior use giving rise to the right of equal opportunities occurred. Provided, however, that where the person was not a candidate at the time of such first prior use, he or she shall submit his or her request within 1 week of the first subsequent use after he or she has become a legally qualified candidate for the office in question.
(d) Burden of proof. A candidate requesting equal opportunities of the licensee or complaining of noncompliance to the Commission shall have the burden of proving that he or she and his or her opponent are legally qualified candidates for the same public office.
(e) Discrimination between candidates. In making time available to candidates for public office, no licensee shall make any discrimination between candidates in practices, regulations, facilities, or services for or in connection with the service rendered pursuant to this part, or make or give any preference to any candidate for public office or subject any such candidate to any prejudice or disadvantage; nor shall any licensee make any contract or other agreement which shall have the effect of permitting any legally qualified candidate for any public office to broadcast to the exclusion of other legally qualified candidates for the same public office.
[57 FR 208, Jan. 3, 1992, as amended at 59 FR 14568, Mar. 29, 1994]
