Political Campaign Activities in Residence Halls

Pursuant to Wis. Admin. Code § UWS 18.11(9), individuals and organizations are permitted to engage in political campaigning and the distribution of political literature in UW-Green Bay residence halls and apartments as provided by the rules below: 

• For purposes of this policy, political campaigning and distribution of political literature (hereinafter, “campaigning”) means advocacy and education directly related to one of the following in an upcoming municipal, state, or national election:
  • Voter registration or voting in the election;
  • A candidate registered to appear on the ballot in the election; or
  • A referendum question registered to appear on the ballot in the election.
• Campaigning is permitted only in designated tabling locations. Designated tabling locations include the Community Center Multi-Purpose Room, or the lobby of Cort Condon.  Campaigning is only allowed during the academic year between the hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Individuals or organizations wishing to engage in campaigning activity must register with the Office of Housing and Residential Education (housing@uwgb.edu or 920-465-2040) at least two full business days in advance of each campaigning event.  Advanced approval by the Office of Housing and Residential Education of the registration requests is required, and it will not be granted if the reservable space has already been reserved by another party at the time of request.  The Office of Housing and Residential Education may require certain information about the registrants and the contemplated campaigning activity, but shall not, on the basis of viewpoint, or unreasonably otherwise, withhold approval. 
• In addition to the other requirements herein, any campaigning individual who is not a current UW-Green Bay student must be physically accompanied in the residence hall at all times by a current UW-Green Bay student or a UWGB employee, secured by the campaigning entity, who has not otherwise been prohibited from entering areas managed by the Office of Housing and Residential Education and agrees to take responsibility for the activity’s adherence to all applicable rules.  This provision does not apply in any context in which the Registrant would otherwise be permitted to be unaccompanied in the residence hall or apartment.
• Upon arrival on campus for campaigning, a registrant must check in by contacting the Office of Housing and Residential Education at the Community Center front desk prior to going to the reserved site. Registrants need to present identification and wear identification during their campaigning.        This can be official campaign identification or campus-provided name tags.
• Door-to-door campaigning and other entry into residence hall or apartment living areas (except as may be needed to use the restroom) by individuals engaged in campaigning, with the exception of residents and their invited guests, is prohibited. 
• The placement of political literature on or under residents’ room doors is prohibited. 
• Campaigning activity may include the distribution of political literature and the use of tables and chairs in reserved area, but may not occupy ingress/egress space or otherwise interfere with normal housing operations.  The use of music or amplified sound (i.e. megaphones, microphones, etc.) is prohibited.

• Posting of political literature, other than within the designated campaigning area for the duration of the campaigning event, is prohibited except to the extent that the posting act at issue would be allowed generally by Housing and/or campus posting policies.
• Notwithstanding the above provisions, residents of a residence hall or apartment, as well as their invited guests, may communicate in the public spaces of their residence halls or apartments and their individual assigned rooms about political matters (including, for example, via door-to-door campaigning) with as much freedom as residents and their invited guests, respectively, are permitted to communicate generally under applicable housing policies.  Relatedly, all residents and guests must abide by any Housing and Residential Education polices allowing other residents to opt out of disturbances to their dwelling unit doors.  Residents may opt out of in hall campaigning by placing a Do Not Disturb sign on their door.  Nothing in this policy shall be interpreted to violate any student’s rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.