Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
University administration changed university policy as a consequence
State Campus Free Speech Act
Title IX or other federal statute
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Was Speech Code incident
Summary
On April 3, 2026, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) sent a letter to Anoka-Ramsey Community College regarding Policy 5L.1, Expression and Assembly. The policy governed expressive activities on campus by students, employees, and non-affiliated individuals and organizations. It established procedures for demonstrations, distribution of materials, and other expressive activities, and stated that expressive activity was subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions.
The version of Policy 5L.1 in effect at the time included provisions that applied specifically to non-affiliated individuals and organizations. The policy required outside speakers and groups to use designated expression areas, located away from campus buildings, and required advance approval before using those areas. The policy also restricted access to other campus locations unless authorized and prohibited certain activities, including “proselytizing” by non-affiliated individuals and organizations.
On April 29, 2026, FIRE sent a second letter to Anoka-Ramsey regarding Policy 5L.1 and requested revisions to provisions governing non-affiliated speakers and expressive activities. In May 2026, the college revised the policy. The revision history stated that the college “deleted language prohibiting specific activities in Section 5” and revised timelines related to expressive activities. The updated policy removed the prohibition on proselytizing but retained other provisions governing expressive activity by non-affiliated individuals and organizations.
Following the May 2026 revisions, Policy 5L.1 continued to require non-affiliated organizations and individuals to use designated expression areas and obtain approval before certain expressive activities. The policy continued to regulate the location and timing of expressive activities, prohibit disruptions to college operations, and establish procedures for demonstrations, distribution of materials, and other forms of campus expression. The policy change removed the specific activity prohibition but left the broader framework governing outside speakers and expressive activities in place.
