School Spotlight

Eastern Michigan University

Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan
Type: Public
Tell Eastern Michigan University to revise its speech policies by filling out this form.

Speech Code Rating

Eastern 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

  • Chalk Policy

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

    Obscene/derogatory wording or images must not be used. Read More

  • Student Organization Office Space Policies and Agreement

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

    Any language, symbols or photographs demeaning any ethnicity, ability level, race, gender, sexual orientation or creed are strictly prohibited, and will result in the offending organization’s immediate eviction from the office. Read More

  • Board Policy Manual: 8.1. Code of Community Responsibility- Harassment/Bullying

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

    The University’s Sexual Misconduct and Interpersonal Violence Policy governs conduct of a sexual or gender based nature. This section of the Code of Community Responsibility applies only to conduct that is not covered by the Sexual Misconduct Policy. • Intimidating conduct which would cause a reasonable person to fe... Read More

  • Campus Life: Resources- Poster, Flyer and Table Tent Policy

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
    Last updated: January 14, 2022

    All materials must bear the name of the sponsoring recognized student organization, noting that EMU or Eastern Michigan University may only be used at the end of an organization’s name, not preceding it. … It is expected that all poster/fliers conform with generally accepted standards of good taste. Read More

  • Board Policy Manual: 03.07.07 Sexual Misconduct and Sex-based Discrimination Policy- Other University-Prohibited Conduct

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

    Gender-Based Harassment includes harassment based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, which may include acts of aggression, intimidation, or hostility, whether verbal or non-verbal, graphic, physical, or otherwise, even if the acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature. Such con... Read More

  • Campus Life: On-Campus Events and Demonstrations

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

    [A]ll outside campus events, demonstrations and protests must be sponsored by a recognized EMU faculty, staff or student organization and must be scheduled in advance with the Department of Public Safety. … Board policy 8.4.3 requires rallies and parades to be scheduled with the Department of Public Safety. If... Read More

  • Board Policy Manual: 8.1. Code of Community Responsibility- Computer Misuse

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

    Use of computing facilities or equipment to send obscene, harassing, threatening or abusive messages. Read More

  • Board Policy Manual: 03.07.07 Sexual Misconduct and Sex-based Discrimination Policy- Prohibited Conduct Under Title IX

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

    “Sexual harassment”, as an umbrella category, includes the offenses of sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Sexual harassment is conduct on the basis of sex/gender or that is sexual that satisfies one or more of the following criteria. 1. Hostile Environment and Sexual... Read More
At present, FIRE has not been publicly involved in any cases at this school.

  • 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

  • This Time, We’re Failing to Talk About ‘American Sniper’

    April 20, 2015

    Every so often, a cultural touchstone descends on college campuses, with the effect of putting campus discourse under the microscope for all to see. The results, frequently, are discouraging. Clint Eastwood’s blockbuster film American Sniper, adapted from deceased Navy sniper Chris Kyle’s memoir, is the latest exhibit. That American Sniper is a controversial movie is… Read more

  • After Lawsuit, Eastern Michigan U. Agrees to Revise Unconstitutional Policy

    November 22, 2013

    In March, student organization Students for Life at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) enlisted Alliance Defending Freedom’s (ADF’s) help in suing the school after it denied the group funding based on its “political or ideological” views. ADF announced yesterday that EMU settled the case late last month, agreeing to fund all groups—including Students for Life—without consideration of the groups’ viewpoints…. Read more

  • After Sixth Circuit Loss, Eastern Michigan U Settles with Expelled Counseling Student

    December 12, 2012

    The Detroit Free Press reported on Monday that Eastern Michigan University (EMU) will pay former graduate student Julea Ward $75,000 to settle Ward’s lawsuit against the university. Ward filed suit in 2009 after being dismissed from EMU’s graduate counseling program for inquiring about the possibility of referring a gay client who sought counseling regarding a… Read more

  • Eastern Michigan Stands By Speech Code, Defying Legal Clarity

    July 12, 2012

    Despite months of appeals from FIRE, Eastern Michigan University (EMU) does not appear inclined to take its legal obligations under the First Amendment, as a public university, seriously. The university is simply not willing to revise a sexual harassment so clearly unconstitutional that FIRE named it our Speech Code of the Month in July 2011—let… Read more

  • ‘Julea Ward Freedom of Conscience Act’ before Michigan Legislature

    May 17, 2012

    Torch readers may recall the case of Julea Ward, an Eastern Michigan University (EMU) student in counseling who was expelled for seeking to refer a gay client to another counselor when counseling would have required violating her Christian beliefs. The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a victory for Ward in… Read more

  • Sixth Circuit Relies on High School Cases to Assess Graduate Student’s Rights

    February 10, 2012

    Last week here on The Torch, I discussed the interesting ruling from the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Ward v. Polite (.PDF). Before discussing the facts of the case and the Sixth Circuit’s holding, I noted that while the court reached the right result by allowing the First Amendment lawsuit… Read more

  • In ‘Ward v. Polite,’ Sixth Circuit Reaches Right Result, but with Wrong Reasoning

    January 30, 2012

    On Friday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that expelled Eastern Michigan University (EMU) counseling student Julea Ward’s First Amendment suit may continue, finding that a federal district court had improperly granted the EMU defendants summary judgment. Ward was expelled from EMU’s graduate counseling program after she inquired about referring… Read more

  • Sixth Circuit: Expelled Counseling Student Will Have Day in Court

    January 27, 2012

    In an opinion (.PDF) issued today, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that the civil rights suit filed by former Eastern Michigan University counseling student Julea Ward may proceed. Ward was expelled from her graduate program after she inquired about referring a gay client during her student practicum due to… Read more

  • Speech Code of the Month: Eastern Michigan University

    July 5, 2011

    FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for July 2011: Eastern Michigan University (EMU). EMU’s Student Conduct Code defines “sexual harassment” as Conduct of a sexual nature that creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive campus, educational or working environment for another person. This includes unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors, inappropriate sexual… Read more

  • Michigan Attorney General Supports Former Student’s Suit Against EMU

    March 14, 2011

    The Detroit News reports that Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has put his support behind Julea Ward, a former graduate student at Eastern Michigan University who is suing the school following her dismissal from its counseling program. The Detroit News writes that "Ward claims she was dismissed in March of 2009 after asking how to refer… Read more

  • Another Political Cartoon Controversy; This Time, at Eastern Michigan

    October 7, 2010

    Controversies over political cartoons in college newspapers are nothing new, but it’s always disappointing to see them spring back up. This time it’s Eastern Michigan University’s turn, where a cartoon depicting members of the Ku Klux Klan has drawn the ire of some students and, almost inevitably, the university itself. The Eastern Echo published the… Read more