School Spotlight

State University of New York – Fredonia

Location: Fredonia, New York
Type: Public
Tell State University of New York – Fredonia to revise its speech policies by filling out this form.

Speech Code Rating

State University of New York – Fredonia has been given the speech code rating Red. A red light university has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech. Read more

  • Office of Student Conduct: University Policies for Students- Sexual Discrimination and Sexual Harassment

    Speech Code Rating: Red
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 11, 2020

    Sexual Harassment in the Educational setting is defined as: Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment of a student denies or limits, on the basis of ... Read More

  • Office of Student Conduct: Student Rights and Responsibilities (Code of Conduct)

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
    Last updated: September 11, 2020

    Alleged violation of any of the following may result in charges being filed against a student or organization. … Posting of posters, handbills, or notices without permission of the appropriate University official. The Office of Campus Life must approve all postings. Read More

  • Office of Student Conduct: University Policies for Students- Celebration of Diversity

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 11, 2020

    The University also discourages engaging in any action or situation that which recklessly or intentionally dangers the mental or physical health of a member of the University community; creating in [sic] a situation through severe and persuasive acts that results in the discomfort of, or harassment or excessive ridi... Read More

  • Information Technology Services: Computer and Network Usage Policy

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: September 11, 2020

    B. Harassment Using computers or networks to harass, abuse or intimidate another person is prohibited. Users shall not develop or use programs that harass other users. Users shall be sensitive to the public nature of shared facilities, and take care not to display on screens in such locations images, sounds or messa... Read More

  • Office of Student Conduct: University Policies for Students- Bias Crimes Prevention

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
    Last updated: September 11, 2020

    In addition to preventing and prosecuting hate/bias crimes, University Police also assist in addressing bias-related activities that do not rise to the level of a crime. These activities, referred to as bias incidents and defined by the University as objectively perceptible acts of bigotry, harassment, or intimidati... Read More

  • Office of Student Conduct: Student Rights and Responsibilities (Code of Conduct)

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
    Last updated: September 11, 2020

    Creating a situation that results in severe or pervasive harassment of a member of the University or local community. This includes bullying and cyber-bullying. Read More

  • Office of Student Conduct: Student Rights and Responsibilities (Code of Conduct)

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: September 11, 2020

    Demonstrations by Groups or Individuals The campus must be open to a free exchange of ideas and individuals and groups have protected Constitutional rights; therefore, all members of the community are encouraged to conduct dialogues with mutual respect and courtesy. The following conduct is prohibited: a. Denying to... Read More

  • State University of New York at Fredonia: Professor Punished for Public Expression

    July 7, 2006

    State University of New York at Fredonia Professor Stephen Kershnar, apart from his faculty duties, authored a biweekly opinion column for the Dunkirk-Fredonia Observer local newspaper. Kershnar’s column had been critical of university policies including SUNY Fredonia’s Affirmative Action policy; Kershnar also publicly criticized a new student conduct policy. In response, President Dennis L. Hefner… Read more

  • This Month in FIRE History: SUNY Fredonia Professor Targeted for Political Expression

    July 19, 2011

    In July 2006, Steven Kershnar, a professor at the State University of New York, Fredonia, came to FIRE for help after he was denied promotion for publicly disagreeing with university policies. As a columnist for a local newspaper, Kershnar had written a number of pieces that questioned the school’s student conduct policies, examined affirmative action… Read more

  • This Month in FIRE History: Victory for Professor’s Rights at SUNY Fredonia

    August 6, 2007

    It was one year ago this month that FIRE announced a victory in the case of Professor Stephen Kershnar at SUNY Fredonia. FIRE fans will remember that Kershnar was denied a well-deserved promotion because of his public criticism of the university on issues ranging from the school’s oppressive student conduct code to its affirmative action… Read more

  • Year in Review: Punished for Public Expression, Professor Finds Exoneration with FIRE

    December 28, 2006

    2006 saw a lot of extraordinary cases for FIRE: the censorship of a Dave Barry quote at Marquette; thought reform at Michigan State; harassment charges at the University of Central Florida because one student called another “a jerk and a fool” online at Facebook.com. But one case in particular arguably holds the dubious distinction of… Read more

  • Mike Adams Calls for SUNY Fredonia President to be Fired

    September 5, 2006

    Yesterday, on Townhall.com, columnist Mike S. Adams called for SUNY Fredonia President Dennis Hefner’s termination for his handling of the promotion of Professor Stephen Kershnar. Adams wrote: Although I’ve been writing about free speech issues for years, I’ve never actually called for the immediate firing of a university president. That is, until today. Anyone remotely… Read more

  • Media Attention Not Reason for Promotion, SUNY Fredonia Claims

    August 18, 2006

    In an article in yesterday’s edition of The Buffalo News, Christine Davis Mantai, director of media relations and website for SUNY Fredonia, said Professor Stephen Kershnar’s promotion “was not a reversal of the decision made on the previous application,” but “was a new decision made on a new application, which built a stronger case in… Read more

  • This Just In: SUNY Fredonia President Hearts Free Speech

    August 17, 2006

    Yesterday afternoon, SUNY Fredonia President Dennis L. Hefner sent an e-mail to all faculty members reassuring them that he has always supported free speech and diversity of opinions, his recent foray into censorship, prior review, and meddling with a professor’s livelihood notwithstanding. He wrote, Dear Colleagues:   I would like to clarify a recent subject… Read more

  • A Victory for the Most Basic of Rights at SUNY Fredonia

    August 14, 2006

    Three weeks ago FIRE announced the shocking case of Professor Stephen Kershnar at SUNY Fredonia.  Kershnar was denied a well-deserved promotion because of his public criticism of the university on issues ranging from its oppressive student conduct code to its affirmative action policies.  After intense media scrutiny resulting from FIRE’s press release, the university relented:… Read more

  • FIRE in the ‘New York Post’ on Scandal at SUNY Fredonia

    August 1, 2006

    Today’s issue of the New York Post features an editorial by FIRE President Greg Lukianoff and Vice President Robert Shibley discussing SUNY Fredonia, where the administration recently denied Professor Stephen Kershnar promotion because he publicly opined on university policies and practices. SUNY Fredonia President Dennis Hefner even attempted to require that Kershnar submit all of… Read more

  • Higher Ed Journals Cover the Kershnar Case

    July 26, 2006

    Today both the Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed contain coverage of FIRE’s outrageous case at SUNY Fredonia, where Professor Stephen Kershnar was denied promotion because he publicly criticized the university. The most significant development in these articles appears to be that university president Dennis Hefner now considers his proposal that all of… Read more

  • SUNY Punishes Professor Flatly Because of His Protected Speech

    July 24, 2006

    I have been working in this field for a long time now, and I would like to say that nothing surprises me anymore, but today’s release about a college professor denied promotion explicitly because of his outside writings criticizing the university’s student conduct code, affirmative action, and student conduct policies is really something else. I… Read more

  • SUNY Fredonia Punishes Professor for Political Expression

    July 24, 2006

    BUFFALO, N.Y., July 24, 2006—A professor at the State University of New York, Fredonia (SUNY Fredonia) has been denied promotion for publicly disagreeing with the university’s student conduct policies and affirmative action practices. SUNY Fredonia’s president later agreed to approve the promotion only if the professor would submit all of his public writings to prior university review. Professor Stephen… Read more