Ohio University

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
Federal Circuit: Sixth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Roderick J McDavis
Ohio University
Office of the President
108 Cutler Hall
Athens, OH 45701
740-593-1804
president@ohio.edu
Website: http://www.ohio.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.

Restrictions on Expressive Rights

Harassment Policies (Learn More)

Harassment Policy 09-10

Harassment is defined as any conduct directed toward an individual or group based on one or more of the categories listed in the second paragraph of subsection I, above, and severe enough so as to deny or limit a person's ability to participate in or fully benefit from the University's educational and employment environments, or activities, or severe enough that it creates an intimidating, offensive, or hostile environment.
View full policy (PDF, 182 KB).

Harassment Policy 09-10

Sexual Harassment at Ohio University is defined as any unwelcome sexual advance or request for sexual favor, including an explicit or implicit quid pro quo, made by an employee, student, or agent of the University to a student or employee of the University, and is conduct of a sexual nature exhibited by such a person (or people) toward another when such conduct substantially interferes with the person's educational or work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational or work environment.... Hostile Environment exists when harassing behavior unreasonably interferes with a student's academic or employee's work performance and creates a hostile, intimidating, or offensive academic or work environment.
Examples of Sexual Harassment in any Setting

* Unwelcome or uninvited sexual comments or innuendo

* Oral, written, or electronic communications that are sexually explicit in nature

* Sexually explicit questions, jokes, or anecdotes about gender specific traits

* Sexually suggestive sounds, gestures, gifts, or visual materials such as magazines, pictures, posters, photos, cartoons, or drawings

* Direct or indirect threats concerning sexual favors or the refusal to consent to sexual favors

* Sexual leering, uninvited touching, stroking, or gestures

* Communication of unsought sexual propositions, requests for dates, sexual favors, or lewd remarks or sounds ....
View full policy (PDF, 182 KB).

Student Code of Conduct: Mental or Bodily Harm to Others 09-10

Conduct covered by this offense includes but is not limited to:
...
* intentionally inflicting mental or bodily harm upon any person;
* attempting to inflict mental or bodily harm upon another person;
* taking any reckless, but not accidental, action from which mental or bodily harm could result to another person;
* causing a person to believe that the offender may cause mental or bodily harm;
...
* any act which demeans, degrades, disgraces any person.
View full policy (PDF, 115 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Computer and Network Use 09-10

Acceptable use demonstrates respect for ... individuals' right to privacy and freedom of intimidation, harassment, and unwarranted annoyance.
In making acceptable use of resources, you must NOT:
...
Use resources to intimidate or single out individuals or groups for degradation or harassment in violation of federal or state law and other university policies.
View full policy (PDF, 103 KB).

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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in January 2010. 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.