Promotion Guidelines
Reserving Space On Campus For Election Campaign Events
Applies to both the Campus-Wide Election and the First-Year Election.
Before completing any of the steps below, an approved candidate must first request to join — and be accepted into — the Campus Elections organization on HornsLink. This applies to both elections; no reservation can be made until that step is complete.
Once accepted, candidates and officers of student organizations endorsing a candidate may reserve space on campus — including limited public forums and common outdoor areas — to hold campaign events. Some spaces may require a consultation with the entity that manages them.
Because space is limited, submit reservation requests as soon as you file as a candidate. Approved reservations only cover events held during the official campaign period.
Individual students who are not candidates may also reserve common outdoor areas as part of the public forum, but only for expressive activities, not campaign events (Institutional Rules, Sec. 10-201, Sec. 13-902, Sec. 13-903).
Promotional Items and Methods
Signs
Applies to both the Campus-Wide Election and the First-Year Election.
Hand-held signs may be used by individual students, candidates, and student organizations endorsing a candidate without restriction. Signs posted on indoor bulletin boards, however, are limited to candidates and endorsing organizations — individual students may not post signs on bulletin boards.
Bulletin boards are managed by the building they're in and may carry their own posting policies. Check with the building manager before posting indoor campaign signs (Institutional Rules, Secs. 13-501, 13-502, 13-504).
Banners and A-frames
Applies to both the Campus-Wide Election and the First-Year Election.
As with space reservations, an approved candidate must first request to join — and be accepted into — the Campus Elections organization on HornsLink before submitting any banner or A-frame requests.
Once accepted, candidates and student organizations endorsing a candidate may reserve a limited number of A-frame and banner spaces. Submit requests as soon as you file, since space is limited and processing takes time.
Approved A-frames may only be displayed, and approved banners only hung, during the official campaign period (Institutional Rules, Sec. 13-503, Secs. 13-701–13-704).
Tabling
Applies to both the Campus-Wide Election and the First-Year Election.
Tabling does not require joining Campus Elections on HornsLink or submitting a reservation — it's open to individual students, candidates, and student organizations endorsing a candidate alike.
That said, reservations take priority: a table may not be set up in a location with an active reservation, so candidates who want to guarantee a spot should reserve it in advance rather than rely on tabling.
Tabling is permitted only during the official campaign period, consistent with Banners/A-Frames and Space Reservations above.
Note: individual students may not use the Student Activities tables located in Gregory Gym or the Flawn Academic Center (FAC).
Flyering
Applies to both the Campus-Wide Election and the First-Year Election.
Individual students, candidates, and student organizations endorsing a candidate may all stand and pass out literature on campus without a reservation (Institutional Rules, Sec. 13-400).
Amplified Sound
Applies to both the Campus-Wide Election and the First-Year Election.
Amplified sound is permitted only as part of an approved space reservation, and only in the amplified sound areas designated in the Institutional Rules (Subchapter 13-800).
University trademarks
Applies to both the Campus-Wide Election and the First-Year Election.
Only authorized representatives of the Campus Elections HornsLink organization may use a limited set of university trademarks during their campaign — the UT Tower (including photos of or including the Tower), the Burnt Orange color, and the "Hook 'em Horns" slogan and hand sign. These marks may be used, without alteration, only on non-permanent printed materials (flyers, postcards, posters) and electronic materials. Permanent items — T-shirts, hats, permanent banners, and similar objects — require separate approval through the university trademark portal. Student organizations endorsing a candidate and individual students may not use any university trademarks without explicit permission from the Office of Trademark Licensing (Institutional Rules, Sec. 6-204(d)).
Promotion Resources Chart
Student Elections — Campus-Wide Election & First-Year Election
The table below shows, at a glance, which promotional activities are available to each type of participant — individual students, Campus Elections authorized representatives (approved candidates and their campaign staff), and student organizations endorsing a candidate. For full details, requirements, and citations to the Institutional Rules, see the Promotion Guidelines page.
| Resource | Individual Student | Campus Elections Authorized Rep | Endorsing Student Org |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limited Public Forum Indoor/Outdoor Space Reservations | No | Yes | Yes |
| Common Outdoor Area Reservations | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hand-Held Signs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Signs on Bulletin Boards | No | Yes | Yes |
| Banners or A-Frames (West Mall) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Tabling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Passing Out Flyers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Amplified Sound (with prior approval) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trademark: Tower / Tower in Background | No | Yes | No |
| Trademark: Hook 'em Hand Sign | No | Yes | No |
| Trademark: Burnt Orange (in connection with UT) | No | Yes | No |
| Other Trademarks | No | No | No |
| Chalking | No | No | No |
| Staking / Yard Signs | No | No | No |
Prohibited Promotion Methods For Election Campaigns
Please note: Violations of the Institutional Rules are student conduct issues and should be reported to the Office of the Dean of Students. The Election Supervisory Board cannot adjudicate Institutional Rule violations.
Damaging campus property
Examples include chalking, hanging items on/in building, and staking signs into the ground (Institutional Rules, Sec. 13-302).
Littering
Examples include leaving flyers in campus buildings; letting literature fall to the ground when flyering or tabling and not picking it up; and holding an event and not cleaning up (Institutional Rules, Sec. 13-302, 13-400, 13-404)
Disruption
Physical or audible actions that prevent the normal academic or business functions of the university (Institutional Rules, Sec. 13-301)
Coercing attention or Harassment
If a student indicates that they do not wish to talk to a campaigner, they must be allowed to walk away without being followed or yelled at. (Institutional Rules, Sec. 13-204 and Sec. 13-303)