Political Activity, Political & Public Interest Advocacy and the Use of CSN Facilities Policy

A policy of nonpartisanship for elected officials and neutrality of position on public interest issues will govern the college at all times. The following guidelines will be followed:

• CSN will not sponsor or support political candidates.
• CSN will not endorse any position on public interest issues.
• CSN campus mail, emails, phones or faxes will not be used to distribute political or public interest materials in any form. This applies to both members and nonmembers of the CSN community.
• Campaign signs and handbills for public officials or for ballot initiatives or questions or public interest issues are subject to the college’s Posting Policy. Interference with entrances to buildings, classrooms, offices or study areas at any CSN location is prohibited at all times and places.
• All literature, petitions and materials may be offered but not distributed in a manner that would be considered coercive, or interfere with the normal progression to classes, college business or flow of traffic. In such cases, the Campus Administrators or his/her designee may ask the person to vacate the premises.
• If any materials or signs are placed on campus in violation of the Posting Policy, the Campus Administrators should be notified immediately. CSN will attempt to contact the owner of such materials or signs to voluntarily remove them. If not immediately removed, CSN will remove them.
• Any amplified sound must not interfere with academic instruction, other scheduled events, normal business of the college, or the general public.
• All persons, whether employees, students or non-students, who wish to use areas for rallies or other forms of advertised protests or political events must first register with the appropriate Campus Administrators at least five (5) working days in advance of the proposed activity. This requirement may be waived in writing by the Campus Administrators based on a showing that the immediacy of the political issue necessitates earlier approval. If the Campus Administrators for the relevant campus is unavailable, then the individual(s) desiring to utilize an area may instead register with any of the following CSN officials: Vice President for Administration, 702.651.7550; Vice President for Planning and Development, 702-651-7381, 6375 W. Charleston, W3D, Las Vegas, NV 89146. In the considered judgment of the Campus Administrator, any activities that are likely to cause undue interruption of the essential operations of the College, infringe significantly upon the rights of College community members, including, but not limited to, the rights of privacy or personal security, impede or block pedestrian or vehicular traffic flow, or which prevent students or staff from concentrating on their purpose for being on campus, may not be permitted.
• Candidates for elected office, regardless of their affiliation or non-affiliation with CSN, and their campaign organizations may rent campus facilities for campaign events. They will be treated as non-sponsored users and charged the full rental and related use fees applicable to the facilities they wish to use.
• Candidates, campaign organizations or public interest advocacy groups which rent CSN facilities must provide to CSN for each event a Certificate of Insurance that provides general liability coverage of at least $1 million combined single limit per occurrence.
• Officially recognized CSN groups such as NFA, Student Government, Student Clubs, Classified Council, Faculty Senate, Administrative Assembly, departments, etc. may sponsor informational candidates’ forums and debates that also require approval, but are not subject to rental fees. These organizations should follow the Board of Regents’ policy of making an effort to provide a balanced program of speakers and ideas. (See Board Policy, Title 4, Chapter 10, Section 23 (7) (b).
• Others who are affiliated with CSN (students, faculty or staff) who wish to use facilities to present informational and educational events may be subject to the insurance requirement, but based upon the risk of injury of the event, may be eligible for reduced or waived insurance limits.

• All employees are subject to rules prohibiting use of campus-wide emails, fax machines, campus mail or other system resources for political purposes.
• No employee should state or imply CSN’s endorsement of any political candidate or petition.
• Classified Employees: Nevada Administrative Code 284.770 provides: classified employees may vote as they choose and express their political opinions on all subjects without recourse, except that no employee may engage in political activity during the hours of his/her state employment to improve the chances of a political party or a person seeking office, or at any time engage in political activity to secure a preference for a promotion, transfer or salary advancement, nor may an employee directly or indirectly solicit or receive, or be in any manner concerned in soliciting or receiving any assessment, subscription, monetary, or non-monetary contribution for a political purpose from anyone who is in the same department and who is a subordinate of the solicitor. Note: however, that approved annual leave may be used by the employee as he or she deems appropriate.
• Professional Employees should follow similar objectives as stated above for classified employees.