The 89th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 2972 (SB 2972), which guarantees that members of the public are free to engage in expressive speech on public university campuses within pre-identified traditional public forums. It also contains various requirements and prohibitions related to expressive activities on campuses, including limitations on the type of expressive activity that can take place within the last two weeks of the semester, and prohibiting expressive activity between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. It allows universities to continue to regulate the time, place and manner of free speech activities—so long as these rules are content-neutral and applied regardless of a speaker’s viewpoint. For example, in order to use amplified sound, a reservation and permit is required in advance.
A person or group does not need a reservation for the exercise of expressive activities within UTA's pre-identified traditional public forums that are not in use. However, once a person or group does reserve a certain space in the common outdoor area for expressive activities, it is not available for another person or group’s use or reservation at that time. In addition, when outdoor space is being used, even on a temporary basis, for university business or events, an educational or research function, it is not part of the common outdoor area available for use for others’ expressive activities.
We encourage you to use this form in order to allow us to assist with your plans to speak on campus and provide for a reservation for your expressive activity and to assist with any questions you may have about visiting campus. So that we have time to review and process reservation requests, this form must be submitted at least 3 business days in advance of the date you request.