Commitment to Free Expression/Free Speech

As an institution of higher learning and an inclusive marketplace of ideas, Central Michigan University actively encourages the robust, free and open exchange of ideas. CMU invites members of its community to explore, discuss and debate ideas, including those related to difficult, challenging and/or sensitive topics. These exchanges can take the form of, but are not limited to, classroom discussions, open forums, guest speakers, public debates, demonstrations, marches, tabling and signage, and comments on CMU’s main social media accounts.

CMU’s Commitment to Free Expression applies on our main campus in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, as well as in educational spaces online and branch campuses. Policies and protections extend to students, faculty, staff, visitors and guests on our campus, as well as those who are engaging in learning online and in locations owned or affiliated with CMU.

While the university fully supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their First Amendment right to free expression, the university must also maintain an environment conducive to teaching, learning and research. Central Michigan University is committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive community that uplifts and encourages the personal, academic and professional growth of all its students, faculty, staff, alumni, visitors and community partners.

Creating and maintaining this environment requires that members of the university community commit to the values of mutual respect, compassion and inclusiveness. Furthermore, to achieve an environment that supports its academic mission, the university must set parameters for the time, place and manner of expressive activities to ensure students, faculty and staff can carry out the university’s academic mission. The university may also restrict activities that constitute genuine threats, suppress another individual or group’s right to free speech, or violate the law.

Governing policies

The following policies and guidelines provide greater clarity on acceptable/permissible conduct related to Free Expression at Central Michigan University:

A complete list of university-wide administrative policies can be found on the university’s Administrative Policies, Procedures and Guidelines webpage.

In 2024, Central Michigan University’s Academic Senate and CMU's Student Government Association voted to model its approach to Free Expression on the Report of the Committee on Freedom of Expression at Yale.

Resources for expressive activity

Submit a request to provide public comment at a Board of Trustees meeting 
Reserve a room on campus for an event 
File a permit for amplified sound  
Fundraising and Solicitation Policy 
Information on distribution of print materials (Advocacy Policy)  
For students only: 
- Request for tabling at the Bovee University Center (registered student organizations)

Q&A – Free expression at Central Michigan University 

Central Michigan University strives to be a welcoming, inclusive institution of higher learning and is committed to fostering the personal, academic and professional growth of its students, faculty and staff. The pursuit, creation and sharing of knowledge requires the free and open exchange of ideas and, in ideal circumstances, individuals engage in this process respectfully. However, the First Amendment does provide protections for speech that is hateful, and our university must carefully navigate our public responsibility to both uphold the rights of all individuals and to provide an environment conducive to teaching, learning and research.

The following Q&A provides a general overview of how CMU upholds the First Amendment and pursues its academic mission. These are intended to provide context and clarification; however, they should not be construed as policy. Please refer to CMU’s established policies for precise language on policies, procedures and guidelines for conduct.

What does the First Amendment say about free speech/free expression?

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees freedoms related to religion, speech, the press, peaceful assembly and ability to petition the government. 

Broadly interpreted, the First Amendment ensures that every individual has the right to express their ideas and opinions without interference, suppression or retaliation by the government. As a publicly funded institution of higher education, Central Michigan University is obligated to uphold the First Amendment. And, as a community dedicated to the pursuit, creation and sharing of knowledge, we strongly support the free and open exchange of ideas and information made possible by the First Amendment. 

What types of speech are not protected by the First Amendment?

The First Amendment is a powerful protection for free speech and free expression, and it supports an individual’s right to use language that may be deemed hateful or offensive. A few exceptions do exist; they include but may not be limited to:

Speech that incites illegal activity.
Obscenity
Child pornography
Defamatory speech
False advertising
True threats and
Fighting words.

In short, most speech is protected by the First Amendment. CMU has an obligation and responsibility to uphold the First Amendment and also to provide an environment conducive to teaching, learning and research.

Why are people allowed to display offensive images and to say hateful, offensive things at CMU?

Speech is protected by the First Amendment unless it isn’t. As a publicly funded institution of higher education, Central Michigan University is obligated to uphold the First Amendment. The First Amendment provides strong protection for most types of speech, including hate speech.

While CMU may not agree with, condone or support the speech, we respect the rights of individuals to express their ideas and opinions openly — the pursuit of knowledge requires us to wrestle with challenging ideas.

CMU offers opportunities for members of the community to come together to wrestle with challenging ideas and to engage in dialogue around sensitive issues. These include programs by the Institute for Transformational Dialogue, Conversations that Matter, Soup and Substance, and more.

How does CMU respond to the use of racist or threatening speech on its campus?

CMU has established policies governing acceptable behavior by its students, faculty, staff and visitors to its campus. These include the Nondiscrimination Policy, the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures, the Advocacy Policy, Policy on Academic Integrity, and others. Several campus offices hold responsibility for upholding and enforcing these policies, including the Office of Student Conduct, Human Resources and Faculty Personnel Services, and the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity.

Individuals may report incidents of bias and other forms of discrimination, harassment or other forms of racist or threatening speech/behavior by contacting CMU OCRIE or completing the CMU Campus Climate Response Team’s Incident Reporting Form.

When individuals report incidents that violate CMU policies, the university follows established procedures to investigate and take appropriate corrective actions as needed. CMU also reaches out to the impacted individual to offer support and services.

How does CMU balance the First Amendment and its responsibility to provide an inclusive learning environment for students?

The right to free expression is a vital component of education, as the free and open exchange of ideas leads to discovery and fosters the creation and sharing of knowledge. As a university community, we are dedicated to upholding the rights of every individual to freely express their ideas and opinions, even those we may find offensive. And, as we are committed to ensuring that our university serves all individuals, we are also committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment for teaching, learning and research.

Every member of the university community shares responsibility for upholding the rights to free speech and for fostering an inclusive learning environment. Several CMU policies provide guidance for acceptable behavior, and there are many resources available to students, faculty, staff and visitors to help them navigate free expression at CMU.

What is Academic Freedom?

Academic Freedom, as interpreted by the American Association of University Professors, is the right of faculty members to investigate and discuss the ideas and issues in their academic fields and to teach and publish without interference from administrators, trustees, political leaders and others. It also provides protections for free speech in matters of institutional governance. At CMU, the Academic Senate has embraced the AAUP’s statement of principles related to Academic Freedom, and the university adopted an Academic Freedom Policy.

Students also have rights related to Academic Freedom, including the freedom to learn and the rights to free inquiry and free expression. These rights are outlined in the Student Rights section of the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures.

What should I do if I feel I have been harmed by someone’s speech/expressive activities?

If you have been threatened and are concerned about your physical safety, please immediately contact law enforcement by calling 911.

Students, faculty, staff and others who feel they have been discriminated against or harassed should contact CMU’s Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity. CMU community members also may complete CMU’s online bias incident reporting form or contact the CMU Ethics Hotline.

Remember: The First Amendment protects offensive speech. As a part of a large, diverse community, we may encounter individuals whose speech (and other expressive activities) are offensive to us – and that is not illegal. The university will not take disciplinary or retaliatory action against an individual unless they have violated one of CMU’s policies relating to appropriate conduct.

How does CMU manage requests to bring controversial speakers to campus?

As a public institution committed to the practice of free expression, CMU will not prohibit students, faculty and staff from inviting speakers to campus unless there is a significant legal justification. University leaders may work with students, faculty and staff to identify appropriate times, places and manners for these speakers to come to CMU.

We uphold the rights of invited speakers to share their thoughts; the university does not allow individuals or groups to “shout down” or obstruct access for individuals to hear from invited speakers. Individuals may choose to protest invited speaker events in a manner that does not prevent others from accessing, hearing or participating in those activities.

Students wishing to protest an invited speaker must adhere to CMU’s advocacy policy.