School Spotlight
California State University – Los Angeles
Speech Code Rating
Executive Order 1097: Systemwide Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Against Students
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: June 25, 2018Sexual Harassment, a form of Sex Discrimination, is unwelcome verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that includes, but is not limited to Sexual Violence, sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and indecent exposure where: a. Submission to, or rejection of, the conduct is explicitly or implic... Read MorePolicy on Time, Place, and Manner of Free Expression
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: June 25, 2018A. Public Forum Areas In this policy, a “public forum” refers to University property that has traditionally been available to assembly or debate. Right of access and right of equality of access are guaranteed in these public forums. Prior restraint and most content-based restrictions are prohibited, but reasonable t... Read MoreHousing Services Student Guide: Violence, Harassment and Assault
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: June 25, 2018Behavior which is abusive or threatening to any member of the community is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, physical or sexual assault, verbal threats and/or harassment, and all types of communication via phone, email, and internet forums. Read MoreStandards for Student Conduct
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: June 25, 2018Use of computing facilities and resources to send obscene or intimidating and abusive messages. Read MoreStandards for Student Conduct
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: June 25, 2018Students 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. Read MorePolicy on Time, Place, and Manner of Free Expression
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: June 25, 2018Exposure to the widest possible range of ideas, viewpoints, opinions and creative expression is an integral and indispensable part of a University education for life in a diverse global society. California State University, Los Angeles supports the right of individual students, faculty, staff and student organizatio... Read MoreUser Guidelines for Electronic Communications
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: June 25, 2018The following are considered improper use of electronic communications: … Using electronic communications to threaten, harass, stalk, defame, or otherwise interfere with the legal rights of others. Read More
UCLA — Stand Up For Speech Lawsuit
March 28, 2019
On March 2, 2018, FIRE requested records from the University of California, Los Angeles under the California Public Records Act (CPRA) about a campus speaking appearance several days earlier by U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin. Media outlets reported that several protesters were escorted out of the speech for heckling Mnuchin, and the Secretary… Read more
So to Speak podcast: Campus free speech roundup
January 24, 2019
On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we are joined by four members of FIRE’s staff to discuss the latest campus free speech news, including two new FIRE initiatives to tackle art censorship and restrictions on free speech and academic freedom abroad. Participants in this show are: Nico Perrino, host of… Read more
FIRE Announces America’s 10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech: 2017
February 22, 2017
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 22, 2017—More than 92 percent of American colleges maintain speech codes that either clearly restrict—or could too easily be used to restrict—free speech. Each year, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) takes a closer look at campus censorship to identify America’s 10 worst colleges for free speech. The 2017 list of… Read more
YAF Lawsuit Against CSULA Proceeds on Narrow Grounds
December 15, 2016
Ten months ago, conservative author and political commentator Ben Shapiro spoke at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). Shapiro’s speech was not without obstacles: CSULA attempted to charge the event’s sponsor, the Young America’s Foundation (YAF), more than $600 in security fees before unilaterally canceling (and then un-canceling) the event. When Shapiro finally spoke, some… Read more
CSU Los Angeles Reforms ‘Controversial’ Speaker Fee Policy Following Lawsuit
July 22, 2016
In February, conservative author and political commentator Ben Shapiro spoke at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), despite efforts by CSULA President William Covino—joined by some faculty members and students—to prevent him from speaking. In May, Shapiro and the event’s sponsor, the Young America’s Foundation (YAF), filed a lawsuit against CSULA, Covino, and several administrators… Read more
CSU Los Angeles President Fails to Prevent Shapiro Talk, But Protesters Try Their Hardest Anyway
February 26, 2016
Yesterday afternoon, conservative author and political commentator Ben Shapiro, editor-at-large of the Breitbart News Network, spoke at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), but not without struggle. Shapiro’s talk, entitled “When Diversity Becomes a Problem,” was first unilaterally cancelled by CSULA President William Covino on the basis that the event would not be “inclusive” of… Read more
CSU Los Angeles Reverses Decision to Disinvite Ben Shapiro
February 25, 2016
California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) will let Ben Shapiro speak after all. Yesterday, CSULA president William Covino announced he had unilaterally decided to cancel a speech by conservative author and political commentator Ben Shapiro, editor-at-large of the Breitbart News Network. Shapiro, who was invited by CSULA’s student-run chapter of the Young America’s Foundation, was… Read more
In the Name of Free Exchange of Ideas, CSU Los Angeles Resorts to Censorship
February 24, 2016
Another story of administrative censorship made headlines yesterday, this time out of California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). CSULA’s president, William Covino, is the latest university president to take it upon himself to cancel a student organization’s event due to the views of an invited speaker. The target of Covino’s censorship is conservative author and… Read more
Cal State Declares Sex Toy Event ‘Not Appropriate,’ Cancels Program
February 10, 2015
California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) canceled an event focused on sex toys after an angry parent complained that the content of the program was inappropriate for her adult daughter and her peers. The event was planned by CSULA’s Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, a department of its Student Union, in conjunction with a local… Read more
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