School Spotlight

Georgia Southern University

Location: Statesboro, Georgia
Type: Public
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Speech Code Rating

Georgia Southern 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

  • Student Conduct Code: Harassment

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
    Last updated: March 18, 2020

    c. Any act of intimidation or bullying directed against any person or group of persons. Read More

  • Office of Inclusive Excellence: Report a Biased Incident

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
    Last updated: March 18, 2020

    It is our hope that students, faculty, and staff on all Georgia Southern campuses feel safe and valued in their emotional and physical space. However, sometimes that space gets invaded through micro-aggressions, slurs, discriminatory words, and unwanted touch or actions. A starting point for making a complaint is th... Read More

  • Board of Regents Policy Manual: 6.7 Sexual Misconduct Policy

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: March 19, 2020

    Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct, based on sex or on gender stereotypes, that is implicitly or explicitly a term or condition of employment or status in a course, program, or activity; is a basis for employment or educational decisions; or is sufficiently severe, persistent, or per... Read More

  • Student Union Facilities & Event Services: Policies- Assembly and Demonstrations

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: March 18, 2020

    Georgia 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 More
At present, FIRE has not been publicly involved in any cases at this school.

  • 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.