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Policy Name: Political Campaigning in Residence Halls
Owner: Senior VP & Provost
Author: Dory Kempf and Erin Barnett
Contact information: dkempf@css.edu or ebarnett1@css.edu
Effective Date: 10/29/2026
Next Review Date: 10/29/2031
Applicable Laws, regulations, compliance: Minnesota Statutes, section 211B.20
I. Purpose
Political candidates and any accompanying campaign volunteers are permitted to campaign in The College of St. Scholastica (CSS) residence halls, including knocking on individual resident doors, in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 211B.20 and the following policy. Campaign volunteers are not permitted to campaign independently in residence halls without the candidate present.
II. Deļ¬nitions
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Campaign Volunteer: An individual acting on behalf of a political candidate to conduct campaign-related activities, including distributing campaign materials and communicating with residents.
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Political Campaigning: Activities conducted in support of a political candidate, including door-to-door outreach, distributing campaign literature, and engaging residents in political discussions.
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Political Candidate: An individual seeking election to public office who is entitled to access residence halls for campaign purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 211B.20.
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Residence Hall: Any College-owned or College-operated residential facility that houses students, including individual student living spaces and associated common areas.
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Resident: A student authorized to live in a College residence hall or other College-operated residential facility.
III. Policy
Residence Hall Access Requirements
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Advance Request: Political candidates and any accompanying campaign volunteers must complete the Residential Life Political Campaign Request Form at least three (3) business days before their requested visit to coordinate access with Residential Life. Unannounced visits are not permitted under College policy.
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Required Escort: Political candidates and any accompanying campaign volunteers must be accompanied by a Residential Life staff member or Campus Safety officer at all times while inside a residence hall.
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Candidate Presence: Campaign volunteers must accompany the political candidate they represent while campaigning in residence halls. Campaign volunteers are not permitted to access residence halls independently for campaign purposes.
Campaigning Requirements and Restrictions
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Scheduled Access: Campaigning visits must be coordinated with Residential Life and conducted during the scheduled access period.
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Residence Hall Access: Political candidates and accompanying campaign volunteers may campaign in only one residence hall at a time.
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Respect for Residents: Political candidates and accompanying campaign volunteers must respect residents' decisions regarding participation in political discussions and acceptance of campaign materials.
Resident Rights
Residents have the right to:
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Choose whether to engage with political candidates or campaign volunteers.
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Refuse entry into their individual rooms.
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Decline campaign materials or political discussions.
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Display signs requesting that political visitors not knock on their doors.
Under Minnesota law, such signs do not legally prohibit qualifying political candidates from knocking on individual resident doors. However, the College strongly encourages all candidates and campaign volunteers to respect residents' expressed preferences and refrain from knocking on doors displaying these signs.
Compliance and Enforcement
Political candidates and campaign volunteers must comply with all applicable College requirements and instructions from Residential Life and Campus Safety staff, consistent with Minnesota law.
Individuals who fail to comply with these requirements may be directed to leave the residence hall by Residential Life or Campus Safety staff. Additional restrictions, including trespass notices, may be imposed when permitted by applicable law.
IV. Individuals and entities affected by this policy
St. Scholastica students living in residence halls. External political campaigning candidates and volunteers.
V. Related documents, forms, and procedures
Residential Life Political Campaign Request Form
VI. History and updates