Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

Location: Cheyney, Pennsylvania
Website: http://www.cheyney.edu
Type: Public
Federal Circuit: 3rd Circuit

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Speech Code Rating

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania has been given the speech code rating Red. A red light university has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech. Read more here.

  • Pennsylvania House of Representatives Select Committee on Student Academic Freedom

    September 19, 2005

    The Pennsylvania House of Representatives brought together a committee to examine allegations that Pennsylvania’s public universities were plagued by liberal ideology and indoctrination. David A. French, at the time president of FIRE, served as a legal adviser to the panel. FIRE released FIRE Report on the First Amendment Responsibilities of Pennsylvania State-Funded Colleges and Universities, explaining that Pennsylvania universities are bound to follow the strictures of the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions, notably to respect the expressive rights of students and faculty members, to protect religious liberty on campus, and to protect freedom of conscience on campus.

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Red Light Policies

  • Cheyney University Policy FA – 2010-4030: Policy on Acceptable Usage of Technology

    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: September 19, 2017

    No person shall harass others by sending harassing, annoying, threatening, libelous, sexually, racially, or religiously offensive messages. This includes all materials deemed offensive by existing University code of conduct laws.

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  • Residence Life: Cyber Stalking and Bullying Information

    Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
    Last updated: September 19, 2017

    Students should be aware that they can be held accountable for posting and sending inappropriate, uncivil, harassing, and threatening content on the Internet (Face book, Twitter, e-mail, IM, texting, You Tube, etc.). Any act that is unbecoming of a CU student to include cyber bullying and cyber stalking is considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and the CU Student Handbook. Depending he severity of the incident, students can also be suspended, expelled, and/or arrested for such acts.

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  • Cheyney University Policy SE‐2010‐6001: Preventing and Addressing Sexual Harassment, Including Sexual Violence

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 19, 2017

    Sexual Harassment: Includes all of the following:

    (1) Conduct that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, meaning:
    Sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and/or other verbal or physical conduct that is pervasive or severe and may constitute sexual harassment when:

    …
    c. such conduct has the effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or academic environment; and

    (2) Conduct that violates Title IX, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., including any or all of the following:
    a. Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, either verbal or nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
    b. Acts of sexual violence.

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Yellow Light Policies

  • Student Handbook: The Cheyney Student Creed

    Speech Code Category: Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience
    Last updated: September 19, 2017

    These things I believe … That loyalty to my college, its ideals and traditions, is reflected in the manner in which: I refrain from any act or comment which would do her dishonor … I am clean in body, mind, and speech … To these things I pledge my honor.

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  • Network and Computer Use Policy

    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: September 19, 2017

    Improper use of Cheyney University ‘s Information Technology (IT) resources include (but are not limited to) the following:

    8. No person shall use IT resources to harass others;  to send obscene messages or materials; to threaten the safety of another; to send libelous messages or to interfere with the work of the University.

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  • Cheyney University Policy SA-2010-3004: Policy on Student Harassment

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 19, 2017

    Harassment is described as conduct by an individual or group, which creates or has the intended outcome of creating a hostile, intimidating, or offensive environment for another. The following are considered to be violation:

    A. A course of conduct or repeatedly committed acts that serve no legitimate purpose;

    B. Mocking, taunting, or the use of derogatory slurs and epithets towards another;

    C. Direct or indirect threats to commit any act of violence with the intent to terrorize another.

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Green Light Policies

  • Student Code of Conduct: Sexual Harassment

    Last updated: September 19, 2017

    Cheyney University has modified the EEOC’s definition of sexual harassment to include students; therefore, unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when: … such conduct is sufficiently severe or pervasive as to have the effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working, educational or residential environment.

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  • Student Code of Conduct: Harassment, Intimidation, Stalking or Threats

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 19, 2017

    Harassing behavior, meaning conduct directed at a specific individual(s) that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to substantially interfere with the individual’s employment, education, or access to University programs, activities, and/or opportunities. Behavior is considered to be punishable harassment if: (1) it has a harmful effect on the individual in question and (2) is behavior that would have a harmful effect on other reasonable individuals who experienced the same treatment.

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  • Speech Code of the Month: Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

    November 23, 2016

    FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for November 2016: Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. According to a document on Cheyney’s website entitled “Cyber Stalking and Bullying Information,” Students should be aware that they can be held accountable for posting and sending inappropriate, uncivil, harassing, and threatening content on the Internet (Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, IM, texting, YouTube, etc.). Any act that is unbecoming of a CU student to include cyber bullying and cyber stalking is considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and the CU Student Handbook. Depending on the severity of the incident, students can also be […]

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