The university has determined that some control of and procedure for commercial solicitation and advertising is needed to:
- Maintain a community respectful of individual right to privacy;
- Regulate the means by which commercial advertising occurs on private property;
- Offer procedure for students and businesses to request appeal of policy issues.
The intent of Pacific Lutheran University's solicitation policy is to maintain the community living rights extended to all students, staff and faculty. Basics tenants of this policy include:
(a) The University will maintain its community standards in the advertisement or promotion of commercial interests, goods, services, events, etc.
(b) Publicity must not interfere with satisfactory maintenance of university property.
(c) Publicity must not limit the orderly operation of university affairs. Distribution by means of accosting individuals or hawking is not permitted.
Commercial Solicitation:
Commercial solicitation is not permitted on the campus of Pacific
Lutheran University. Companies and their representatives, student
representatives of commercial and/or personal enterprises, and
employees of Pacific Lutheran University may not: post or distribute
promotional materials on-campus or using PLU electronic resources;
attempt to make sales through phone, room-to-room or electronic
contacts. Exceptions to this policy are as follows:
1. Officially recognized student organizations may use the avenues
discussed below for purposes of solicitation and/or promotion of their
programs and the programs of other organizations that have been
approved.
2. Within guidelines specified in this policy, individual students may
advertise the sale of their personal goods, such as books, or their
personal services, such as car rides or typing.
3. The Residential Life Office, in consultation with the Residence Hall
Association and/or the Resident Directors, may authorize individuals or
organizations to post promotional materials on residence hall bulletin
boards or sell items in the lobby of individual residence halls if it
is deemed to be of service to students, and following standard
procedures does not seem the best approach. Those seeking
approval must complete a request form that may be obtained in the
Residential Life Office. Those approved will be given approval in
writing and are asked to carry that written approval when conducting
business.
4. Sales persons who are not members of the university community may be
on campus, as it relates to sales, for the following reasons only:
a. to meet students with whom they have previously made appointments;
b. to make a request for an exception to the Residential Life Office;
c. to discuss the policy on solicitation with the university administration.
The presence of door-to-door salespersons on campus shall be reported
to the Residential Life Office, the Student Involvement and Leadership
Office, and/or Campus Safety and Information Office.
Approved Types of Solicitation, Advertisement, and Promotions for Student Organizations on Campus:
University affiliated groups, organizations, or publications will advertise or sponsor only those commercial interests, goods, services, events, etc., that are legal or permitted on campus. (Alcohol, guns, gambling and credit cards may not be advertised or promoted, consistent with the University’s ban on such items.) This restriction does not apply to the editorial content of student media. Editorial content includes all non-advertising material.
1. Publications, Event Brochures, Sponsorships
Recognized student organizations are authorized to solicit revenue from non-university businesses for advertising, sponsorship and promotional support of events. In keeping with university community standards that prohibit alcohol (and alcohol containers), and weapons (as described in the PLU Student Code of Conduct “Firearms, Explosives, or Weapons” section), campus groups are restricted from advertising/publicity that encourages or promotes possession, consumption, or use. Advertising/publicity/sponsorship is restricted from businesses that are open only to adults 21 years and older.
Pacific Lutheran University community standards strongly encourage individual choices that do not put students at risk of incurring credit card or gambling debt. To support this, standard campus organizations are restricted from soliciting revenue from credit card purveyors or businesses engaged in gambling, including, but not limited to, casinos and online gambling activities.
2. Use of Residence Hall Mailboxes
The use of residence hall mailboxes by student organizations is
permitted with the approval of the respective Resident Director.
United States mail addressed to individual students, regardless of its
nature is approved for distribution.
3. Room-to-Room Contact
Room-to-room student contact by student organizations is permitted for
purposes of program promotion or election campaigning. It
includes placing promotional materials under the doors of individual
residents. This type of contact is subject to the approval of the
Residential Life Office (who will consult with both Residence Hall
Association and the Resident Directors).
4. Campus Bulletin Boards
a. Commercial advertising signs are not permitted except when sponsored
by a university department (e.g., the bookstore, athletic department),
ASPLU, or Residence Hall Association, or when the Residential Life
and/or Student Involvement & Leadership determine they are in the
general interest of the university community.
b. Except for the residence hall bulletin boards, all university bulletin boards are classified as either general or reserved. Only "general" university bulletin boards may be used for commercial advertising purposes. These boards are located in the Columbia Center, Eastvold Auditorium, Hauge Administration Building, Ingram Hall, Memorial Gymnasium, Mortvedt Library, Olson Auditorium, University Center and Xavier Hall. All materials posted on boards must be approved for posting and be stamped accordingly or they will be removed. Approval for general bulletin boards may be obtained in the ASPLU Office, and in the Residential Life office for residence halls. Posters will be removed within 24 hours of the event.
c. Students who wish to advertise personal goods (such as books or
bunk beds) or services (such as rides or typing) may use residence hall
bulletin boards with the approval of the Resident Director.
d. To maintain the beauty of campus, no promotional materials may be
affixed to trees, shrubbery, light standards, benches, sculptures,
signs, vehicles, trash receptacles, fire hydrants, flag poles, or
exteriors of buildings.
5. Chalk Drawing
Advertising with chalk must be approved by Student Involvement and
Leadership in the University Center. The specific wording must be
presented for approval. All chalk advertising must be erased
within 24 hours of the event.