School Spotlight
Tarleton State University
Speech Code Rating
Information Technology Services Email Use Standard
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: March 9, 2021The following activities are prohibited: Sending email that is intimidating or harassing … Read MorePublicity & Solicitation Guidelines
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: March 15, 2021Section 2: Publicity For the purpose of these guidelines, publicity is defined as any printed materials intended to be posted and/or displayed on Tarleton State University property. This includes but is not limited to, flyers, posters, banners, sandwich board/Aframe signs, and yard signs. Violation of this policy co... Read MoreStudent Organizations: Event Management
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: March 15, 2021Event Management Student organizations should consult with the Department of Student Involvement, Spirit, Tradition, and Family Relations before planning any major event. Some events may require an event checklist to be completed. These include: Any program or event open to anyone outside of the organization’s memb... Read MoreCode of Student Conduct: Unauthorized or Irresponsible Use of Electronic Equipment
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: March 9, 2021Misuse or abuse of computer equipment, programs, or data including, but not limited to: … Use of computing and resources to send obscene or abusive messages. Read MoreCode of Student Conduct: Harassment/Threatening Behaviors
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: March 9, 20215.6.2 Harassment Behavior that is severe, pervasive or persistent to a degree that a reasonable person similarly situated would be prevented from accessing an educational opportunity or benefit. This behavior includes, but is not limited to, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, and coercion. In addition, harassment ... Read MoreCode of Student Conduct: Personal Safety
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
Last updated: March 9, 20215.6.5 Bullying – Defined as the use of repeated or severe verbal and/or non-verbal means in order to coerce or force a person to do something or to degrade a person, including, but not limited to, the use of taunting, teasing, or coercive language, pushing, punching, or creating threatening notes/letters/signs... Read More08.01.01 Civil Rights Compliance: Sexual harassment
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: March 9, 2021Sexual harassment – a form of sex discrimination. Unwelcome conduct on the basis of sex (of a sexual nature or otherwise): (1) by an employee of the member who conditions the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the member on an individual’s participation in that unwelcome sexual conduct; (2) determined by a ... Read More
Tarleton State University: Student Newspaper Forced to Remove Content After Frivolous Defamation Claim
August 30, 2021
In 2018, the Texan New Service, a student newspaper at Tarleton State University, published articles about allegations of sexual harassment against then-Tarleton Professor Michael Landis. In July 2021, TNS received a demand letter from Landis’ attorney alleging that TNS’ reporting was defamatory. Tarleton’s administration then directed TNS to remove all “articles/videos referenced” in the demand… Read more
Something stinks at Tarleton: Secret documents, censorship demands, and an apparent newspaper takeover
November 19, 2021
This is a story about a public university that paid a professor — after finding that he acted in a “highly inappropriate and unprofessional” manner with at least one female student — $61,000 to leave quietly, stripped a student newspaper of editorial independence when it wouldn’t stay quiet, and has now failed to comply with… Read more
A frivolous threat of a lawsuit, then a serious threat of defunding: Student journalists at Tarleton State University are under attack
August 30, 2021
When Sierra Dyson, editor of the editorially independent student newspaper Texan News Service, received a demand letter signed by a New York attorney and threatening a lawsuit, she probably didn’t imagine things would get worse. But they did. Dyson was confident the litigation threat was frivolous, since it concerned articles that had been written some… Read more
Texas A&M journalism programs at risk after faculty advisor punished for protecting sources
October 25, 2018
The revelation that Tarleton State University is punishing a faculty journalism advisor for helping a student reporter protect the identity of her confidential sources is one that threatens the integrity of journalism programs across the entire Texas A&M University System, of which Tarleton State is a member. Earlier this year, Quanecia Fraser, a reporter at… Read more
REPORT: Artists clash with campus censors
July 10, 2018
Art purged for being “one-sided,” among other excuses Censors, often not understanding the message, ban art rather than grapple with its meaning PHILADELPHIA, July 10, 2018 — Art censorship is nothing new. Spanish conquistadors smashed ceramics of ancient Peruvian cultures that portrayed gay and lesbian sex. The Roman Catholic Church of the 15th century was… Read more