School Spotlight

McNeese State University
Speech Code Rating
Public Forum Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: August 11, 2020As a publicly–supported institution within the University of Louisiana System, McNeese State University values the publicly accessible nature of its campus and facilities and embraces the free and open exchange of ideas in the context of a diverse community of teachers and learners. The University also recogni... Read MoreFacilities Use Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: August 11, 2020Campus facilities exist to provide the spaces in which the University’s primary mission can be carried out. Any activity occurring in a campus facility must be an appropriate use of that facility. At all times, McNeese State University maintains the right: to scrutinize all utilization of space. to determine ... Read MorePlacement of Printed Materials on Campus Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: August 11, 2020To insure that McNeese State University maintains an attractive campus appearance and protects the rights of all campus organizations and individuals as well as University property, the following rules relating to the posting of all printed materials (papers, signs, posters, and banners of any type) on campus are to... Read MorePublic Forum Policy: Security
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Security Fee Policies
Last updated: August 11, 2020The Chief of University Police is the exclusive provider of security for events and activities occurring on University property and is the sole authority for determining need and quantity of officers required for an event. The Chief of University Police will consider the following content-and viewpoint-neutral guide... Read MoreEquity and Inclusion Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: August 11, 2020Sexual Harassment/Discrimination –Title VII – Sexual harassment may be either same gender or different gender. It includes any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and/or other verbal or physical conduct of this nature where: … Such conduct is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offen... Read MoreAcceptable Use of Information Technology Resources Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: August 11, 2020User Responsibilities: Users must abide by all federal, state, and local laws … Users are reminded that use of IT resources may not materially and substantially disrupt university functions or another university member’s use of technology resources, or violate the law … Internet Use Filtering System The In... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Code of Student Conduct
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: August 11, 2020Abuse—Physical abuse (or threat thereof) against person(s) which threatens or endangers the health or safety of person(s). … Harassment—Harassment is conduct so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive, and that so undermines and detracts from the victims’ educational experience, that the victim-stud... Read MoreAnti-Bullying Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
Last updated: August 11, 2020McNeese State University defines bullying as “engaging in repeated actions which cause another person to experience intimidation, the unlawful use of physical force or harassment that is so severe, prevasive, [sic] and objectively offensive that it denies the victim equal access to the university’s resou... Read MoreSexual Misconduct Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: August 11, 2020Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature … such conduct is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it unreasonably interferes with a person’s employment or education, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment or educational environment, and has no legitimate relat... Read More
Speech Code of the Month: McNeese State University
September 6, 2018
A common misstep FIRE encounters in college speech codes is the inclusion of more than one definition of a particular type of misconduct within a single policy. These policies typically provide a broad and speech-restrictive definition of the term, followed by a more reasonable definition. Regardless of whether the broader definition is applied in practice,… Read more
McNeese State Revises ‘Public Forum’ Policy But Still Prohibits ‘Derogatory’ Speech
May 29, 2009
One of FIRE’s worst Speech Codes of the Month ever—McNeese State University’s “Public Forum” policy—has been updated in another FIRE victory for the freedoms of speech and association. The policy now clarifies that students on campus enjoy the freedom to protest and demonstrate, a freedom to which they are legally and morally entitled. Long time… Read more
Today’s ‘Campus Alert’: Stifling Speech
July 9, 2007
Check out today’s Campus Alert in the New York Post, where we highlight similarities between Singapore’s overly zealous regulation of public life and the tactics often used by American universities trying to stifle student speech. As Samantha pointed out in a recent blog, to speak freely in Singapore, citizens must use a “Speakers’ Corner”—a small,… Read more
Speech Code of the Month: McNeese State University
July 3, 2007
FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for July 2007: McNeese State University. This public university in Louisiana maintains a set of “Public Forum Regulations” that quarantine free speech to just two areas of campus and place onerous restrictions on the use of those areas. The regulations provide that students may exercise their right… Read more
American Public Universities Take Cue from Singapore
June 28, 2007
When you think of a place where order takes precedence over liberty, where the government regulates every minute aspect of civil life, you may well think of Singapore. Over the years, Singapore has made the news for everything from caning an American teenager for vandalism to banning chewing gum to fining people for failing to… Read more
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