School Spotlight
East Tennessee State University
Speech Code Rating
East Tennessee State University Policy on Use of Campus Property and Facilities
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: June 5, 2019The University has designated two areas that may be used as a limited space for ad hoc meetings, rallies, protests, demonstrations by affiliated entities, and/or individuals. These areas may also be used by Non-Affiliated Entities, and/or individuals under the same regulations. The two areas identified for this purp... Read MoreETSU Violence Free: Definitions- Cyber-Stalking
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: June 5, 2019Cyber-stalking: A particular form of stalking in which electronic media such as the internet, social networks, blogs, cell phones, texts, or other similar devices or forms of contact are used to pursue, harass, or to make unwelcomed contact with another person in an unsolicited fashion. Some examples of cyber-stalki... Read MoreETSU Violence Free: Definitions- Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: June 5, 2019Harassment is conduct that is based on a person’s race, color, religion, creed, ethic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age (as applicable), status as a covered veteran, genetic information, or any other category protected by federal or state civil rights law,... Read MoreETSU Violence Free: Definitions- Sexual Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: June 5, 2019Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when one of the following criteria is met: submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly as a term or condition of the individual’s employment or of the individual’s status ... Read MoreCatalog: Policies and Procedures- Disciplinary Offenses
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: June 5, 2019Conduct Dangerous to Self or Others. Causing physical harm to any person (including oneself); endangering the health or safety of any person (including oneself); engaging in conduct that causes a reasonable person to fear harm to his/her health or safety; or making an oral or written statement that an objectively re... Read More
Student Arrested By East Tennessee State University Police for ‘Civil Rights Intimidation’
October 3, 2016
Last week, East Tennessee State University (ETSU) freshman Tristan Rettke was arrested by campus police and charged with a felony under Tennessee’s Civil Rights Intimidation statute after confronting peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters in the ETSU free speech area. Rettke’s act—dressing in a gorilla mask and attempting to hand bananas to the protesters in an… Read more
Tennessee Bill to Punish UT for Sex Week Becomes Law
May 23, 2016
For several years, the Tennessee legislature has threatened to take action against the University of Tennessee (UT) for allowing students to conduct an annual “Sex Week” on campus. Now the state legislature has followed through on its misguided threat by passing HB 2248, which states: State funds shall not be expended by the University of… Read more
ETSU, Brute?
June 8, 2012
Okay, it’s a terrible Shakespearean pun. But as bad a pun as this blog post’s title is, it’s still nowhere near as disappointing as the state of free speech at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). The basic story is that as part of a "civility week," the Student Government Association created T-shirts with various… Read more
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