Media Access to the Saint Mary’s University

Saint Mary’s University welcomes media to our campus. We encourage members of the media planning to be on campus to notify Public Affairs and facilitate the visit by calling (902) 420-5513.

As a public institution, the University is an open and public place that provides the news media reasonable access to campus. However, the University may regulate media access so as not to disrupt teaching or research; to protect the health and safety of students and staff; to protect the privacy of students and others who live on campus; and to comply with provincial and federal laws on student and personnel data.

The following guidelines pertain to media access to Saint Mary’s owned or controlled property. These guidelines pertain to any individual or group conducting interviews, making audio or video recordings, or photographing images for dissemination to the public via commercial or non-commercial news and information outlets, including the Internet.

General Guidelines

Media vehicles must be parked legally. It is often possible to get a temporary parking pass from an External Affairs representative

Equipment must not damage University property.

Equipment, vehicles and personnel must not restrict traffic or access to buildings and fire lanes.

Additional restrictions on the use of television cameras, still cameras, flashes and other special lighting and audio equipment may be imposed on a case-by-case basis to minimize disruption or protect safety or security. If security is an issue, these items may be subject to inspection.

Non-Restricted and Restricted Areas

 

The media is generally permitted to film or otherwise have access to spaces on campus that are open to the public, subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. This includes access during regular operating hours to any building or portion of a building that is open to the public.

 All campus outdoor sidewalks, green spaces, parking lots and rampsare open to the media.

Campus events, such as lectures and forums, to which admission is free and open to the public, are open to the media. Restrictions may be placed on cameras, lights, flashes, and other equipment to minimize disruption.Advance notice or credentials may be required.

Corridors and common areas within University laboratory and classroom buildings are open to the media.

Common areas within the Student Union Building are open to the media;individual offices are not. If a reporter or photojournalist wishes to enter a private office, he or she must get permission from the person who works in that office.

Faculty, staff or student offices or laboratories are not public. Permission to enter must be granted by the person or persons who work in that office or laboratory.

Classrooms are open to the media if not occupied. If a class is insession, permission for media access must be granted by the person teaching the class.

Media are only allowed in the following locations with express permission from an administrative authority and only with an officially designated University escort:

Residential areas.

Any secured area or laboratory

Intercollegiate athletics venues, including The Tower and the Alumni Arena unless the individual is a paid member or ticketholder.

The private offices or research laboratories of faculty, staff or student employees.

Inside libraries, the Art Gallery, or other areas where quiet study is enforced or where collections may be endangered by media activity or equipment.

Inside private functions that are not open to the public

Inside any University facility that is not open to the public, including the boiler room, other utility operations, waste facilities, maintenance and repair facilities and public safety facilities.

Any marked construction area, crime scene, or hazardous or unsafe location.

Media Access to Residence Halls

Permission is required for media to access Saint Mary’s University housing including campus residence halls and off-campus student and family housing.

 

Media must be escorted by Housing, Public Affairs staffer, or a resident, at all times while in University housing facilities.

Unescorted media will be asked to leave.

 

Escorted media may film in, or report from, the common areas (lounges, dinning areas, corridors) of residence halls, with approval of University officials.

 

Media must have permission from the occupant of individual living quarters to enter, report from or film that space.

 

Media may film or solicit interviews on the public sidewalks or common areas outside of residence, the stadium, the Tower or academic buildings. In some special situations, media access to these areas may be limited to protect privacy, health or safety.

 

To obtain permission to enter a residence, contact Public Affairs during business hours, Monday-Friday. After hours or on weekends, contact the manager of residences.

Release of Student Information

 

Federal law, provincial law and Saint Mary's University Board of Governors policy govern access to student records. Under these laws and policies, some information is considered public and some is considered private. However, it is possible for students to suppress some or all public information by requesting a nondisclosure.

 

All requests for information from reporters and representatives of news

organizations must be directed to the Public Affairs office.