School Spotlight
Eastern Kentucky University
Speech Code Rating
Student Handbook: Policy on Discrimination and Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: June 11, 2021Sexual Harassment: Any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, whether verbal, physical, graphic, or otherwise. Harassment can be divided into two types of conduct: … Hostile Environment – Exists when the conduct is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or ... Read MorePolicy and Regulation Library: 11.2.2P- Code of Ethics for Computing & Communications
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: June 11, 2021The use of information technology resources for unlawful purposes is prohibited. Examples of unlawful use include, but are not limited to: defrauding, threatening, abusing, defaming, harassing, intimidating or transmitting obscene messages or media. Using information technology is no different than similar conduct c... Read MoreStudent Conduct & Community Standards: Fundamental Principles- Fundamental Rights of Students
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: June 11, 2021As citizens, students enjoy the same freedoms as are guaranteed by the Constitutions of the United States and the Commonwealth of Kentucky and have the same duties and responsibilities, as do other citizens. … Students are free to discuss, to express opinions and to hear expression of diverse opinions. Read MorePolicy and Regulation Library: 1.4.1- Discrimination and Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: June 11, 2021Title IX Sexual Harassment: As defined by the federal Title IX regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Education, conduct on the basis of sex that is: … Hostile Environment – Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively... Read MorePolicy and Regulation Library: 9.3.3P- Policy Governing Time, Place and Manner of Demonstrations, Meetings and Other Assemblies
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: June 11, 2021Planned or spontaneous demonstrations, meetings or assemblies may be conducted in those appropriate areas of campus that are regularly available to the public, provided such demonstrations, meetings, or other assemblies meet the following non-exhaustive list of time, place and manner restrictions: … Do not inc... Read More
Kentucky Campus Free Expression Act Endorsed by EKU Student Government
February 10, 2017
Last month, I wrote about the introduction of legislation in Kentucky to protect the free speech rights of students enrolled in public colleges and universities throughout the state. I’m pleased to share that the Campus Free Expression (CAFE) Act has earned the full endorsement of the Student Government Association at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU). In… Read more
2013 in Review: Threats from Washington, Victories in the States
December 30, 2013
As 2013 comes to a close, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) looks back on a year that was headlined by dire threats to free speech and student rights on campus.
FIRE’s Will Creeley Heads to Kentucky to Speak at UK, EKU
April 1, 2013
Tomorrow, FIRE’s Director of Legal and Public Advocacy Will Creeley heads to the Bluegrass State to discuss student rights at the University of Kentucky (UK) and Eastern Kentucky University (EKU). At both schools, Creeley will examine the state of the law on freedom of speech on today’s college campuses, discussing the decades of legal precedent… Read more
‘The Eastern Progress’ Reports on EKU’s New Green Light Status
February 7, 2013
Monday, FIRE announced that it had added Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) to its exclusive list of 16 colleges and universities whose policies do not unduly burden free speech (or “green light” schools, if you prefer something shorter). Today, EKU’s student newspaper, The Eastern Progress, reports on the school’s brand new green light rating and quotes… Read more
Eastern Kentucky University Earns Highest Rating for Free Speech
February 4, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky., February 4, 2013—Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) in nearby Richmond has eliminated all of its speech codes, earning the highest, “green light” rating for free speech from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). While the overwhelming majority of the nation’s colleges and universities maintain policies that clearly and substantially restrict freedom of speech,… Read more
False Free Speech Defenses in Kentucky, Minnesota, and California
March 1, 2010
As FIRE continues to be successful in our efforts to prevent schools from violating the First Amendment, universities are devising more creative—and specious—ways to rebut FIRE’s admonitions. The most recent odd response involves claiming that a university’s discussion of enacting unconstitutional speech policies is itself protected speech. This defense not only misses the point, but… Read more
Rights in the News: With FIRE’s Help, Students Standing Up to Their Speech Codes
October 16, 2009
FIRE was elated to begin the week with the announcement that The College of William & Mary had reformed the last of its troublesome speech codes and become one of just eleven colleges to earn a "green light" rating in FIRE’s Spotlight database. Perhaps the fever has spread to neighboring James Madison University, where the… Read more
Rights in the News: At Maryland, Virginia Tech, UMass and Elsewhere, FIRE Cases Grabbing Headlines
April 10, 2009
Another week, another crush of FIRE cases from around the country battling for headlines. I’ll start with Greg’s Huffington Post blog on the controversy swirling around the University of Maryland campus in the wake of a legislator’s threat to pull funding from the university if it allowed students to screen an adult film on campus—which,… Read more