Here is what the ACLU Handbook _The Rights of Students_ 3rd Edition, 1988, says about access by both students and "outsiders": ========================================= [Question:] Can students use school facilities such a bulletin boards, loudspeakers, mimeograph machines, and meeting rooms to express their views? [Answer:] If the use of these school facilities for expression of student views would not be likely to disrupt regular school activities, students should be able to use them. However, a school may legitimately refuse to allow students to use its mimeograph machine if, for example, it is used all day long in the preparation of course material. If the loudspeaker is used only for school business, such as the announcement of school activities, program changes, and special events, a court would probably hold that student groups may legally be prevented from using for the expression of particular opinions. On the other hand, facilities such as bulletin boards should present no problem since space for the use of students can almost always be made available. Of course, if any facility is made available to one group, the school may not then deny other groups the opportunity to use that facility. Thus, a court held that it was unconstitutional for school officials to refuse to distribute notices informing patents of probusing rallies when those officials hand previously agreed to distribute notices about antibusing rallies.[13] In another case, an antiwar organization had been denied permission by the school board to provide students with information regarding legal alternatives to the draft and military server even though representatives of the armed services were permitted to provide students with information about military careers. In some schools, the military recruiters were permitted to distribute literature, post notices, place ads in school papers, conduct workshops, provide counseling, and administer tests. The court held that the school board's policy was unconstitutional because it favored one point of view over another. The court ordered that the antiwar organization be given the same access to students and school facilities as was given to the military recuiters.[14] In 1984, Congress passed the Equal Access Act, which makes it unlawful for any public secondary school to deny to any student group wishing to conduct a meeting equal access to school facilities on the basis of the content of the speech at the meeting.[15] Although there have been few cases interpreting that act, it may be that the act will strengthen the right of students to use school facilities for meetings.[16] [References] [13] _Bonner-Lyons v. School Committee of Boston_, 480 F.2d 442 (1st Cir. 1973). See also _National Socialist White People's Party v. Ringers_, 473 F.2d 1010 (4th Cir. 1973); _Zucker v. Panitz_, 299 F. Supp. 102 (S.D.N.Y. 1969); _Garvin v. Rosenau_, 455 F.2d 233 (6th Cir. 1972), _on remand_, Civil Action No. 36093 (E.D. Mich. 1972); _A.C.L.U. v. Radford College_, 315 F. Supp. 893 (W.D. Va. 1970). [14] _Clergy and Laity Concerned v. Chicago Board of Education_, 586 F. Supp. 1408 (N.D. Ill. 1984). [15] 20 U.S.C. SS4070 _et seq_. [16] _Student Coalition for Peace v. Lower Merion School District_, 776 F. 2d 431 (3d Cir. 1985)