Speech Code of the Month: University of North Georgia

By Samantha Harris on October 17, 2017

FIRE announces our Speech Code of the Month for October 2017: University of North Georgia.

UNG’s Student Code of Conduct defines “discrimination” as “[c]onduct and/or expressions that harass, demean, or degrade any individual or group of individuals who are members of a protected class.”

This policy prohibits an extraordinary amount of constitutionally protected speech — speech that the University of North Georgia, a public institution, is required by the First Amendment to protect. While the university may legitimately prohibit unlawfully harassing conduct, it may not prohibit speech simply because an individual or group finds that speech subjectively demeaning or degrading. Harassment, [...] » Read More

Category: Newsdesk, Speech Code of the Month, Top Story Schools: University of North Georgia

Speech Code of the Month: Middle Georgia State University

By Samantha Harris on September 12, 2017

FIRE announces our Speech Code of the Month for September 2017: Middle Georgia State University.

Speech Code of the Month: Case Western Reserve University

By Samantha Harris on August 2, 2017

FIRE announces our Speech Code of the Month for August 2017: Case Western Reserve University.

Speech Code of the Month: College of the Holy Cross

By Samantha Harris on July 14, 2017

FIRE announces our Speech Code of the Month for July 2017: College of the Holy Cross. This is Holy Cross’ second time earning the Speech Code of the Month distinction; the last time was seven years ago this month, in July 2010, for a ban on “causing emotional injury” that persists to this day.

Speech Code of the Month: University of South Dakota

By Samantha Harris on June 7, 2017

FIRE announces our Speech Code of the Month for June 2017: the University of South Dakota.

Speech Code of the Month: Virginia State University

By Samantha Harris on May 17, 2017

FIRE announces our Speech Code of the Month for May 2017: Virginia State University, where a policy on “Rallies, Public Assemblies and Demonstrations” requires student organizations to submit a formal request for “written approval … at least 10 days in advance of the demonstration.”