2 State Resources
This section provides a state-wide context for free speech on campus, featuring both your legal rights as students of a public university and examples of free expression in action. We encourage you to explore both lists to understand your rights, as students, and where you fit into the culture of intellectual freedom at a university.
State Policies and Guidelines:
Washington State Administrative Code (WAC) 478-136-030, “Limitations on Campus Use”
WAC 478-136-030 says that “freedom of expression is a highly valued and indispensable quality of university life. University facilities may not be used in ways that obstruct or disrupt university operations, the freedom of movement, or lawful activities.” By law, all spaces within the university should be used to promote intellectual freedom and exclusively conduct activities that serve an educational purpose.
WAC Title 478 is for government regulations specific to UW – see the WAC page for Title 478 for the full index of state government regulations at UW.
Washington State Senate Bill 6233, “Freedom of Expression for Students in Public Schools or Institutions of Higher Education”
Bill 6233 states that “freedom of expression is fundamental to the democratic process,” and that “students shall be free to examine and discuss questions of interest.” Furthermore, “students…have the right to exercise freedom of speech and freedom of the press in school-sponsored media.”
Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Section 28, “Students’ Rights”
This section of the Revised Code of Washington features an index of the rights that students and student groups have in higher and K-12 education, including what constitutes freedom of speech, expression, and religion according to the Washington State Constitution.
Freedom in Context:
ACLU of Washington, “Students’ Rights Guide”
Coming from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) chapter in Washington state, this guide helps educate higher education and K-12 students on the many important rights that they have in their schools, and provides them with news surrounding legislation and their rights in action. The ACLU of Washington has an index of resources for students to get involved in statewide legislative action.
Seattle Central College Library, “Protesting & Supporting Protests Safely” LibGuide
Protesting and direct action are forms of freedom of expression that allow you to use your voice to affect change. Protests are powerful tools for raising awareness of injustice and promoting intellectual freedom in daily life. In the summer of 2020, Seattle Central College’s library compiled a list of resources and best practices for protesting safely in the Seattle area, including knowing your rights as students and protestors, what to bring and wear, and self-care tips to keep you safe.
Washington Student Association, “Educational Resources and Advocacy Tools”
The Washington Student Association (WSA) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to empower and amplify Washington state college students’ voices in higher education policymaking, on a campus and state level. On their website, they host several resources to support student involvement in lobbying and protesting for things they care about. WSA presently has 13 institutions affiliated with it, including all three UW campuses.
Washington State Rising: Black Power on Campus in the Pacific Northwest (2023) by Marc Arsell Robinson
This book documents student activism and protesting in the Pacific Northwest, through the eyes and impact of the Black Student Union (BSU) in Washington, giving an important historical context to free speech and protesting on campus. Robinson writes about the origins and actions of the BSU in Washington college campuses from 1967 to 1970, how protesting helps amplify the voices of students of color, and the prominent role that West Coast students played in the development of the Black Power Movement through protest campaigns.
