NC H527

Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina must adopt a policy on free expression stating that institutions cannot shield individuals from First Amendment-protected speech, even if offensive or disagreeable.

Constituent institutions cannot take institutional positions on public policy controversies requiring students, faculty, or administrators to publicly express a given view on social issues.

Students and faculty permitted to discuss any problem and assemble for expressive activity if lawful and not materially disrupting institutional function, subject to narrowly tailored, viewpoint-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions.

Board of Governors shall establish an 11-member Committee on Free Expression to report annually to the public, Board, Governor, and General Assembly on barriers to free expression, disciplinary actions, institutional neutrality challenges, and recommendations.

Institutions may only restrict student expression for unprotected speech including violations of law, defamation, unlawful harassment, true threats, privacy violations, substantial disruptions, and reasonable time/place/manner restrictions; all freshman orientation programs must include free expression policies.