A group of local activists might face some headwinds with a planned protest on the Texas Tech University campus in Lubbock on Thursday.
In a social media post, a “From Here, it’s Redacted,” — a distorted play on the university’s moto “From Here, It’s Possible” — protest is to take place on campus Thursday afternoon as a show of community opposition to the university and the TTU System leadership aim at censoring controversial topics such as race, gender and identity in the college classroom.
The university did not provide a comment on the planned protest but did provide the following Texas Tech University System regulation that dictate university policy on free speech expression on campus for university and non-university entities.
The regulation dictates when, where and how free speech is practiced on campuses, which is in compliance with the Protected Expression on Campus portion of the Texas Education Code, which recently had limits placed on such activities due to Senate Bill 2972 for the 89th Texas Legislature.
It’s worth noting that S.B. 2972 was authored by then-state senator and now TTU System Chancellor Brandon Creighton.
Under the bill, the Texas Tech University System adopted Regulation 07.04: Freedom of Expression on Aug. 9, 2019 and was later updated on Nov. 5, 2025 which gives the regents the right to designate outdoor common areas at the five component universities as a limited public forum for university members to use to engage in expressive activities.
For context, the regulation defines the outdoor common areas as generally accessible, open outdoor spaces on a campus on a university campus, such as “grassy areas and open fields” or “sidewalks and pedestrian walkways.”
“The university reserves the right to implement and enforce reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions regarding expressive activities,” reads the regulation. “Activities that are unlawful or that materially and substantially disrupt the normal operations of the university’s campus are prohibited.”
How can Texas Tech restrict time, place and manner for free speech?
According to the regulation, reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions include:
What free speech or organizations are prohibited on Texas Tech campus?
According to the TTU Office of Student Involvement, Texas Tech has designated a free speech area between the library and the Student Union
The regulations further prohibit the following:
What guidelines are in place for students, faculty and staff at Texas Tech?
The regulation also lays out what university members can not do when exercising their free speech in common areas:
The regulation also regulates antisemitic speech and acts in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order GA-44.
“The University prohibits antisemitism and adopts the following definition of antisemitism adopted by the State of Texas in Section 448.001 of the Texas Government Code,” reads the regulation.
If found violating this policy, students, faculty and staff may face possible expulsion or termination and may constitute a breach of applicable criminal law.
Mateo Rosiles is a reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and USA TODAY Network in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: What Texas Tech free speech policy says as protestors eye academic censorship
Reporting by Mateo Rosiles, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
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