School Spotlight

Shawnee State University

Location: Portsmouth, Ohio
Type: Public
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

  • Student Conduct Code: Sexual Misconduct

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 14, 2020

    Sexual harassment (also called “sexual misconduct”) is conduct that is: 1) sexual in nature; 2) unwelcome; and 3) denies or limits an individual’s ability to participate in or benefit from the University’s education program or work environment. Read More

  • Title IX: Frequently Asked Questions

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 14, 2020

    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, u... Read More

  • Student Conduct Code: Violations

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
    Last updated: September 14, 2020

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

  • Conditions for Use of Campus Computing Resources

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: September 14, 2020

    The following specific rules are not optional and apply to all individuals connecting to the wireless network: … There will be no dissemination of libelous, slanderous or racist material, or other material prohibited by law. Read More

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

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 14, 2020

    Sexual Harassment, as an umbrella category, includes the offenses of sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, and is defined as: … Conduct that a reasonable person would determine is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person ... Read More
At present, FIRE has not been publicly involved in any cases at this school.

  • 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… Read more