Delta State University

Undergraduate Non-Branch Campus

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: Fifth Circuit
Head of Institution: President John M. Hilpert
Delta State University
Office of the President
Box A-1
Cleveland, MS 38733
662-846-4000
president@deltastate.edu
Website: http://www.deltastate.edu

» Return to School Overview

Do you have any information, updates, or changes regarding the policies at this institution? Let us know!

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)

No policies found.

Sexual Harassment Policies (Learn More)

Policy on Harassment 06-07
A hostile work environment is one that a reasonable person would objectively find hostile or abusive or one that the
particular person who is the object of the harassment perceives to be hostile or abusive. Hostile work environment is
determined by looking at all of the circumstances including:
A. the nature of the alleged hostility
B. the frequency of the allegedly harassing conduct,
C. its severity,
D. whether it is physically threatening or humiliating, and
E. whether it unreasonably interferes with an employee’s work or student’s academic performance
Generally, a single sexual joke, offensive epithet, or request for a date does not constitute a hostile work or academic
environment; however, being subjected to such jokes, epithets or requests repeatedly may constitute a “hostile
environment” under this policy.
View full policy (PDF, 101 KB).
Student Handbook: Grievance Policy 06-07
Unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:
[...]
such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s
academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive education or living environment.
View full policy (PDF, 42 KB).

General Harassment Policies (Learn More)

Student Handbook: Regulations 06-07
Harassment of another individual is strictly prohibited. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, impeding another persistently, or to wrong or bother another persistently. It also includes bothering another for the purpose of obtaining a sexual favor.
View full policy (PDF, 51 KB).

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

Student Handbook: Regulations 06-07
Words, behavior, and/or actions which inflict mental or emotional distress on others and/or disrupt the educational environment at Delta State University are strictly prohibited.
View full policy (PDF, 51 KB).

Loyalty Oaths and Honor Codes (Learn More)

No policies found.

Mission Statements (Learn More)

Student Handbook: Institutional Mission 06-07
View full policy (PDF, 34 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Freedom of Speech (Learn More)

Student Handbook: Student Publications 06-07
The duties of The Student Publications Committee include the following:
[...]
Ensure that the student newspaper serves as a free forum for student expression without threat of censorship, or requirement of prior review of articles, or any other inhibiting actions or practices that have been ruled unconstitutional by federal
courts.
View full policy (PDF, 38 KB).

Other Speech Codes (Learn More)

Appropriate Use Policy 06-07
Examples of inappropriate and unacceptable use of computing and
networking resources include, but are not limited to:
a. Harassment of other users.
Delta State
University computer system administrators may remove any information from individual accounts or from
electronic bulletin boards maintained in individual accounts if it is determined that:
[...]
The information is inappropriate, because it is inconsistent with the mission of the University, or is
otherwise not in compliance with the legal and ethical usage governed by Federal or State law or
regulation, or with University or Institutions of Higher Learning policies.
View full policy (PDF, 84 KB).
Student Handbook: Regulations 06-07
Disorderly, lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct, or language. This includes, but is not limited to, music lyrics when such music is played loud enough to be heard by other residence hall students or by pedestrians if played by a car or portable sound system.
View full policy (PDF, 51 KB).
Student Handbook: University Standards 06-07
Any student parade, serenade, demonstration, rally, and/or other meeting or gathering for any purpose conducted on the campus of Delta State University must be scheduled with the
Vice President for Student Affairs at least two days in advance of the event. Names of the responsible leaders of the group must be submitted to the University at the time of scheduling.
View full policy (PDF, 56 KB).
Web Policy 06-07
Prohibited content [...] Materials that are abusive, profane, obscene, threatening, or sexually offensive.
View full policy (PDF, 44 KB).

NOTE: You must have Adobe Acrobat installed to view policies in PDF format.

The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in June 2007. 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.