Free Speech Alley saw some changes to its policy during a recent Student Government Association meeting. The SGA approved the Policy and Procedures Concerning Use of Free Speech Alley Podium, which was formerly the Policy and Procedures Concerning Outside Speakers on Feb. 2.

The policy will govern the use of Free Speech Alley by students on campus.

“Basically, the only thing that changed is the paperwork. We are trying to set a time table to get everything organized,” Matthew Ford, Senator-at-Large, said.

“The paperwork was changed because the previous set was too unorganized to be effective,” Ford said.

There are several procedures for use of Free Speech Alley as provided by the SGA.

1. The speaker or sponsor must go to the SGA secretary at least one week prior to the scheduled event to receive a Speaker Proposal Form, providing information such as who and what will be discussed at the podium.

2. Within three days, the application of the speaker will be reviewed by the SGA president and the Judiciary Committee Chairperson to ascertain information about publicity and security for the speech, if any is needed.

3. Within two class days, the individual/organization requesting use of the podium will be notified of approval.

4. If the speaker provides his/her own sound equipment, the University reserves the right to limit its volume. Nicholls pep rallies will be the rule of thumb.

5. Blanket approval is available for a series of speeches on the same or related topics.

6. Information concerning the subject matter will not be used to deny the speaker’s use of the SGA Free Speech Alley Podium.

“Now that SGA and Union Services are more involved with the Free Speech Alley, we felt it was necessary to add some stipulations,” Ford said.

Ford said only minor changes were made, but the SGA and Union Services are hoping that the changes will benefit everyone involved.

Free Speech Alley will have live broadcasts on KNSU, and some of the mass communication broadcasting classes will also cover the events.

“SGA wanted to make the policy clearer for students to promote participation, and if this does it, then I think it’s great,” Dr. Eugene Dial, dean of Student Life, said.