School Spotlight
Montana State University
Speech Code Rating
MSU Policies and Procedures: Freedom of Expression Policy
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: January 29, 2021The following forms of expression are not protected forms of speech and may lead to individuals or groups being subject to disciplinary, administrative or legal action: … Harassment, including speech and other conduct based on a protected class, targeted at an individual, that effectively denies educational ac... Read MoreConduct Guidelines and Grievance Procedures for Students: 628.00 Theft/Misuse of Property
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: January 29, 2021Use of computing facilities to send harassing or abusive messages. Read MoreBoard of Regents Policy & Procedures Manual: Policy 1304.1- User Responsibilities- Students
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: January 29, 2021GUIDELINES: RECOMMENDATIONS, NOT REQUIREMENTS: Examples of Misuse of Information Technology Resources The following items represent, but do not fully define, misuse of information technology resources. Note that many of these examples may be considered appropriate uses of technology resources in specific academic co... Read MoreResidence Hall Handbook: Decorations/Room Displays
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: January 29, 2021Possessions or displays which are inconsistent with accepted standards or University policies should not be displayed on the outside of room doors or in general view of the public. This includes room windows. For example, posters of nude persons, and harassing or intimidating visual materials are considered inapprop... Read MoreConduct Guidelines and Grievance Procedures for Students: 623.00 Assault and Harm to Persons
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
Last updated: January 29, 2021Bullying and Cyberbullying are repeated and/or severe aggressive behaviors that intimidate or intentionally harm or control another person physically or emotionally, and are not protected by freedom of expression. Read MoreMSU Policies and Procedures: Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy [INTERIM]- Discriminatory Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: February 2, 2021Discriminatory Harassment is unwanted conduct that is: (a) based upon an individual’s race, color, religion, national origin, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, gender, age, political ideas, marital or family status, pregnancy, physical or mental disa... Read MoreMSU Policies and Procedures: Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy [INTERIM]- Sexual Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: February 2, 2021Sexual Harassment is conduct that: (1) occurs within a University Program or Activity located in the United States; (2) affects an individual participating or attempting to participate in a University Program or Activity at the time the Formal Complaint is filed; (3) is based on sex, gender identity, gender expressi... Read MoreMSU Policies and Procedures: Freedom of Expression Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: January 29, 2021MSU supports and encourages diverse points of view, though they may sometimes seem distasteful or offensive, as this is the nature of the University’s educational responsibility and is safeguarded by the freedom of expression. The acceptance of diversity is a fundamental tenet of the Land Grant University system and... Read MoreConduct Guidelines and Grievance Procedures for Students: 622.00 Harassment, Hazing, and Bystanding
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: January 29, 2021A.Harassment includes but is not limited to verbal, psychological, graphic and/or written abuse directed at another, beyond a reasonable expression of opinion, which: 1. Is threatening or carries with it the intention to do bodily harm; or 2. Disrupts or undermines a person’s exercise of their responsibilities... Read More
Montana State University: Students Told to Remove BLM Flag
October 25, 2021
In September 2021, a group of roommates at Montana State University were notified twice by the university that they must remove a Black Lives Matter flag displayed in their window. The university claimed that the flag could be offensive and a fire hazard. On October 25, FIRE wrote to the university requesting that it reconcile… Read more
Montana State University: Student Organizations Required to Report Lists of All Event Attendees to Administrators
August 26, 2020
In July 2020, MSU began requiring student organizations to report the names of all event attendees to administrators in order to facilitate COVID-19 contract tracing. FIRE wrote to MSU on August 26, explaining that while MSU has a compelling interest in protecting student health, the First Amendment right to anonymous speech and association requires that… Read more
University asks students to remove Black Lives Matter flag
October 25, 2021
Student residence hall decorations come in many shapes and sizes, but there are a number of classic staples: Whether it’s Tom Cruise, John Belushi, Bob Marley, or The Beatles, some images will be forever associated with the wall of a freshman’s room. After all, posters are fun ways to signal one’s cultural literacy or to… Read more
Montana State to revise student event policy criticized by FIRE
August 31, 2020
Montana State University is revising a policy that required student organizations to hand over event attendee lists to administrators — even in the absence of a single positive case of COVID-19 among attendees. MSU’s communications department confirmed to FIRE last Thursday that the Office of Student Engagement is “crafting and disseminating new language regarding attendance… Read more
Give up your constitutional rights due to COVID? At Montana State University, there’s an app for that.
August 26, 2020
As colleges and universities determine ways to track and prevent the spread of COVID-19, there are bound to be missteps. But Montana State University’s policy forcing student organizations to hand over their event attendee lists to administrators — even in the absence of a single positive case of the virus — is less of a… Read more
SPLC: Montana State Court Latest to Apply Common Sense to Colleges’ FERPA Excuses
March 5, 2012
Over on the Student Press Law Center’s blog, Frank LoMonte has an excellent post calling attention to a recent decision by a Montana state court in the case of Bozeman Daily Chronicle v. Montana State University. The case concerned Montana State University’s refusal to fulfill an open records request made by student journalists seeking documents… Read more
Montana State University Passes New Policy Expanding Areas for Free Speech on Campus
October 6, 2011
Students at Montana State University – Bozeman (MSU) will now enjoy a much-improved right to engage in free speech and expressive activity on their campus. That’s because, as reported by the MSU student newspaper The Exponent, the Montana State University Council has passed a revised version of MSU’s Freedom of Expression Policy that appears to… Read more