School Spotlight

Montclair State University

Location: Montclair, New Jersey
Type: Public
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Speech Code Rating

Montclair State 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

  • Demonstrations and Assemblies

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: January 11, 2021

    Any University employee, student, group or organization that wishes to demonstrate or assemble on the University’s campus shall, at least two weeks in advance of the planned demonstration or assembly, obtain from, and file with, the Office of the Dean of Students a “Request for Demonstration, Assembly, Presentation ... Read More

  • Bias Response Taskforce: Bias and Free Speech

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
    Last updated: January 11, 2021

    Students are encouraged to report all types of bias-related incidents precipitated by intolerant behaviors […] A bias incident is conduct, speech or expression that is motivated by bias or prejudice but doesn’t involve a criminal act. Bias incidents may, however, violate campus codes or policies. … Free ... Read More

  • Human Resources: EO/AA and Diversity

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: June 15, 2022

    Montclair State University is committed to the principle that it is everyone’s responsibility to foster an atmosphere of respect, tolerance, understanding and good will among all members of our diverse campus community. As an ever-growing pluralistic society, it is fundamental to our institutional mission to create ... Read More

  • Code of Conduct: Disruptive Conduct

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: June 15, 2022

    Disruptive conduct includes, but is not limited to: … threatening or obscene language or behavior in public places; … Read More

  • Student Services: Human Relations Statement on Campus Climate for Civility and Human Dignity

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: June 14, 2022

    Montclair State University recognizes its responsibility to foster an atmosphere of respect, understanding and good will among individuals and groups, with special sensitivity to those most likely to be subjected to disrespect, abuse and misunderstanding because of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity... Read More

  • Code of Conduct: Harassment

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: June 15, 2022

    Students are prohibited from engaging in harassment, intimidation and bullying. A student will be found responsible for harassment, intimidation or bullying if they engage in conduct, including but not limited to, any gesture, written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication (which includes e-mails, ... Read More

  • Code of Conduct: Residence Hall Regulations- Postings/Signs

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
    Last updated: June 15, 2022

    Signs, which promote the consumption of alcohol, the use of controlled dangerous substances, or anything, viewed as obscene and inappropriate behavior may not be displayed in any public area (e.g., windows, students room windows, doors, common areas, etc.). Read More

  • Title IX Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault Policy and Procedures

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: June 15, 2022

    Sexual Harassment is defined to mean conduct on the basis of gender that satisfies one or more of the following: … unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person of equal access to the University’s education programs ... Read More

  • Demonstrations and Assemblies: General Policy

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
    Last updated: January 11, 2021

    The policy and procedures concerning demonstrations and assemblies are also based on a balance between two principles. The first principle is the right of members of the University community to freedom of assembly and speech and the benefits to be derived in a free society and in a free and open University from fost... Read More

  • VICTORY: Montclair State clarifies resident assistants may make ‘negative’ comments to media

    May 3, 2022

    Following criticism from FIRE, Montclair State University removed a provision from its resident assistant job descriptions that prevented them from communicating to media outlets statements that “reflect negatively” on the university. FIRE learned of the troubling policy from a recent editorial in The Montclarion student newspaper that questioned whether Montclair State is silencing resident assistants,… Read more

  • Montclair State settles with Alliance Defending Freedom, agrees to revoke troubling policies and to $42K payout 

    August 17, 2021

    Montclair State University and Alliance Defending Freedom recently signed a settlement agreement ending a legal dispute instigated by the university’s disruption of a gun rights protest. On Aug. 4, ADF announced the parties had reached an agreement, in which MSU agreed to revise two university policies concerning students’ expressive rights and to disband its anti-bias… Read more

  • Montclair State University, ignoring questions about Twitter controversy, penalizes another professor

    August 21, 2017

    Earlier this month, Montclair State University claimed that it had “never” hired Kevin Allred, a gender studies professor whose tweets expressing hope that someone might assassinate President Trump sparked criticism across conservative media outlets. Although Allred’s tweets were quite clearly protected by the First Amendment, Montclair State University is ignoring questions about its dubious claim… Read more

  • Montclair State University says it ‘never hired’ professor who hoped for Trump assassination. Color us skeptical.

    August 4, 2017

    Last week, Kevin Allred — a professor we’ve written about before — again caused controversy when, weighing in on President Trump and the debate over the healthcare bill, he tweeted: “This is all a sham. I wish someone would just shoot him outright.” After a number of largely-conservative media outlets highlighted Allred’s tweet, which he… Read more

  • On Montclair State University’s termination of Kevin Allred

    August 1, 2017

    FIRE is aware of reports that Montclair State University has terminated professor Kevin Allred after reports surfaced of a since-deleted tweet in which he hoped for the assassination of President Donald Trump. We are concerned by the potential threat to freedom of expression posed by the incident and have launched an investigation of the matter…. Read more

  • Victory: Bogus Sanctions Against Pro-Palestinian Group for ‘Political’ Speech Dropped at Montclair State

    October 13, 2014

    After facing sanctions from the Montclair State University (MSU) Student Government Association (SGA), members of the Montclair Students for Justice in Palestine (MSJP) chapter are once again able to practice their free speech rights on the New Jersey public institution’s campus. On September 22, MSJP members handed out pamphlets at the group’s registered table in… Read more

  • FIRE’s Peter Bonilla Speaking at Montclair State Tonight

    March 7, 2013

    If you are a student at Montclair State University (MSU) or happen to be in the area, come see Peter Bonilla, associate director of FIRE’s Individual Rights Defense Program, speak on campus tonight! Peter will be talking about First Amendment rights at colleges and universities as well as FIRE’s recent (and memorable) case involving MSU… Read more

  • ‘Star-Ledger’ Columnist Shreds Montclair State’s Treatment of Joseph Aziz

    January 21, 2013

    Last week, we celebrated the vindication of Montclair State University student Joseph Aziz’s free speech rights, after he had been suspended for violating an unconstitutional gag order imposed on him by the university for making negative social media comments about another student. This victory for the First Amendment was long overdue, and we at FIRE… Read more

  • Montclair State ‘Trolling’ Case Garners International Attention

    January 18, 2013

    Montclair State rescinded its suspension of Joseph Aziz for violating an unconstitutional gag order last night. After FIRE first made the case public on Monday, the university has been under intense pressure from local, national, and international media outlets. Here’s a recap of some of the case’s coverage: Coverage from before the suspension was rescinded:… Read more

  • Victory: Montclair State Rescinds Suspension of Student for Social Media Comments

    January 18, 2013

    NEWARK, N.J., January 18, 2013—Montclair State University has rescinded its suspension of student Joseph Aziz for violating an unconstitutional gag order that the university imposed on him after he made comments on social media. University President Susan A. Cole revoked the semester-long suspension in a letter to Aziz yesterday evening, three days after the Foundation… Read more

  • Montclair State Wrongly Cites Anti-Bullying Law to Justify Student’s Suspension

    January 17, 2013

    The case of Montclair State University student Joseph Aziz—who has been suspended from the university as the result of unflattering social media comments he made regarding a fellow student—began making the news yesterday, with several articles appearing in the New Jersey/New York region and even a spot overnight on Fox News Channel’s Red Eye. So… Read more

  • ‘Star-Ledger’ Reports the Latest at Montclair State University

    January 16, 2013

    In an article published this morning, New Jersey’s The Star-Ledger examines FIRE’s recent case at Montclair State University and reports on student Joseph Aziz’s ongoing struggle to return to campus. As FIRE explained in our press release Monday, Aziz was suspended and barred from campus for violating an unconstitutional gag order placed on him by school administrators. In comments… Read more

  • Montclair State University Revises Former Speech Code of the Month

    October 13, 2011

    In May 2011, FIRE named Montclair State University our Speech Code of the Month for hastily adding an ill-defined prohibition on "bullying" into its harassment policy. In that article, we discussed "how a hasty response to the new pressure to address bullying can infringe on students’ expressive rights," noting that prohibiting "bullying" without defining the… Read more

  • Speech Code of the Month: Montclair State University

    May 2, 2011

    FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for May 2011: Montclair State University in New Jersey. Since the death of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi—who committed suicide last fall after two students secretly streamed video of him engaging in sexual activity with a man—universities have come under a great deal of pressure to address… Read more

  • This Week in FIRE News: Victory at Montclair State

    April 22, 2011

    This week, FIRE reported a free speech victory after Montclair State University backed down from charging an unconstitutional security fee for a speech sponsored by Students for a Democratic Society featuring education theorist and former Weatherman Bill Ayers. This is one more example where FIRE thwarted a “heckler’s veto.” Stanley Kurtz, writing for National Review Online’s The Corner,… Read more

  • First Amendment Victory at Montclair State: Ayers Speech Escapes ‘Heckler’s Veto’

    April 21, 2011

    NEWARK, N.J., April 21, 2011—Montclair State University has averted a First Amendment crisis on campus by backing down from an unconstitutional plan to levy extra fees on a student group that had invited education theorist and former Weatherman Bill Ayers to lecture on campus. After the university told Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) that… Read more

  • Will Creeley to Speak at Montclair State University on Tuesday

    October 27, 2008

    FIRE’s Director of Legal and Public Advocacy, Will Creeley, will be speaking at Montclair State University on Tuesday night. His free public lecture, “Liberty in Peril: Speech Codes on Campus,” will start at 7:00 p.m. in the MSU Student Center. The lecture is sponsored by the CHANGE Collegian Network at Montclair State University. I encourage… Read more

  • Twin Victories At Central Washington, Montclair State as First Amendment Trumps Student Government Censorship

    March 11, 2008

    FIRE is very pleased to announce two important victories for free expression this afternoon at Montclair State University and Central Washington University (CWU). At both Montclair State and CWU, student government was attempting to stifle the speech of organized student groups, a clear violation of the First Amendment. As Greg makes clear in today’s press… Read more

  • Twin Victories for Free Expression at Montclair State and Central Washington Universities

    March 11, 2008

    PHILADELPHIA, March 11, 2008—The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) has successfully intervened to protect the rights of student groups at New Jersey’s Montclair State University and Central Washington University (CWU) after student governments at both universities threatened to de-fund the groups for engaging in constitutionally protected expression. “These two cases—on opposite sides of… Read more

  • Mandatory Cell Phones Can Track Students at Montclair State

    November 27, 2007

    Thanks to the Drudge Report, FIRE became aware today of a new mandatory cell phone requirement at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Jay Dow reports for WCBS that students are required to pay for the phones themselves—at least $420 per year, depending on the level of service, added to their campus bill. The phones… Read more