Texas State University – San Marcos

Location: San Marcos, Texas
Website: http://www.txstate.edu
Type: Public
Federal Circuit: 5th Circuit

Speech Code Rating

Texas State University – San Marcos 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

  • Texas State University System Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 23, 2016

    Sexual Harassment is any unwelcome verbal, nonverbal, written, electronic or physical behavior of a sexual nature directed at someone, or against a particular group, because of that person’s or group’s sex, or based on gender stereotypes, severe or pervasive, and where it meets either of the following criteria:

    …

    2.182 The behavior has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with another’s work or educational performance by creating an intimidating or hostile environment for employment, education, on-campus living or participation in a Component affiliated activity.

    Examples of this type of sexual harassment can include, but are not limited to:

    2.1821 persistent unwelcome efforts to develop a romantic or sexual relationship;

    2.1822 unwelcome commentary about an individual’s body or sexual activities;

    2.1823 unwanted sexual attention;

    2.1824 repeatedly engaging in sexually-oriented conversations, comments or horseplay, including the use of language or the telling of jokes or anecdotes of a sexual nature in the workplace, office or classroom, even if such conduct is not objected to by those present; or

    2.1825 gratuitous use of sexually-oriented materials not directly related to the subject matter of a class, course or meeting even if not objected to by those present

    » Read More

  • UPPS No. 04.01.07: Appropriate Use of Information Resources

    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: September 23, 2016

    The following activities exemplify inappropriate use of the university’s information resources. These and similar activities are strictly prohibited for all users. 

    …

    k.  using university information resources in a manner that violates other university policies, such as racial, ethnic, religious, sexual, or other forms of harassment. See also UPPS No. 04.04.46, Prohibition of Discrimination or Harassment, and The Texas State University System (TSUS) Sexual Misconduct Policy

    l.    Using university information resources for the transmission of spam mail, chain letters, malicious software (e.g., viruses, worms, or spyware), or personal advertisements, solicitations or promotions.

    …

    n.   Using Texas State’s information resources to affect the result of a local, state, or national election or to achieve any other political purpose (consistent with Texas Government Code § 556.004).

    » Read More

  • Student Handbook: Rules and Policies- Code of Student Conduct

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 23, 2016

    Specific examples of conduct which are violations of this Code of Student Conduct include, but are not limited to, committing or attempting to commit the following: … endangering the physical or mental health or safety of any person or intentionally or recklessly causing injury to any person; … harassing or threatening (by any means) to take unlawful action against any person, causing or intending to cause annoyance or alarm ….

    » Read More

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

  • Texas Students, FIRE’s Joe Cohn is Coming to a Campus Near You

    October 6, 2014

    Yeehaw! Joe Cohn, FIRE’s Legislative and Policy Director, will be traveling across the Lone Star State for a rootin’ tootin’ Texan campus tour. Students and faculty at or near the University of Houston, University of Texas at San Antonio, University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University at San Marcos, and Texas A&M are invited to attend Joe’s presentation and learn about their rights to freedom of speech and due process on campus. University of Houston When: Monday, October 6, 6:30 p.m. Where: Moody Towers Lobby   University of Texas at San Antonio When: Tuesday, October 7,  6:00 p.m. Where: […]

    » Read More

  • Texas State’s ‘Common Experience’ on First Amendment Should Begin With Revision of Speech Codes

    September 22, 2011

    We recently took note of an interview featuring Texas State University-San Marcos (TSU) President Denise Trauth in TSU’s The University Star, in which President Trauth spoke at length about her experiences as an undergraduate reporter at her college’s campus newspaper, as a high school journalism teacher, and as features editor for The Daily Iowan at the University of Iowa. But what really caught our attention was her answer to the question, “Does the Common Experience theme this year, the First Amendment, have a special significance to you?” Trauth responded: Absolutely. I did years and years doing research in this very […]

    » Read More