School Spotlight

Georgia Southern University
Speech Code Rating
Student Conduct Code: Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
Last updated: October 19, 2021Any act of intimidation or bullying directed against any person or group of persons. Read MoreStudent Union Facilities & Event Services: Policies- Assembly and Demonstrations
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: October 19, 2021Georgia Southern University reaffirms its commitment to the freedoms of speech, expression, and assembly by establishing this policy. Individuals have the right to assemble, to speak, and to attempt to attract the attention of others, and corresponding rights to hear the speech of others when they choose to listen, ... Read MoreBoard of Regents Policy Manual: 6.7 Sexual Misconduct Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 19, 2021Sexual Harassment (Student on Student): Unwelcome verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct based on sex (including gender stereotypes), determined by a Reasonable Person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to participate in or to benefit from an instit... Read More
In challenge to Georgia’s anti-BDS law, federal district court sides with journalist disinvited from Georgia Southern University
May 27, 2021
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, ruled earlier this week that plaintiff Abby Martin’s case against Georgia Southern University administrators for violating her expressive and due process rights may proceed. The ruling signals that a Georgia statute prohibiting state entities from entering contracts with individuals or companies engaged… Read more
A closer look at Georgia Southern’s response to students’ book burning
October 18, 2019
A book burning on the campus of Georgia Southern University last week had the potential to ignite more than just the pages of the book in question. Controversy, censorship, and heightened campus tensions can result from such demonstrations. But a timely, speech-friendly assessment from Georgia Southern’s president — coupled with robust student media coverage and… Read more
Speech Code of the Month: Georgia Southern University
January 14, 2015
FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for January 2015: Georgia Southern University (GSU). As we begin a new year, we want to keep the focus squarely on the incursions on free speech by the federal government—specifically, by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Last month, we highlighted a policy… Read more
A Year Later, Impact of Feds’ ‘Blueprint’ Comes into Focus
August 28, 2014
Last summer, FIRE sounded the alarm about a shockingly broad definition of sexual harassment being pushed by the Departments of Education (ED) and Justice (DOJ) as a “blueprint for colleges and universities throughout the country.” Announced at the conclusion of a year-long investigation into the University of Montana’s sexual assault policies and practices, the resolution agreement and findings letter the feds labeled a “blueprint” defined sexual harassment as “any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature,” including “verbal conduct” (i.e., speech). And this all-encompassing definition wasn’t just a general characterization of sexual harassment; rather, it was the exact policy language that ED and DOJ were requiring the University of Montana to adopt verbatim.