Southern Connecticut State University

Location: New Haven, Connecticut
Website: http://www.southernct.edu
Type: Public
Federal Circuit: 2nd Circuit

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

Speech Code Rating

Southern Connecticut 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

  • CSCU Information Technology: Acceptable Use

    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: September 18, 2018

    To adhere to Acceptable and Responsible Use policy, users of CSCU IT resources must NOT: … Use ConnSCU IT resources for unauthorized purposes may include but are not limited to, … religious or political purposes.

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  • BOR/CSCU Student Code of Conduct: Prohibited Conduct

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 18, 2018

    Sexual harassment, which can include any unwelcome sexual advance or request for sexual favors, or any conduct of a sexual nature when submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s education; submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for academic decisions affecting the individual; or such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment. Examples of conduct which may constitute sexual harassment include but are not limited to:

    • sexual flirtation, touching, advances or propositions
    • verbal abuse of a sexual nature
    • pressure to engage in sexual activity
    • graphic or suggestive comments about an individual’s dress or appearance
    • use of sexually degrading words to describe an individual
    • display of sexually suggestive objects, pictures or photographs
    • sexual jokes
    • stereotypic comments based upon gender
    • threats, demands or suggestions that retention of one’s educational status is contingent upon toleration of or acquiescence in sexual advances.

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  • BOR/CSCU Student Code of Conduct: Prohibited Conduct

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 18, 2018

    Harassment, which is defined as conduct which is abusive or which interferes with a person’s pursuit of his or her customary or usual affairs, including, but not limited to, such conduct when directed toward an individual or group because of race, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation or expression, age, physical attribute, or physical or mental disability or disorder, including learning disabilities and mental retardation.

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Green Light Policies

  • BOR/CSCU Student Code of Conduct: Preamble

    Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
    Last updated: September 18, 2018

    Academic institutions exist for the transmission of knowledge, the pursuit of truth, the development of students, and the general well-being of society. In line with this purpose, the Board of Regents for Higher Education (“BOR”) in conjunction with the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (“CSCU”) has the duty to protect the freedoms of inquiry and expression, and furthermore, has the responsibility to encourage all of its members to develop the capacity for critical judgment in their sustained and independent search for truth.

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  • CSU Policy on Campus Freedom and Order

    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: September 18, 2018

    [T]he Board of Trustees: … Affirms the right of individuals and groups in the university to assemble, to dissent, to picket and to demonstrate on the university campuses within the limits of administrative guidelines or regulations …

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

  • Real-Life Satire at Southern Connecticut State University

    April 26, 2005

    Our illustrious program associate, Alexis Zoberg, who handles our case intake, has prepared an excellent summary of another crazy case of repression on college campuses. This reminds me of a favorite Mark Twain quote: “It’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.” Edward Bolles is a student at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). Bolles, who is pursuing his master’s degree in creative writing, wrote a satirical poem for his poetry class titled “Professor White.” In it, the protagonist, Juan Diego, becomes sexually involved with the fictional professor’s college-age daughter (named Snow White). Professor White […]

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