School Spotlight

Texas Southern University

Location: Houston, Texas
Type: Public
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Speech Code Rating

Texas Southern 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

  • Manual of Administrative Policies and Procedures: 04.06.03- Computer Use Policy

    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: January 4, 2019

    When communicating with others via the University computer system, ensure that communications reflect high ethical standards, mutual respect and civility. Read More

  • Manual of Administrative Policies and Procedures: 5.01.01- Freedom of Expression

    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: January 4, 2019

    The university expects that persons engaging in organized expressive activities will demonstrate civility … Organized expressive activity: Any organized non-curriculum related rally, parade, demonstration, stationary structure or display, concert or other similar event designed to attract an audience of twenty... Read More

  • Student Code of Conduct: Student Code of Conduct Violations- Mental or Bodily Harm

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: January 4, 2019

    (a) Intentionally inflicting mental or bodily harm upon any person; (b) taking any action for the purpose of inflicting mental or bodily harm upon any person; (c) taking any reckless, but not accidental action from which mental or bodily harm could result to any person; (d) engaging in conduct (including, but not li... Read More

  • Manual of Administrative Policies and Procedures: 2.05.11- Sexual Harassment Policy

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: January 4, 2019

    The University’s sexual harassment policy is designed to apply to employment and academic relationships among faculty, administrators, staff, and students and prohibits opposite-sex (male-to-female, female-to-male), and same-sex (female-to-female, male-to-male) harassment. Every employee of the University must avoid... Read More

  • Title IX/Sexual Assault/Sexual Misconduct

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: January 4, 2019

    Sexual Harassment is unwelcome, gender-based verbal or physical conduct that is, sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it, unreasonably interferes with, denies or limits someone’s ability to participate in or benefit from the university’s educational program and/or activities, and is based on power diff... Read More

  • Student Code of Conduct: Student Rights, Responsibilities and Requirements

    Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
    Last updated: January 4, 2019

    Students at Texas Southern University have all the rights and privileges expressed in the constitutions and laws of the United States and of the State of Texas. Basic to these rights is the guarantee of freedom of speech and assembly. Read More

  • Student Code of Conduct: Student Code of Conduct Violations- Bullying, Intimidation, and harassment

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: January 4, 2019

    a) Making or causing to be made any communication (including electronic or through social media) to another person in any manner likely to cause alarm; b) subjecting another person or threatening to subject another person to striking, kicking, shoving, or offensive touching; c) threatening to reveal personal informa... Read More
At present, FIRE has not been involved in any cases at this school.

  • Texas Southern University president storms into student event, shuts down speech

    October 10, 2017

    Astonishing video has emerged from Texas Southern University, showing Texas Southern University President Austin Lane personally shutting down a speech by Texas state Rep. Briscoe Cain. The TSU Federalist Society chapter had invited Cain to campus to speak about his experience in the Texas legislature when the scene unfolded yesterday: A group of student protesters began… Read more

  • Texas Southern dropping Sen. Cornyn is just another drop in the disinvitation bucket

    May 18, 2017

    Last Friday, Texas Southern University announced that Sen. John Cornyn would not speak as planned in the school’s commencement ceremony. In the face of student protests, the historically black university in Houston opted instead for Sen. Cornyn to return at a later date “in order to keep the focus on graduates and their families.” This… Read more

  • In Texas, First Amendment Imperiled in 2008

    January 1, 2009

    I’m not sure what happened down in Texas in 2008, but administrators at several schools have been unusually cowardly about even the slightest challenges to their ideas of good order on campus. During the election season there was the Great Non-Riot of 2008 at the University of Texas at Austin (UT), where two students faced… Read more