Shawnee State University

Location: Portsmouth, Ohio
Website: http://www.shawnee.edu
Type: Public
Federal Circuit: 6th Circuit

Tell Shawnee State University to revise its speech policies by filling out this form.

Speech Code Rating

Shawnee 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 here.

At present, FIRE has not been involved in any cases at this school.
Yellow Light Policies

  • Title IX: Frequently Asked Questions

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: August 3, 2018

    What are some examples of sexual Harassment?

    Inappropriate behavior may include:

    • Sexual jokes, innuendoes, gestures
    • Unwanted flirtation, advances, or propositions
    • Pressure for sex
    • Leering
    • Display of sexually suggestive objects/visuals
    • Display/transmission of sexually suggestive electronic content
    • Any unnecessary, unwanted physical contact
    • Sexual assault (if this occurs, call the police immediately and maintain evidence)

    » Read More

  • Student Conduct Code: Violations

    Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
    Last updated: August 3, 2018

    Harassment, intimidation, stalking, bullying, including cyber-bullying, and/or other threatening behavior.

    » Read More

Green Light Policies

  • Procedure 5.01:2 Reporting & Investigating Sexual Assault, Sexual Misconduct

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: August 3, 2018

    Sexual harassment includes sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature that is unwelcome and sufficiently severe or pervasive from both a subjective (the complainant’s) and an objective (reasonable person’s) viewpoint.

    » Read More

  • Conditions for Use of Campus Computing Resources

    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: August 20, 2018

    Dissemination of libelous or slanderous material on the SSU ResNet/Wireless Network is prohibited, as is the dissemination of material that has the purpose or effect of harassing one or more individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression), national origin, age, or disability. Material is considered harassing when it is sufficiently serious (i.e., severe, pervasive, or persistent) and objectively offensive so as to deny or limit a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from the University’s programs, services, opportunities, or activities.

    » Read More

At present, FIRE does not maintain information on this school's policies.

  • Speech Code of the Month: Shawnee State University

    August 8, 2018

    Editor’s note: Shawnee State University revised this speech code shortly after FIRE named the policy our Speech Code of the Month. Bans on posting or sending “racially offensive” or “racist” materials over university wireless networks are unfortunately commonplace in FIRE’s Spotlight database. As FIRE has discussed time and time again, materials about race that are subjectively offensive to some — or even most — are still protected by the First Amendment, unless they’re included in unprotected speech or conduct like threats or harassment. But Ohio’s Shawnee State University has somehow gone even further than those more typical bans, earning its […]

    » Read More