School Spotlight
East Carolina University
Speech Code Rating
POL 05.25.02: Notice of Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: September 16, 20204.2. Harassment – a form of discrimination. Harassment is unwelcome conduct based on a Protected Class, as defined in Section 1.1 above, which creates either quid pro quo harassment or a hostile environment, as defined in Section 4.2.1 and Section 4.2.2, below. It also includes Sexual Harassment and Gender-Bas... Read MoreREG 08.05.04: University Student and Employee Computer Use Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: September 16, 2020Employees and students may access these technologies for personal use, subject to the following restrictions: … The use does not conflict the rights and privacy of others or violate any UNC or University policy, regulation or rule, or any state or federal law. Read MoreREG 07.30.06: Freedom of Expression Regulation
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: September 16, 2020The primary function of East Carolina University (the “University”) is the discovery, improvement, transmission, and dissemination of knowledge by means of research, teaching, discussion, and debate. To fulfill this function, the University must strive to ensure the fullest degree of intellectual freedom and free ex... Read MoreREG 07.30.06: Freedom of Expression Regulation
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: September 16, 20202.9. “Expressive Activity Area” (EAA) means, with regard to the Main Campus, the Mall, the Brickyard, the Main Campus Designated Forum, those out-of-doors areas that have been consistently open to the Expressive Activity of Members of the University Community by tradition or by administrative approva... Read MoreREG 11.30.01: Student Conduct Process- 1.3. Scope of the Student Conduct Process
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: September 16, 2020The University embraces and strives to uphold the freedoms of expression and speech guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the North Carolina Constitution. Read MoreREG 06.40.04: Title IX Compliance and Resolution Regulation
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: September 16, 2020Sexual Harassment is defined as 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 University’s education program or activity... Read MoreREG 11.30.01: Student Conduct Process- 2.4. Harassment, Threats, Bullying or Intimidation
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: September 16, 20202.4. Harassment, Threats, Bullying or Intimidation: Directing action toward a particular individual or group in a manner which is unwelcome, and under the totality of the circumstances, is so severe or pervasive, and objectively offensive that it undermines and/or detracts from the target individual’s academic pursu... Read More
East Carolina University: Student Newspaper Adviser Fired After Publication of Streaker Photo
January 6, 2012
On November 8, 2011, independent student newspaper The East Carolinian published an uncensored photo of a streaker at an East Carolina University (ECU) football game. A university administrator warned The East Carolinian’s editor in chief that the newspaper would “face consequences” for the decision to run the photo. On January 4, 2012, ECU fired Paul… Read more
East Carolina University: Viewpoint Discrimination Against Student Organization
April 21, 2011
The student group Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) at ECU submitted a request to ECU’s Student Government Association to receive funding for its “Hemp Fest” event, which included a request of $150 for the purchase of legal hemp products for display and demonstration. SGA refused to fund this portion of the event, however, saying that… Read more
University of North Carolina System: State of the First Amendment
January 10, 2006
FIRE teamed up with the John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy to release the Report on the State of the First Amendment in the University of North Carolina System. The Report notes that UNC System’s many speech codes and illiberal restrictions on religious groups would likely not survive a legal challenge. It also… Read more
REPORT: North Carolina is home to some of America’s best colleges for free speech
September 24, 2018
Eight colleges in North Carolina earn FIRE’s highest rating for free speech — more than in any other state — but 17 still maintain policies that substantially restrict student expression. PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 24, 2018 — A new report finds that North Carolina’s colleges and universities lead the way nationally for protecting student free speech. The… Read more
Free speech gets the ‘green light’ at East Carolina University
June 27, 2017
ECU is North Carolina’s fourth university in two months to earn FIRE’s highest rating for free speech. North Carolina now has six institutions with this rating — more than any other state. GREENVILLE, N.C., June 27, 2017 — East Carolina University has earned the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education’s (FIRE’s) highest, “green light” rating… Read more
Playboy’s ‘Smoking Jacket’ Covers Censorship on Campus
December 2, 2013
In a new article, Playboy’s website The Smoking Jacket highlights memorable examples of censorship of sexually themed speech on college campuses. The (safe-for-work!) article features eight examples from American universities and an example from an Australian university, including several from FIRE’s archives. Who could forget the 2011 incident at East Carolina University where the school fired a student newspaper advisor after the… Read more
‘East Carolinian’ on N.C. Students’ Rights to an Attorney
October 11, 2013
When North Carolina passed the Students & Administration Equality Act (SAE Act) in August, it became the first state in the country to guarantee the right of its public college students and student organizations to be represented by an attorney in non-academic campus disciplinary hearings. Yesterday, in East Carolina University’s (ECU’s) student newspaper The East Carolinian, writer Ryan Clancy… Read more
FIRE’s Top 3 Free Press Cases
January 31, 2013
Over the years, FIRE has repeatedly gone to bat for student newspapers and student journalists faced with censorship. Student press censorship comes in many forms, ranging from newspaper theft, reduced support from student activity funds, and the firing of faculty advisors, to prior review and editorial control of content. Since it’s Free Press Week, here, in… Read more
Free Speech Victory at East Carolina University: $31,200 Settlement for Newspaper Advisor
April 23, 2012
In a victory for freedom of the press, East Carolina University (ECU) has agreed to pay former student newspaper advisor Paul Isom $31,200 after firing him because the newspaper printed photos of a streaker. FIRE and groups including the Student Press Law Center had helped Isom defend free speech on campus. As FIRE Senior Vice… Read more
Free Speech Victory at East Carolina University: $31,200 Settlement for Newspaper Advisor
April 23, 2012
GREENVILLE, N.C., Apr. 23, 2012—In a victory for freedom of the press, East Carolina University has agreed to pay former student newspaper advisor Paul Isom $31,200 after firing him because the newspaper printed photos of a streaker. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) worked with Isom in defense of free speech. “It’s been… Read more
Weeks Later, No Answers from East Carolina University on Firing of Newspaper Advisor
February 15, 2012
For weeks now, East Carolina University (ECU) has been under pressure from FIRE, the media, and the general public after its firing of Paul Isom, adviser to The East Carolinian student newspaper, after controversial photos of a streaker appeared in the paper’s front pages. ECU has been torched in the press and deservedly so, given… Read more
Media Hammers East Carolina University for Adviser’s Firing
January 20, 2012
Here on The Torch, we last posted about East Carolina University’s indefensible firing of student media adviser Paul Isom a week ago, as Adam took ECU to task for the school’s embarrassing attempts at damage control. In the week since, we’ve been focused on our recent victories at Syracuse University and the University of Florida,… Read more
East Carolina University Digs Deeper Hole with Second Public Statement in 2 Days
January 12, 2012
Yesterday I deconstructed East Carolina University’s pitiful public statement invoking the "just trust us" defense after it fired the adviser to The East Carolinian because the independent student newspaper (like it or not) published uncensored photos of a streaker at an ECU football game. Today, I repeat: Whoever does damage control over at East Carolina… Read more
East Carolina University’s Pitiful Statement About Firing Advisor
January 11, 2012
Whoever does damage control over at East Carolina University has been doing a pretty poor job. Not only has the university embarrassed itself nationally and locally (Channel 3, Channel 9, Channel 17 …), but now ECU has put out a statement basically saying, "trust us," as though this will make all those pesky journalists and… Read more
National Press Photographers Association Criticizes ECU Firing of Newspaper Adviser
January 11, 2012
The National Press Photographers Association has joined FIRE, the Student Press Law Center, and the numerous others who have criticized East Carolina University (ECU) for its firing of newspaper adviser Paul Isom. As has now been widely reported, Isom was fired by ECU following the publication of unedited photos of a streaker at an ECU… Read more
Firing of ECU Media Adviser Sparks Widespread Response
January 10, 2012
East Carolina University’s decision to fire its Director of Student Media last week has sparked a widespread response. For those new to this case, Isom’s termination comes in the wake of a decision by the editorial board of student newspaper The East Carolinian to run uncensored photos of a streaker at an ECU game on… Read more
UCLA Urged to Prioritize Academic Freedom in Search for Public Health Dean
January 10, 2012
At the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Public Health (SPH), a search is underway for a new dean to lead the school. Of the many important qualities UCLA will be considering as it assesses potential candidates, it is respect for academic freedom that will ensure the best environment for innovative research the… Read more
FIRE Intervenes after East Carolina University Fires Newspaper’s Adviser over Streaker Photo
January 9, 2012
On Friday, Jaclyn wrote about East Carolina University’s ill-advised decision to fire Paul Isom, adviser to student newspaper The East Carolinian, after the newspaper printed an uncensored photo of a man who streaked at a football game. The East Carolinian and the Student Press Law Center had already run stories on the case, and the… Read more
Following Publication of Streaker Photos, Student Newspaper Adviser Fired
January 6, 2012
The East Carolinian and the Student Press Law Center both reported yesterday that Paul Isom, Director of Student Media at Eastern Carolina University (ECU), was fired on Wednesday. Isom’s advising portfolio included the campus radio station, television station, yearbook, and several student magazines. But it was a student editorial decision by The East Carolinian, the… Read more
Will East Carolina University’s and UC Santa Barbara’s Student Governments Keep Discriminating on the Basis of Viewpoint?
May 6, 2011
FIRE has asked East Carolina University Student Government Association President Tremayne Smith (or his successor—the university’s term is ending imminently) to make it clear that SGA will no longer discriminate on the basis of viewpoint when allocating student activity fee funds. As Peter wrote last month, SGA abused its discretion when it denied most of… Read more
Despite Viewpoint Discrimination by SGA, Young Americans for Liberty Carries on With ‘Hemp Fest’ at ECU
April 20, 2011
Today at East Carolina University (ECU), the student group Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) is raising awareness about American drug policy, as well as about the practical uses of legal hemp products. They’re doing so with a little First Amendment help from FIRE, but not much from ECU’s student government. I say "not much" because,… Read more
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