School Spotlight

Central Michigan University

Location: Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Type: Public
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Speech Code Rating

Central Michigan University has been given the speech code rating Yellow. Yellow light colleges and universities are those institutions with at least one ambiguous policy that too easily encourages administrative abuse and arbitrary application. Read more

  • Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures: Responsibilities of Students

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
    Last updated: January 14, 2022

    A student shall not bully, haze or harass any person or group of persons. Telephone harassment, texting, email, computer or online social media harassment, are included under this policy, as are all other forms of bullying and harassment. Read More

  • Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Policy

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: January 14, 2022

    Sexual Harassment means any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other unwelcome verbal, electronic or physical conduct of a sexual nature when the conduct does not constitute Title IX Sexual Harassment, and when: … such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an i... Read More

  • Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures: Student Rights

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
    Last updated: January 14, 2022

    Students have the right to free inquiry, expression and association. … As citizens, students have the same duties and obligations as do other citizens and enjoy the same freedoms of speech, press, religion, peaceful assembly, and petition that other citizens enjoy. In all of its dealings with students, the uni... Read More

  • Advocacy Policy

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: January 14, 2022

    B. DEMONSTRATING is permitted on the campus outside of University buildings, subject to the following restrictions and limitations: 1. DEMONSTRATING is permitted after 6:30 a.m. and before 8 p.m. 2. DEMONSTRATING is permitted after 8 p.m. and before 6:30 a.m. provided that the DEMONSTRATION either: a. Is registered ... Read More

  • Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Policy: Title IX Sexual Harassment

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: January 14, 2022

    Title IX Sexual Harassment means conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following: … Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the recipient’s education program or ac... Read More

  • Advocacy Policy: Distribution of Printed Materials

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
    Last updated: February 16, 2022

    Except as provided in Article III.A. (university sponsored activities), any person may DISTRIBUTE PRINTED MATERIALS outside of any University building … Bulletin Boards in University buildings, or on campus information kiosks, which are not designated for a particular and specified purpose, are considered to b... Read More

  • Central Michigan University: Assessment of Security Fees for Controversial Speaker

    October 10, 2008

    In a victory for freedom of expression and freedom of association, Central Michigan University (CMU) agreed to provide security for a speech by author and conservative activist David Horowitz hosted by Campus Conservatives, the Young Americans for Freedom chapter at CMU. CMU had initially refused to provide security without imposing an excessive financial burden on… Read more

  • Central Michigan University: Student Group’s Freedom of Association Under Attack

    March 16, 2007

    In an important victory for free association, Central Michigan University (CMU) revised a policy that absurdly banned ideological and political groups from “discriminating” on the basis of “political persuasion.” FIRE urged CMU to change this policy after students hostile to the mission of the Young Americans for Freedom student group attempted to become members of… Read more

  • Central Michigan University: Abridgement of Freedom to Display Patriotic Symbols

    October 23, 2001

    At Central Michigan University, an administrator told several students to remove various patriotic posters (an American flag, an eagle, etc.) from their dormitory. On October 8, a Residential Advisor told them that their display was “offensive,” and that they had until the end of the day to remove the items. As one student said, “American… Read more

  • REPORT: Great Fakes? Michigan colleges routinely fail to protect free speech on campus

    March 29, 2022

    Michigan may be known for its Great Lakes, but a new report from FIRE suggests that its universities’ free speech promises don’t hold much water.  “State of the Speech Codes: Michigan” examines the speech codes — policies that regulate student expression that would be protected by the First Amendment in society at large — on… Read more

  • Central Michigan University Eliminates ‘Red Light’ Bias Incident Policy, Improves Speech Code Rating

    February 9, 2017

    This week, FIRE released our first-ever national survey of campus “Bias Response Teams” (BRTs), which produced several findings worth noting. Among other things, our BRT report identified more than 230 public and private institutions maintaining some type of bias response program during the course of 2016, affecting approximately 2.8 million students. As the report discusses… Read more

  • More Campus Leaders Address Free Speech Following Election

    November 21, 2016

    For the past few months, we’ve been covering the statements campus leaders make about free speech at their colleges or universities. In the weeks following this month’s presidential election, campus leaders have addressed their students’ reactions to the results in various ways—some “good,” and others “bad” for freedom of expression. The Good Central Washington University… Read more

  • FIRE’s Azhar Majeed Analyzes Central Michigan University’s Speech Codes

    October 7, 2014

    Thirteen years ago, Central Michigan University (CMU) officials forced students to take down posters that could be perceived as offensive to other students, even images of the American flag. Yesterday, the CMU Insider spoke to Azhar Majeed, Director of FIRE’s Individual Rights Education Program, to ask: Do CMU policies still violate students’ free speech rights… Read more

  • Central Michigan Student Defends Speech of Westboro Baptist Church

    April 25, 2012

    Just before a talk on campus by members of the Westboro Baptist Church on Monday, Central Michigan University student Ryan Fitzmaurice published an insightful op-ed in Central Michigan Life titled, "Why I Love the Westboro Baptist Church." After clarifying that he does not actually love the Westboro Baptist Church, he explains that what he loves… Read more

  • This Month in FIRE History: Victory for Freedom of Association at Central Michigan University

    April 18, 2011

    In April 2007, FIRE won an important victory when Central Michigan University (CMU) reversed a policy banning ideological and political groups from “discriminating” on the basis of “political persuasion.” The case holds important lessons for freedom of association on campus that remain particularly relevant in light of last year’s 5-4 Supreme Court decision in Christian… Read more

  • With Horowitz Speech Scheduled, Central Michigan Struggles with Free Speech Issues

    October 14, 2008

    In a victory for the freedoms of expression and association, Central Michigan University has agreed to provide basic security for a speech tonight by author and conservative activist David Horowitz. FIRE has been urging CMU to meet its constitutional obligation not to financially burden speech that others might find offensive. Horowitz had been invited by… Read more

  • Letter from Central Michigan University President Michael Rao to FIRE, October 13, 2008

    October 14, 2008

  • FIRE Remembers September 11

    September 11, 2007

    Today, FIRE joins individuals across America and around the world in reflecting upon the tragic events of September 11, 2001. As university students and professors from Maine to California host commemorations today to remember those who suffered and died six years ago, we take a moment to look back at how those events played out… Read more

  • John Leo on Censorship Tactics in ‘The New York Sun’

    May 3, 2007

    Yesterday’s issue of The New York Sun includes a very telling opinion piece by John Leo that looks at the ploys used by university administrators in their efforts to stifle student speech. “It’s not news that the modern university is censorship-prone, particularly when conservatives wish to speak, but the tactics of the censors keep changing,”… Read more

  • Victory for Freedom of Association at Central Michigan University

    April 3, 2007

    MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich., April 3, 2007—In an important victory for free association, Central Michigan University (CMU) has revised a policy that banned ideological and political groups from “discriminating” on the basis of “political persuasion.” The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) urged CMU to change this policy after students who disagreed with the mission… Read more

  • What 9/11 Taught Us About Academia

    September 11, 2006

    Today, FIRE joins the rest of the nation in remembering the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Five years ago, the events of 9/11 highlighted—in a very ugly way—just how out of touch many universities are with the American public. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, when much of America was still in mourning, a… Read more

  • So, What I Hear You Saying Is—You Aren’t Offended

    August 29, 2005

    The NCAA controversy surrounding the supposedly “hostile” and “abusive” Native American team names is a reflection of more than a good idea gone bad—it’s a classic case of what happens when a body of administrators enacts policies that are too vague and subjective. As noted by my colleague Robert in a previous entry, the NCAA… Read more

  • Victory for Free Speech at Central Michigan University; President Rao Defends and Affirms Free Speech and the Bill of Rights

    November 7, 2001

    MOUNT PLEASANT, MI-In a case that had achieved widespread national attention, students at Central Michigan University (CMU) secured a major victory for liberty when the University reaffirmed its obligations to the First Amendment. President Michael Rao, in a letter to FIRE today, made clear that any residential staff who asked students to remove materials from… Read more