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Campus Administrators' Reference

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Political Activities Policies


July 14, 2009

 

This is a list of current rules pertaining to political activities, including campaign and election activities, followed by Kansas State University. Participants in political activities should be mindful that all other University policies remain in effect in political activity situations, including, for example:

  • traffic and parking regulations
  • weapons policies
  • computer use policies
  • the workplace violence policy, and
  • other safety, health and conduct policies, as well as
  • applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations

 

State Law

http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-statutes/getStatuteInfo.do

 

  • K.S.A. 25-2430 – prohibits electioneering within a radius of 250 feet from any polling place or the entrance thereof.

This rule applies to everyone.

 

  • K.S.A. 75-2953 – prohibits state employees from using their authority or influence to compel any other state employee to apply for membership in or become a member of any organization, or to pay or promise to pay any assessment, subscription or contribution, or to take part in any political activity.

This rule applies to all of our employees.

 

  • K.S.A. 25-4169a – prohibits government employees from using public funds, vehicles, machinery, equipment or supplies of the agency, or governmental work time, to expressly advocate for the nomination, election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate to state or local office. This rule does not apply to an incumbent officer campaigning for nomination or reelection to a succeeding term to such office or to members of the personal staff of any elected officer.

This rule applies to all of our employees.

 

  • K.S.A. 75-2974 – prohibits supervisory classified employees from soliciting contributions from subordinates for candidates for state office. It also prohibits disciplining any classified employee for making a contribution to or on behalf of any state officer or candidate for state office.

This rule applies to our classified employees and their supervisors.

 

  • K.S.A. 75-2949f – provides that grounds for dismissal of classified employees includes use of the employee's state position, use of the employee's time on the state job or use of state property or facilities by the employee in connection with a political campaign.

This rule applies to all of our classified employees .

 

Board of Regents Policies


http://www.kansasregents.org/policies_procedures

  • Unclassified employees are permitted to hold public office if doing so does not unduly interfere with their job duties.
  • Unclassified employees are free to express opinions speaking or writing as an individuals in signed advertisements, pamphlets and related material in support of or opposition to parties and causes. There will be the commensurate responsibility of making plain that each person so doing is acting for himself and not in behalf of an institution supported by tax funds drawn from citizens of varying political and economic views.
  • Faculty and administrators should make every effort to accommodate requests to appear and testify before legislative committees to provide expert testimony on proposed legislation which may or may not affect the Regents and higher education, and shall notify the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Board of the invitation so that the Board Office will be aware of such appearances.

    •  

The above rules apply to our unclassified employees .

 

  • State facilities shall not be made available for fund raising events for candidates or parties.
  • Facilities of institutions under the Board of Regents may be made available for the purpose of holding political meetings, provided there is no interference with regularly scheduled functions, there is not otherwise available a reasonable facility in the community, students are permitted to hear the speakers without charge, and sponsors pay in advance the regular fees for use of the facilities.
  • Political office holders and candidates shall not be introduced or recognized on campus unless they are participating in the campus event which they are attending.
  • The distribution of handbills shall be prohibited in those areas devoted primarily to instruction or study or at the immediate sites and times of enclosed public events.

 

The above facilities use rules apply to everyone .

 

University Policies

(in addition to those stated above) – found in the campus directory (Student Life section) and in the Policies and Procedures Manual (PPM)

  • Division of Facilities

Facility Use Guidelines

 

See also: Use of KSU Buildings and Grounds - http://www.k-state.edu/policies/ppm/7840.html

Division of Facilities policies contain numerous rules regulating the use of campus buildings and grounds, including rules about:

      • scheduling space
      • displaying signs
      • obtaining fund-raising permits
      • using amplified sound
      • serving food
      • controlling animals

These rules apply to everyone .

 

Regulates on-campus events coordinated by registered student organizations.

 

Regulates commercial activity and advertising on campus.

 

Campus Facilities

Reiterates Board of Regents policies, and adds that use of facilities on campus is subject to the approval of the Associate Vice President for the Division of Facilities.

Residence Halls

Prohibits door-to-door campaigning.

Prohibits campaign materials in common areas of residence halls or dining center areas except in a resident's room with the permission of roommate(s). 

Requires that all candidates be allowed opportunity for equal time and publicity when speaking, if any candidate is allowed to speak.

Requires that to speak to the ARH/HGB of the residence hall, a candidate must contact the President and arrange a speaking time in advance, and that before speaking with hall residents in any public area of the hall (other than at an HGB meeting), a candidate must receive prior permission from the floor president of the floor on which he/she wishes to speak.

Prohibits campaigning (whether verbal, oral, or written in the form of posters, flyers, letters, etc.) by a candidate and/or his/her representative(s) in the dining center areas.  The only exception shall be items of personal clothing and buttons worn by an individual.

Requires prior approval by the appropriate dining center unit head dietitian or his/her designated representative and the KSUARH advisor for use of the dining center areas for political forums or debates sponsored by the hall's HGB or by ARH.

Prohibits solicitation of funds for political organizations or candidates within the residence halls or dining center.

Jardine Apartment Complex

Provides that distribution of political information and/or posters will be allowed only in areas designated by the Residents’ Council and Jardine Apartments Coordinator.

Requires sponsorship and arrangements for appearance before any political organizations or candidates will be allowed to hold meetings or rallies.

K-State Student Union

A.  The K-State Student Union has its own regulations for posting and maintaining its own posting areas.

B.  The only political literature that can be distributed is from behind a table sponsored by a registered student organization.

C.  The usage of any meeting rooms by any political party will follow guidelines as outlined in Section 1-B for campus facilities.

Literature Distribution on Campus

A. Registered student organizations may distribute literature on campus or in any campus building (with approval of the authority of the building), providing such distribution does not reasonably interfere with the movement of traffic, classes, or other scheduled activities.

B.  A non-registered group or individual may distribute literature only in the area between Seaton Hall and the K-State Student Union, in the quadrangle north of Hale Library, or in the quadrangle east of Calvin Hall.

C.  Placing notices in or on parked cars in campus parking lots is prohibited.

Posting on Campus

Non-registered student organizations or individuals are not permitted to post notices on campus.  Registered organizations may post according to the KSU Publicity Regulations (available in the Office of Student Activities and Services).

See also: Publicity Regulations - http://www.k-state.edu/policies/ppm/8570.html

E-mail

University information technology resources, including e-mail, may not be used to support partisan political candidates or party fundraising.

Major Candidate Visits

Campus visits by major candidates must be coordinated through the Director of Governmental Relations to insure that proper and adequate arrangements have been made to accommodate security, press, crowd, etc.

 

  • Policy Concerning Religious Activities

See Campus Directory or http://ksu.edu/osas/handbook

Coordinator of Religious Activities

 

 

Regulates on-campus advertising and other publicity. Requires truth in advertising, restricts size and placement of posters. Addresses:

      • hanging of banners
      • sidewalk marking, and
      • distribution of general literature

Refers also to Union and residence hall rules on publicity and posting.

 

See also: Media Guide http://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/videoguidelines.html

Guidelines for photo and video on the Kansas State University campus

(excerpt):

Political advertisements may not imply endorsement by Kansas State University. Therefore, K-State's landmarks, buildings, grounds, mascot and/or logos may not be used in any political advertisement. In keeping with the Regents policy on political use of campus facilities, photographs and videos which use K-State's name, buildings, landmarks or other indicia shall not be used in advertising which promotes candidates or parties.

This rule applies to everyone.

 

On Tuesday, July 1, 2008, Governor Kathleen Sebelius sent a memorandum to all State employees outlining issues that State employees need to keep in mind while participating in political activities of their choosing. Click here to read Governor Sebelius' memo.