University of Southern Mississippi

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 Shelby F. Thames
University of Southern Mississippi
101 ADM
Box 5001
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
601-266-5001
Shelby.F.Thames@usm.edu
Website: http://www.usm.edu

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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)

Faculty Handbook: Harassment 06-07
Harassment is defined as conduct, based upon a person’s
race, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status, that
has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s academic or work
performance or creating an intimidating or hostile environment for employment, education, oncampus
living, or participation in a University activity.
View full policy (PDF, 51 KB).

Sexual Harassment Policies (Learn More)

Faculty Handbook: Harassment 06-07
Types of behavior that may be considered as evidence of sexual harassment include, but
are not limited to:
• Direct propositions of a sexual nature.
• Subtle pressure for sexual activity.
• Unnecessary or unwelcome physical contact.
• Physical interference with work or academics.
• Remarks of a sexual nature about a person’s clothing or body.
• Remarks relating to sexual activity or concerning previous sexual experience.
• Obscene or harassing messages sent via computer or left on an answering
machine or voice mail.
• A pattern of sexually explicit statements, questions, jokes, or anecdotes, whether
made orally, in writing, or through electronic media.
• A display of graphic sexual material (not legitimately related to the subject matter
of a course) in a context where others are not free to avoid the display.
Conduct alleged to constitute harassment will be evaluated according
to the objective standard of a reasonable person. Thus, conduct that might be objectionable to
one person, but that is not severe or pervasive enough to create an objectively intimidating,
offensive, or hostile environment may not constitute sexual harassment.
This policy applies to all faculty, staff, employees, students, and studentemployees
with respect to activities occurring on any University property and University-related
activities occurring off-campus, including University programs outside the United States.
Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome
sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a
sexual nature when: [...] the conduct that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an
individual’s academic or work performance or creating an intimidating or hostile
environment for employment, education, on-campus living, or participation in a
University activity.
View full policy (PDF, 51 KB).

General Harassment Policies (Learn More)

No policies found.

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

Residence Life Handbook: Respect for Persons- Language Issues 06-07
Freedom of
speech does not absolve a student
of the responsibility to respect
other individuals. Therefore,
disruptive profanity, statements of
intolerance or verbal intimidation
will not be supported and will be
subject to disciplinary action.
View full policy (PDF, 48 KB).

Loyalty Oaths and Honor Codes (Learn More)

Residence Life Handbook: Southern Miss Standard 06-07
Choosing to
join the Southern Miss community obligates each member to support
these precepts [...] A respect for language that is appropriate, never obscene, and
neither demeans nor intimidates.
View full policy (PDF, 50 KB).

Mission Statements (Learn More)

No policies found.

Advertised Commitments to Freedom of Speech (Learn More)

No policies found.

Other Speech Codes (Learn More)

Student Handbook: Speaker Policy 06-07
The University of Southern Mississippi will provide a Speaker’s Corner on the Union Plaza, located at the south end of the R.C. Cook University Union. Individuals or organizations may utilize the Speaker’s Corner for speech purposes on a first-come, first-served basis without making reservations.
View full policy (PDF, 37 KB).
Student Handbook: Student Rights and Responsibilities - Prohibited Conduct 06-07
Lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct, including expression of profanity, which exceeds the normal standards of decency prevailing in the general Hattiesburg community at large.
View full policy (PDF, 40 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.