Eastern Washington University
Location: Cheney, Washington
Website: http://www.ewu.edu
Type: Public
Federal Circuit: 9th Circuit
Speech Code Rating
Eastern Washington University 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.
Red Light Policies
240-040-010: Information Policy
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: October 2, 2017It is a violation of the university information policy for an individual to do any of the following: … Harass others by sending annoying, threatening, libelous, or sexually, racially or religiously offensive messages.
WAC 172-137: Use of University Facilities
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: October 2, 2017“First amendment activities” include, but are not necessarily limited to, informational picketing, petition circulation, the distribution of information leaflets or pamphlets, speechmaking, demonstrations, rallies, appearances of speakers in outdoor areas, protests, meetings to display group feelings or sentiments, and/or other types of constitutionally protected assemblies to share information, perspectives, or viewpoints.
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Use of university facilities for first amendment/free speech activities is governed by the rules set forth in WAC 172-137-080.
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WAC 172-137-080: Facility use rules for first amendment/free speech activities.
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(4) Public forum areas. Public forum areas are those areas of each campus that the university has chosen to be open as places for expressive activities protected by the first amendment, subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions.
(a) At the Cheney campus, the designated public forum areas are:
(i) Southeast Mall: Outside the Cheney Normal School Heritage Center (one room schoolhouse), on the west side of the building;
(ii) Northeast PUB: Outside the Pence Union Building, on the northeast side of the building; and
(iii) The public sidewalks adjacent to public roads.
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(9) Procedures ‑ Notice for use of public forum area. Individuals or groups who desire to use a public forum area for those activities protected by the first amendment, must provide notice to the university. Notice shall be provided to the event planning office no later than fourteen calendar days in advance of use of the public forum area. However, events may be permitted with less notice so long as the event does not interfere with any other function. The notice to use a public forum area must contain:
(a) The name, address, and telephone number of the individual, group, entity, or organization sponsoring the event or use (hereinafter “the sponsoring organization”); and
(b) The name, address, and telephone number of a contact person for the sponsoring organization; and
(c) The date, time, and requested location of the event; and
(d) The nature and purpose of the event; and
(e) The estimated number of people expected to participate in the event.
EWU Policy 901-04: Bullying Prevention and Response
Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
Last updated: October 2, 2017Eastern Washington University will not tolerate bullying behavior directed toward any member of the university community or to any person on university property.
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Bullying is behavior that is:
- Intentional;
- targeted at an individual or group;
- repeated;
- hostile or offensive; and,
- creates an intimidating and/or threatening environment which produces a risk of psychological and/or physical harm.
Bullying behavior may take many forms, including, but not limited to, physical, verbal, or written acts or behaviors. It may also manifest as excluding behavior such as ignoring or dismissing individuals or groups.
Hostile behaviors include, but are not limited to, behaviors that are harmful or damaging to an individual and/or property. Behaviors that are intimidating, threatening, disruptive, humiliating, sarcastic, or vicious may also constitute hostile behavior.
Offensive behaviors may include, but are not limited to, inappropriate behaviors such as abusive language, derogatory remarks, insults, or epithets. Other offensive behaviors may include the use of condescending, humiliating, or vulgar language, swearing, shouting or use of unsuitable language, use of obscene gestures, or mocking.
EWU Policy 402-01: Discrimination, Sexual Harassment & Sexual & Interpersonal Violence
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 2, 2017For the purposes of this policy, discriminatory conduct is defined as conduct by any means directed at another person that is so severe, pervasive, or persistent, and objectively offensive that it substantially interferes with another’s ability to work, study, participate in, or benefit from the university’s programs or activities, such that the person is effectively denied equal access to the university’s resources and opportunities on the basis of the individual’s protected status.
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Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination and violates this policy.
Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature and may include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature, including sexual assault.
Sexual harassment, including sexual assault, can involve persons of the same or opposite sex.
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Sexual harassment may create a hostile environment when it is so severe, pervasive, or persistent, and objectively offense that:
(1) It substantially interferes with another’s ability to work, study, participate in, or benefit from the university’s programs or activities; or,
(2) The conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with another individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment. This alternative only applies in the context of employment.
WAC 172-121: Student Conduct Code
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: October 2, 2017The following are defined as offenses which are subject to disciplinary action by the university. … Physical abuse, verbal abuse, and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.
WAC 172-121: Student Conduct Code
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 2, 2017(i) Harassment is conduct by any means that is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent, and objectively offensive so as to threaten an individual or limit the individual’s ability to work, study, participate in, or benefit from the university’s programs or activities.
(ii) Gender-based harassment includes nonsexual acts of verbal, nonverbal, or physical aggression, intimidation, or hostility based on a person’s gender or nonconformity with gender stereotypes. Gender-based harassment violates this code and Title IX when it is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent such that it denies or limits another’s ability to work, study, participate in, or benefit from the university’s programs or activities.
(iii) Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature and may include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment violates this code and Title IX when it is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent such that it denies or limits another’s ability to work, study, participate in, or benefit from the university’s programs or activities.
Housing and Residential Life Living Guide: Personalizing Your Room
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: October 2, 2017Please also be aware that Residential Life staff may ask you to remove offensive materials that are placed in public view.
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Rawlins wrong on free speech
July 18, 2005
V. Lane Rawlins has abetted censorship. Inadvertently, perhaps, but that’s what it was. In an attempt to placate protesters, the Washington State University president reiterated his support for faculty and students who shouted their objections this spring during the final performance of student Chris Lee’s “intentionally offensive” play, “Passion of the Musical.” In a followup letter to Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, Rawlins said the demonstrators had “exercised their rights of free speech in a very responsible manner.” Except that the “speech” they were exercising was nothing but a high-decibel barrage to drown out the message coming from the […]
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Baking With Fire
April 18, 2005
The enemies of campus bake sales are at it again, inflaming one another over the dire threat of cupcakes and cookies sold at different prices to whites, minorities, and women. The sales are political parody, of course, poking fun at affirmative action policies and trying to get a debate going. Campus orthodoxy holds that such policies are sacred and that any dissent, even in the form of satirical cookie prices, is illegitimate and deserving of suppression. When members of a Republican club staged a bake sale March 21 at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich., several students said they […]
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