Solicitation Policy and Speakers on College Property
Solicitation is permitted on a Vernon College campus with approval from the President, Vice President of Student Services, and the department head of the area in which they wish to transact business. The following terms will form the basis of an agreement by and between Vernon College and the exhibitor.
1. All exhibitors seek approval through the Office of Student Services at least one week prior to the preferred date.
2. The time, place, and manner of the exhibition must be approved through the Office of Student Services. Solicitation outside of this area or hard sell tactics will not be allowed. Exhibitors not willing to abide by regulations and rulings of Vernon College shall be expelled from the area.
3. No items may be sold that compete with the Vernon College bookstore or existing food contracts. Items for sale that do not enhance the goals and purposes of Vernon College will not be allowed. The Vice President of Student Services will decide on items deemed acceptable.
4. Giveaways must be available to anyone and openly displayed on the exhibitor’s table. There can be no expectation of a person signing or buying a service or product or completing an application that is offered by the exhibitor. Incentives (including but not limited to items or pictures of items) to be given away by off-campus vendors/exhibitors at the completion of an application or buying of a service or product may not be displayed at exhibitor’s tables. No storage space is available to exhibitors.
5. Any personal action by the vendor or its representative not deemed appropriate for a college campus may result in the termination of this agreement and the removal of the vendor from campus.
6. Vernon College and its representatives will assume no responsibility for property or merchandise transported to Vernon College by the exhibitor that maybe allegedly lost, stolen, misplaced, or damaged during the exhibit. Risk or loss other than due to negligence of the organization shall remain with the exhibitor. Exhibitor assumes full responsibility for any damages to the premises or fixtures.
7. All warranties and guarantees on merchandise sold by the organization must be valid and enforceable through the exhibitor or its representatives.
8. Exhibitor shall hold harmless Vernon College, its agents, employees, and representatives from any liability or action arising from personal injury or property damage proximately caused by the negligent act of omission or commission of the exhibitor.
9. Exhibitor shall be able to present proof of liability insurance in accordance with Vernon College requirements to cover injuries to persons caused by accidents involving their operation on campus and/or the use or sale of the product.
Petitions, Handbills, and Literature
Each petition, handbill, or piece of literature shall identify the person or organization distributing it. No person or organization may publicly distribute on College property petitions, handbills, pieces of literature that are obscene or libelous, or that contain unauthorized solicitation. Distribution must be conducted so as not to interfere with free and unimpeded flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic or to disturb or interfere with academic or institutional activities. Individuals distributing material must first obtain guidelines from Student Services and must leave the area around which the literature was distributed in the same condition as before distribution.
Speakers on College Controlled Property
Freedom of speech is a constitutional guarantee; however, responsible speakers are considerate of their audience and organizations they represent. Speeches on college-controlled property must not contain statements that are libelous, made with the purpose of inciting physical violence/terrorism, obscene, or in violation of federal, state, or local laws; and statements which attempt to exploit for commercial purposes the name, image, or reputation of Vernon College. VC has a designated area on each of our campuses for speakers to utilize.