Communications & Media Relations Policies
Common Hour Policy
Common Hour brings the entire Franklin & Marshall College community together for culturally and academically enriching events at midday each Thursday during the academic year. Participants engage in a campus-wide dialogue on vital international, national, local and institutional issues originating with Common Hour and then extending beyond.
Most Common Hours are open to the public, and in some cases, the College will invite the public to attend. Members of the public can determine whether a particular Common Hour is open to the public by checking the College's calendar.
The question-and-answer period that follows Common Hour lectures and artistic events generally is reserved for members of the campus community. The Q&A period is moderated by the chair of the Common Hour Committee or his or her delegate, who will recognize questioners and give priority to students.
Cell phones must be silenced and no cameras or video recorders are allowed at the Common Hour venue, other than those operated by College professional staff and those of the Franklin & Marshall student newspaper, The College Reporter. Every effort will be made to place signage outside the venue's entrances to remind attendees and invited guests of the no recorder or camera policy at this event; faculty members and professional staff also may be present at the entrances to advise attendees of the policy. If necessary, an officer of the College or his or her delegate will authorize a College public safety officer to turn away any persons seeking to violate this policy.
The College traditonally records Common Hours for archival purposes and, when permitted by the respective guest lecturers or artists, will post videos or transcripts of the presentations on the College's website. Typically, concerts and performances by student groups are not recorded due to copyright issues.
Members of the news media may request a private interview with Common Hour guest lecturers and artists by contacting the Office of Communications before the event.
In preparation for Common Hour guests or topics likely to engender controversy, an officer of the College or the News Editor and Media Relations Liaison in the Office of Communications will alert the Associate Vice President for Public Safety. When needed, a space will be established near the Common Hour venue for peaceful demonstration.
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Policy Maintained by: Office of Communications, Vice President for Communications
Last update: 12 August 2016