A Manchester Community College (New Hampshire) Turning Point USA chapter has been forced by administrators to move its table from outside the building’s main entrance because of TPUSA’s political nature.
In defense of the chapter and its president Samuel Raiti, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression sent a letter on March 18 to the university claiming it is violating Raiti’s and the chapter’s first amendment rights by repositioning its table display.
Raiti was directed to move to the interior of the college or “the grass area between the row of visitor parking and the next parking lot,” according to FIRE. “MCC Director of Communication and Marketing Vicky Jaffe approached and instructed Raiti to relocate because TPUSA is a ‘political group’ that disseminates “political ideas.”
Vice President of Student Affairs Megan Conn similarly ordered the chapter president to find a “more isolated area” on campus because the area he was in “was not available for expressive activity”.
TPUSA is a recognized student organization at MCC; however, a policy stating explicitly that a political group cannot have a table or host events isn’t provided by the university.
“MCC policy appears to comply with these mandates: FIRE was unable to locate any policy restricting expression near the entrance, and none was supplied to Raiti,” FIRE stated.
FIRE is looking for a confirmation from the college that it will affirm that student expression of all kinds can take place on campus in every outdoor area.
