8.1 This policy is intended to express the System's desire to facilitate free discussion of all points of view to the extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States and of the State of New Hampshire.
8.2 The rights of assembly and freedom of speech within the University System of New Hampshire shall be limited only to the extent applied to other citizens for the purpose of preventing assembly for illegal purposes or the advocacy of overthrow of government by force. Such rights shall be respected according to their meaning and application under law and within the function and program of the System.
8.3 Reasonable use may be made of institutional facilities for political meetings and discussions.
8.4 Outside speakers may be invited to address groups on the same basis as speakers invited to address student organizations.
8.5 The University System does not accept responsibility for views expressed or entertained by either speakers or groups, except as stated above in 8.1.
8.6 Participation of Faculty members in political action is governed by paragraph 1 (B) of the 1940 Statement of Principles of the American Association of University Professors that reads:
8.6.1 "The college or university teacher is a citizen, a member of a learned profession, and an officer of an educational institution. When he speaks, or writes, as a citizen, he should be free from institution censorship or discipline; but his special position in the community imposes special obligations. As a man of learning and an educational officer, he should remember that the public might judge his profession and his institution by his utterances. Hence he should at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that he is not an institutional spokesman."
8.7 The philosophy of the statement above in 8.6.1 applies to all professional staff members.
8.8 Holding Political Office. The Board of Trustees will not object to any member of the faculty or staff running as a candidate for political office. However, should the amount of time required by the office or the candidacy for the office be such as to materially affect the time the faculty or staff member is expected to spend on his/her University System position, he/she may be required to take a leave of absence or the terms and conditions of his/her appointment may be amended.