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Game Day Protocol

as of September 22, 2026

Purpose and Scope

Morehouse College is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and may not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, a candidate for public office. Candidate Appearance Policy AS 100.1 and Access to College Property CO 400.2 implement that obligation. This protocol is adopted in advance as a rule of general application, is not directed at any individual, campaign, or party, and applies identically to all. It is an operating instruction rather than legal advice and may be shared with anyone working a home game.
Campaign Activity on College Property

Campaign activity is not permitted on College property in connection with a home football game. This includes distributing literature, displaying signs or banners, setting up tables or booths, canvassing, soliciting contributions or volunteers, selling campaign merchandise, displaying donation links or QR codes, and operating a voter-registration table under the sponsorship of a campaign or political party. The restriction reaches the stadium, the gates, hospitality areas, tailgate and parking areas, and the walkways between them.

Nonpartisan voter registration conducted by the College or a recognized student organization is a separate matter under separate guidance.

Staff encountering campaign activity should locate an event-management supervisor, who will ask that such activity cease and that the materials be removed. and make a brief written record. Escalation is neither necessary nor desirable.
Attendance as a Spectator

A candidate may attend a home football game as a member of the public. Nothing in this protocol restricts that attendance, and staff should not treat it as a problem to be managed. A spectator wearing campaign apparel is engaged in nothing improper and should not be approached.
Ceremonial Roles and Public Recognition

Candidates for political office should not participate in a ceremonial and honorary role/capacity. Any exception to this general rule must be vetted and approved by College leadership. This includes the pregame coin toss, service as an honorary captain, recognition at midfield or on the sideline, presenting or receiving an award, participation in a halftime presentation, and addressing the crowd.
Public Address and Videoboard

The public address announcer works from an approved script and does not name, welcome, thank, or acknowledge a candidate or campaign. The videoboard does not display a candidate's name, likeness, or campaign identification and does not cut to a candidate as a recognized guest; an incidental crowd shot is not a violation, but a framed shot held on the board is. Printed programs, scoreboard and ribbon-board graphics, and game-day handouts follow the same rule.
Tickets

A candidate should generally obtain a ticket on the same terms available to the general public. Complimentary tickets provided to a candidate should only be approved with the knowledge and approval of College leadership. In no circumstances should the College provide complimentary tickets or upgraded seating because someone is a candidate for public office.
Access to Field and Other Restricted Areas

The field, bench and sideline areas, tunnel, locker rooms, and press box are credentialed spaces for which candidates and campaign staff should not be credentialed to access. Journalists traveling with a campaign may be credentialed as media only through the MARCOMM, on the same basis as any other media request.
Hospitality Areas, Including the President's Guest Tent

The College maintains invitation-only hospitality areas at home football games, among them the President's guest tent. A person who happens to be a candidate for public office may attend as a ticket holder and guest on the same footing as anyone else admitted, and nothing in this protocol requires that a candidate be excluded or treated differently than an otherwise invited guest.

However, a candidate for public office should not be introduced or recognized to the assembled guests as a candidate and should not address them as a candidate. No campaigning occurs, meaning no literature or materials and no solicitation of contributions.
Postings on Social Media and Other Platforms

Postings to a College account should be carefully thought out. Individual pictures of a candidate or a candidate standing with the President or other prominent college official could be viewed and interpreted as an endorsement. Staff should not arrange or take part in photographs placing a candidate with the team, the coaching staff, the band, the mascot, or College leadership.

A picture of a candidate as part of a group photo or a series of photos may be acceptable.

Morehouse College is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and may not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, a candidate for public office. Candidate Appearance Policy AS 100.1 and Access to College Property CO 400.2 implement that obligation. This protocol is adopted in advance as a rule of general application, is not directed at any individual, campaign, or party, and applies identically to all. It is an operating instruction rather than legal advice and may be shared with anyone working a home game.

Campaign activity is not permitted on College property in connection with a home football game. This includes distributing literature, displaying signs or banners, setting up tables or booths, canvassing, soliciting contributions or volunteers, selling campaign merchandise, displaying donation links or QR codes, and operating a voter-registration table under the sponsorship of a campaign or political party. The restriction reaches the stadium, the gates, hospitality areas, tailgate and parking areas, and the walkways between them.

Nonpartisan voter registration conducted by the College or a recognized student organization is a separate matter under separate guidance.

Staff encountering campaign activity should locate an event-management supervisor, who will ask that such activity cease and that the materials be removed. and make a brief written record. Escalation is neither necessary nor desirable.

A candidate may attend a home football game as a member of the public. Nothing in this protocol restricts that attendance, and staff should not treat it as a problem to be managed. A spectator wearing campaign apparel is engaged in nothing improper and should not be approached.

Candidates for political office should not participate in a ceremonial and honorary role/capacity. Any exception to this general rule must be vetted and approved by College leadership. This includes the pregame coin toss, service as an honorary captain, recognition at midfield or on the sideline, presenting or receiving an award, participation in a halftime presentation, and addressing the crowd.

The public address announcer works from an approved script and does not name, welcome, thank, or acknowledge a candidate or campaign. The videoboard does not display a candidate's name, likeness, or campaign identification and does not cut to a candidate as a recognized guest; an incidental crowd shot is not a violation, but a framed shot held on the board is. Printed programs, scoreboard and ribbon-board graphics, and game-day handouts follow the same rule.

A candidate should generally obtain a ticket on the same terms available to the general public. Complimentary tickets provided to a candidate should only be approved with the knowledge and approval of College leadership. In no circumstances should the College provide complimentary tickets or upgraded seating because someone is a candidate for public office.

The field, bench and sideline areas, tunnel, locker rooms, and press box are credentialed spaces for which candidates and campaign staff should not be credentialed to access. Journalists traveling with a campaign may be credentialed as media only through the MARCOMM, on the same basis as any other media request.

The College maintains invitation-only hospitality areas at home football games, among them the President's guest tent. A person who happens to be a candidate for public office may attend as a ticket holder and guest on the same footing as anyone else admitted, and nothing in this protocol requires that a candidate be excluded or treated differently than an otherwise invited guest.

However, a candidate for public office should not be introduced or recognized to the assembled guests as a candidate and should not address them as a candidate. No campaigning occurs, meaning no literature or materials and no solicitation of contributions.

Postings to a College account should be carefully thought out. Individual pictures of a candidate or a candidate standing with the President or other prominent college official could be viewed and interpreted as an endorsement. Staff should not arrange or take part in photographs placing a candidate with the team, the coaching staff, the band, the mascot, or College leadership.

A picture of a candidate as part of a group photo or a series of photos may be acceptable.

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Game Day Protocol

Game Day Protocol