San Diego State University

Branch Campus of a School System

A red light university has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech. Read more here.
Public or Private: Public
Special Status: None
Federal Circuit: Ninth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Stephen L. Weber
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182
619-594-5200
presidents.office@sdsu.edu
Website: http://www.sdsu.edu

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On this page, FIRE has excerpted policies that address speech and expression. You may download the full policy in .pdf form, below.

Policies on Diversity and Multiculturalism (Learn More)

No policies found.

Protected Group Harassment Policies (Learn More)

Student Organization Handbook: Harassment and Abusive Behavior 08-09
1. Officially recognized organizations may
not engage in any organizational
activities involving sexually abusive
behavior (whether verbal or physical) or
behavior that is lewd, indecent, or
obscene.
2. Officially recognized organizations may
not engage in any organizational
activities involving physical or verbal
behavior that make persons the subject of
harassment, intimidation, or hostility
because of their race, religion, color,
ethnicity, citizenship, gender, gender
identity disability, sexual orientation, or
national origin.
View full policy (PDF, 21 KB).

Sexual Harassment Policies (Learn More)

Office of Employee Relations & Compliance: Sexual Harassment 08-09
Sexual harassment shall be the unwelcome imposition of sexual attention often in the context of a relationship of unequal power.
This policy shall apply to all persons at the university or attending university sponsored classes, events, and programs.
Sexual harassment shall be any conduct, physical or verbal, that is sexual and has the effect of unreasonably interfering with a person’s or a group’s educational or work performance or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or abusive educational or work environment.
Conduct may be found to be sexually harassing if it is pervasive or repetitive and sufficiently severe to alter the conditions of employment, education, or participation in university-sponsored activities or is a single incident sufficiently outrageous or harmful in and of itself that it substantially alters the conditions of the environment for the complainant or interferes with a person’s right to pursue an education or to perform a job-related responsibility.
The California Education Code, sec. 212.5, states: “Sexual harassment means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature, made by someone from or in the work or educational setting, under any of the following conditions:” [...] “The conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact upon the individual’s work or academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment."
Examples of sexually harassing conduct may include but shall not be limited to the following: (a) sexual assault, (b) derogatory comments of a sexual nature, (c) displaying sexually suggestive pictures or objects, (d) graphic verbal commentaries about a person’s body, (e) impeding or blocking movements, (f) jokes of a sexual nature, (g) slurs of a sexual nature, (h) suggestive gestures, (i) unwelcome touching. Some of these examples may not, however, constitute sexual harassment if appropriate to reasonable academic purposes.
View full policy (PDF, 33 KB).

General Harassment Policies (Learn More)

Standards for Student Conduct 08-09
Conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person within or related to the University community, including

1. physical abuse, threats, intimidation, or harassment.
View full policy (PDF, 73 KB).

Policies on Tolerance, Respect, Sensitivity, Hate, and Hate Speech (Learn More)

Rights and Responsibilities as a Member of the Campus Community 08-09
The following Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities clarifies the rights, freedoms and responsibilities afforded to all students at San Diego State University, which include but are not limited to: [...] The responsibility to treat all members of the campus community with civility, respect, and courtesy.
At San Diego State University, students are invited to be active members of the educational community. As with any community, its members serve a vital role in determining acceptable standards of conduct, which include:
[...]
* Actions that are civil, courteous and respectful of all members of the campus community, their property, and the property of the University.

[...]

* Group behavior that promotes mutual respect, equality and safety of its members, and opposes those acts that harass, intimidate or haze its members.
View full policy (PDF, 56 KB).
Standards for Student Conduct 08-09
Students are expected to be good citizens and to engage in responsible behaviors that reflect well upon their university, to be civil to one another and to others in the campus community, and contribute positively to student and university life.
View full policy (PDF, 73 KB).

Loyalty Oaths and Honor Codes (Learn More)

No policies found.

Mission Statements (Learn More)

No policies found.

Advertised Commitments to Freedom of Speech (Learn More)

Student Organization Handbook: Free Expression and Campus Community 08-09
It
is essential to the functions of San Diego
State University that ideas be freely
presented to students. No idea should be
repressed merely because it is considered
unpopular or unwise.
View full policy (PDF, 40 KB).

Other Speech Codes (Learn More)

Guide to Living in the Halls: Policies & Regulations 08-09
Care shall be taken that messages are not offensive to residents or staff.
View full policy (PDF, 89 KB).
Standards for Student Conduct 08-09
Use of computing facilities and resource to send obscene or intimidating and abusive messages.
View full policy (PDF, 73 KB).
Student Organization Handbook: Event Planning 08-09
The focal point of campus discussions
and presentations on contemporary issues,
the Free Speech/Campus Expression Area is
located on the north steps of Aztec Center
and east section of the Central Green. [...] Free
speech/expression is limited to the Free
Speech/Expression Area.
View full policy (PDF, 133 KB).
Student Organization Handbook: Event Planning 08-09
Some of the
parameters, which flag an event for further
reviews to be included in the approval
process, are: [...] Controversial speakers or performers [...] Events involving themes, costuming or
activities that might portray inappropriate
stereotypes of racial, cultural, religious,
gender, disability, sexual orientation, or
other protected classes.
View full policy (PDF, 133 KB).
Student Responsibilities for Academic Computer Use 08-09
Students shall not transmit unsolicited information which contains obscene, offensive or discriminatory material to another individual, a mailing list, a news group or a public area on a SDSU computer. [...] Repeated transmission of material to a person who finds such transmission offensive, obscene or discriminatory will be treated as harassment and is against SDSU and/or State and Federal regulations.
View full policy (PDF, 33 KB).

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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in September 2008. According to FIRE’s research the substantive policies are current at least until this date. Directory information, including the name of the president of the college or university, may have been updated more recently. If any policy has been revised, or if you believe that we are in error, please contact us.

Below, FIRE has excerpted policies affecting freedom of association and materials related to mandatory student orientations. Please note that the materials below this line do not affect a college or university's Speech Code Rating.

Mandatory Student Orientation Materials

No policies found.

Student Fee Policies Affecting Freedom of Association

No policies found.

Other Policies Restricting Freedom of Association

No policies found.