Jackson State University
Location: Jackson, Mississippi
Website: http://www.jsums.edu
Type: Public
Federal Circuit: 5th Circuit
Speech Code Rating
Jackson State 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
Student Handbook: Student Code of Conduct- Sexual Harassment
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: November 21, 20183.93 SEXUAL HARASSMENT. Regardless of sexual gender, personal affiliation, and/or affiliation with the University, sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome and unsolicited sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other verbal, visual or physical conduct or communication with sexual overtones that the victim deems offensive. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to unsolicited, deliberate, or repeated sexual flirtation, advances or propositions; verbal abuse of a sexual nature; display of sexually suggestive pictures or objects; and/or offensive or abusive physical contact of a sexual nature.
Student Handbook: Student Decorum Policy
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: November 21, 2018The Jackson State University Student Handbook sets forth expectations and guidelines for appropriate student decorum, and this policy is put in place as a supplement to clarify and extend the dress code as well as the proscription against the use of inappropriate language.
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This Decorum Policy shall be applied without discrimination in regard to the viewpoint embodied in a student’s dress or language, and it shall be applied to all students on an equal basis. Further, this policy is limited in time and place to University functions and educational facilities, specifically including classrooms. It is strongly encouraged, but not required, that these guidelines be followed elsewhere in an effort to provide a positive representation of ourselves and the University to the best of our abilities.
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Prohibited Language
This policy does not prohibit language based on the expressive viewpoint of one’s ideas, but rather proscribes certain language based on the disruptive or destructive manner and context in which such language is used. This includes, but is not limited to words used to provoke and altercation and profanity.
Lewdness and Obscenity
Lewd and obscene language is prohibited.Fighting Words
Language that by its very utterance tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace or imminent lawless action is prohibited. These words include those which when directed to the person of the hearer would naturally tend to provoke violent resentment. Such words also include those personally abusive epithets which, when addressed to the ordinary citizen, are, as a matter of common knowledge, inherently likely to provoke violent reaction.Profanity
Profane, vulgar, and curse words are prohibited in limited contexts although their use is widely discouraged by the University. The proscription against profanity shall only regulate the manner of such speech rather than the content of any message conveyed. Profanity may subject a person to discipline when it lacks any artistic or literary value in connection with a University curriculum, it inherently tends to provoke a violent reaction, and it substantially interferes with the educational environment.Student Handbook: Student Code of Conduct- Violations & Sanctions
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: November 21, 20182.30 DISORDERLY CONDUCT, OBSTRUCTION, AND/OR DISRUPTION. Disorderly conduct is any offensive or annoying act that disrupts the peace.
It includes, but is not limited to any person that assembles on campus for the purpose of causing a riot, destruction of property or a disorderly diversion, which interferes with the normal operation of the University; rowdy behavior, indecent language, excessive noise or drunken or drug induced behavior; disorderly and/or obscene conduct or a breach of the peace on any University property or public function affiliated with the University.
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3.30 INDECENT, OBSCENE, IMMORAL BEHAVIOR, AND/OR PROFANITY.
Conduct, which is disorderly, lewd, and/or indecent taking place on the premises of the University or at University sponsored or supervised activities will not be tolerated. Such acts include the use of obscene gestures, improper body exposures, stripping, and harassing conduct directed toward or in the vicinity of students, staff members, administrators, or faculty or visitors of the University.
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3.40 MORAL TURPITUDE. A disorderly or disruptive act of baseness, vileness or depravity which brings shame to the University and is in contradiction to the letter and spirit of the University’s Code of Conduct, good citizenship and ethics.
Student Handbook: Philosophy of Student Conduct and Discipline
Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
Last updated: November 21, 2018Behavior, which is not in keeping with standards acceptable to the University community, is often symptomatic of attitudes, misconceptions, and emotional crises; addressing these attitudes, misconceptions, and emotional crises through education is an essential part of the disciplinary process.
Title IX Policy
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: November 20, 2018It is unlawful to harass a person (an employee or student) because of the individual’s gender. Harassment can include “sexual harassment” or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. Harassment does not have to be of a sexual nature, however, and can include offensive remarks about a person’s gender. Both victim and the harasser can be either a woman or a man, and the victim and harasser can be the same gender. Although the law doesn’t prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive living, classroom, social, dining, recreational, and/or work environment.
Student Handbook: Sexual Misconduct and Title IX Policy
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: November 21, 2018C. Sexual Harassment
Sexual Harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that has the effect of creating a hostile or stressful living, learning, or working environment, or whenever toleration of such conduct or rejection of it is the basis for an academic or employment decision affecting an individual. Conduct is considered “unwelcome” if the person did not request or invite it and considered the conduct to be undesirable or offensive. Sexual harassment includes any conduct or incident that is sufficiently serious that it is likely to limit or deny a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the University’s educational programs or a faculty or staff member’s ability to work, which may include a single incident of sexual assault or other serious sexual misconduct.
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The following non-exhaustive list includes examples of behavior that could be considered sexual harassment:
Unwelcome sexual innuendo, propositions, sexual attention, or suggestive comments and gestures.
Unwelcome physical contact of a sexual nature, such as touching, hugging, kissing, patting, or pinching, that is uninvited and unwanted or unwelcome by the other person.
Humor and jokes about sex or gender-specific traits; sexual slurs or derogatory language directed at another person’s sexuality or gender.
Insults and threats based on sex or gender; and other oral, written, or electronic communications of a sexual nature that a person communicates and that are unwelcome.
Written graffiti or the display or distribution of sexually explicit drawings, pictures, or written materials; sexually charged name-calling; sexual rumors or ratings of sexual activity/performance; the circulation, display, or creation of e-mails or Web sites of a sexual nature.
Non-academic display or circulation of written materials or pictures degrading to a person(s) or gender group.
Unwelcome attention, such as repeated inappropriate flirting, inappropriate or repetitive compliments about clothing or physical attributes, staring, or making sexually oriented gestures.
Change of academic or employment responsibilities (increase in difficulty or decrease of responsibility) based on sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation.
Use of a position of power or authority to: (i) threaten or punish, either directly or by implication, for refusing to tolerate harassment, for refusing to submit to sexual activity, or for reporting harassment; or (ii) promise rewards in return for sexual favors.
Acts of verbal, nonverbal, or physical aggression, intimidation, or hostility based on sex or sex-stereotyping.…
It is unlawful to harass a person (an employee or student) because of the individual’s gender. Harassment can include offensive remarks about a person’s gender. Both complainant and the respondent can be either a woman or a man, and the complainant and respondent can be the same gender. Although the law doesn’t prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive living, classroom, social, dining, recreational, and/or work environment. The respondent can be a student and/or employee affiliated with the University or someone who is not associated with the University. Gender-based harassment includes harassment based on actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, which may include acts of aggression, intimidation, or hostility, whether verbal, non-verbal, graphic, physical, or otherwise, even if the acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature, when the conditions outlined below are present. … Such conduct creates a hostile environment. A hostile environment exists when the conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it unreasonably interferes with, limits, or deprives an individual from participating in or benefiting from the University’s education or employment programs and/or activities. Conduct must be deemed severe, persistent, or pervasive from both a subjective and an objective perspective. In evaluating whether a hostile environment exists, the University will consider the totality of known circumstances, including the nature, frequency, intensity, location, context, and duration of the behavior.
Student Handbook: Student Code of Conduct- Harassment
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: November 21, 20182.90 HARASSMENT (Verbal and/or Physical). The excessive physical interference with, or abuse of, any person on University-owned or controlled property or while on the premises of, or while in attendance of Universitysponsored or supervised events. This policy also applies to social media use. Harassment includes conduct that is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that a reasonable person with the same characteristics of the victim would be adversely affected to a degree that interferes with his or her ability to participate in or to realize the intended benefits of a University activity, opportunity, or resource.
When part of a pattern of conduct that rises to the level of this standard, harassment may include language to physical acts which degrades, insults, taunts, or challenges another person by any means of communication, so as to provoke a violent response, communication of threat, or defamation of character. It includes the use of profanity, verbal assaults, derogatory comments or remarks, sexist remarks, racist remarks or any behavior that places another member of the University community in a state of fear or anxiety.
Student Handbook: Student Rights and Responsibilities
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: November 21, 2018As an academic community, Jackson State University exists for the pursuit of learning and truth, for the development of students as scholars and citizens, and ultimately, for the well being of society. Free inquiry and free expression are indispensable to the attainment of these goals.
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Students at Jackson State University are both private citizens and members of the University community. As U.S. citizens, students enjoy the same freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and right of petition that other citizens enjoy.
Student Handbook: Student Rights and Responsibilities
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: November 21, 2018The University provides forums for the assembly and expression of ideas and opinions, such as the following:
1. “Traditional public forums” include the University’s public streets, sidewalks, and similar common areas. These areas are generally available for expressive activity, planned or spontaneous, for the individual or small groups at any time without the need for reservation or prior approval. In such setting sound amplification are not permitted. Additionally, said individuals or small groups are not permitted to obstruct or otherwise block the routine regular flow of pedestrian or transit traffic in the University’s public streets, sidewalks, and similar common areas.
2. “Designated public forums” include other parts of the campus that may become temporarily available for expressive activity as designated by the University. To facilitate the free exchange of ideas, the University has established high visibility areas on campus as designated public forums that may be used by any individuals or small groups, including students and other campus guests. As with traditional public forums the individuals or small groups are not permitted to obstruct or otherwise block the routine regular flow of pedestrian or transit traffic in the University’s public streets, sidewalks, and similar common areas.
Designated public forums include: a) Tiger Park b) The Pavilion
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In Mississippi, ‘The Clarion-Ledger’ Reports on Dangers of State Colleges’ Speech Codes
August 16, 2010
In today’s edition of The Clarion-Ledger, the Jackson, Mississippi newspaper reports on speech codes maintained at public colleges statewide. Spurred by FIRE’s recent victory at nearby Hinds Community College, reporter Elizabeth Crisp writes: Students at Mississippi universities may have to watch what they say more than those in other states because of policies that free-speech advocates say are oppressive. At Ole Miss, someone could theoretically get in trouble for sending an e-mail about how much they “hate” rival Mississippi State. Jackson State students could be punished for unsolicited flirting. Speaking freely outside so-called “free-speech zones” on most of the campuses […]
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Speech Code of the Month: Jackson State University
August 1, 2008
FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for August 2008: Jackson State University in Mississippi. Jackson State’s harassment policy provides, in relevant part, that: The scope of any form of harassment includes language to physical acts which degrades, insult, taunt, or challenges another person by any means of communication, verbal, so as to provoke a violent response, communication of threat, defamation of character, use of profanity, verbal assaults, derogatory comments or remarks, sexist remarks, racists remarks or any behavior that places another member of the University community in a state of fear or anxiety. Got that? Yeah, me neither. […]
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