School Spotlight

Montclair State University
Speech Code Rating
Demonstrations and Assemblies
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: January 11, 2021Any 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 MoreBias Response Taskforce: Bias and Free Speech
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Last updated: January 11, 2021Students 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 MoreHuman Resources: EO/AA and Diversity
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: January 11, 2021Montclair 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 MoreCode of Conduct: Disruptive Conduct
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: January 11, 2021Disruptive conduct includes, but is not limited to: … threatening or obscene language or behavior in public places; … Read MoreStudent 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: January 11, 2021Montclair 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 MoreCode of Conduct: Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: January 11, 2021Students 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 … that is sufficiently severe or pervasive that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the Universit... Read MoreCode of Conduct: Residence Hall Regulations- Postings/Signs
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: January 11, 2021Signs, 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 MoreTitle IX Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault Policy and Procedures
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: January 11, 2021Sexual 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 MoreDemonstrations and Assemblies: General Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: January 11, 2021The 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
Montclair State University: Adjunct Hiring Reversed After Trump Assassination Tweets
August 4, 2017
After Kevin Allred tweeted criticism of President Trump and his hope that someone might assassinate him, Montclair State University denied that it had ever hired him as an adjunct professor.
Montclair State University: Pro-Palestinian Group Fined for ‘Political’ Expression
October 13, 2014
The Montclair State University Student Government Association ordered the Montclair Students for Justice in Palestine to cease all political activity after receiving complaints that the group had handed out “political” and “offensive” pamphlets.
Montclair State University: Student Barred from Campus for Violating Unconstitutional ‘Gag Order’
January 4, 2013
In October 2012, Montclair State University issued a no-contact order to student Joseph Aziz in response to unflattering comments about a student he had posted to a politically charged YouTube video that September.
Montclair State University: Student Group Threatened with Unconstitutional Security Fee
March 24, 2011
Two days before it was scheduled to host a speaking event with former education professor and activist Bill Ayers, MSU student group Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was informed by MSU’s Center for Student Involvement that it would be charged extra security fees for an unspecified number of extra security officers to handle possible… Read more
Montclair State University: Student Group Faces De-funding for Protected Expression
February 26, 2008
Following an extended dispute between Montclair State University’s Student Government Association and The Montclarion over the lack of press access to closed meetings, SGA President Ron Chicken declared that the paper’s funding would be frozen on the first day of Montclair State’s Spring 2008 semester. An SGA employee even contacted the paper’s publishing company and… 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
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