School Spotlight
Towson University
Speech Code Rating
Reporting Hate Crimes & Bias Incidents
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Last updated: July 31, 2019To foster a safe and inclusive campus, the University will investigate all incidents motivated by bias. In order to prompt an investigation, the incident must be reported. If you have been a victim, or have witnessed or learned of a hate crime or bias incident, you can file a report using the Hate Crimes & Bias ... Read MoreStudent Affairs Procedures Affecting Students: Guidelines for Responsible Computing
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: July 31, 2019Each user must accept the responsibility for his/her actions and agree to: … Use appropriate language, behavior and style Read MoreStudent Affairs Procedures Affecting Students: Chalking Procedures
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: July 31, 2019Chalking that includes discriminatory, threatening, harassing, lewd and/or obscene language and/or images is not allowed. … The University reserves the right to immediately remove anything that violates these guidelines and to bill the responsible individual or group. Read MoreCode of Conduct: Definitions
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: July 31, 2019Harassment means unwelcome conduct (including written or electronic communication) directed at a specific person(s), which is so severe, pervasive, or persistent that it interferes with or limits a person’s ability to participate in, or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by the Uni... Read MorePolicies Affecting Students: 06-01.60- Policy on Sexual Misconduct
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: July 31, 2019“Sexual Harassment” is any unwelcome sexual advance, unwelcome request for sexual favors, or other unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: … such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance (i.e., it is ... Read MorePolicies Affecting Students: 06-04.11- Policy on Time, Place, and Manner
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: July 31, 2019Students, recognized Student Groups, departmentally recognized organizations, and/or faculty or staff planning Expressive Activity must contact the following offices in advance of any planned Expressive Activity: the Office of Campus Life (Students and Student groups); the Office of the Provost (faculty); and the Of... Read MorePolicies Affecting Students: 10-01.02 – Acceptable Use Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: July 31, 2019Unacceptable uses include, but are not limited to, the following: … Producing chain letters or broadcasting messages to individuals or lists of users, or producing any communication which interferes with the work of others. … Using computing resources to threaten or harass others or transmitting obscene ... Read MoreUniversity Housing Policies: Restricted Items and Activities- Posting outside of rooms and solicitation
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: July 31, 2019Items, graphics, or language which violate the harassment and discrimination definitions found in the Code of Student Conduct shall not be displayed on a door or be viewable from outside a room, quad, suite, or apartment. Read MoreReporting Hate Crimes & Bias Incidents
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: July 31, 2019Hate itself is not a crime and Towson University is mindful of protecting freedom of speech and other civil liberties. Read More
University of Rochester and Towson U. Get It Right on Recent Controversies
April 4, 2013
It’s not often enough that FIRE gets to relay a good example of speech on campus, but today I’m happy to bring you not one but two schools that are fostering proper respect for values of free speech and liberty more generally on their campuses The first comes from the University of Rochester, where economics… Read more
Towson University Should Not ‘Absolutely Want’ to be a ‘Yellow Light’ School
February 10, 2012
The Towerlight, a student newspaper at Maryland’s Towson University, ran an article earlier this week on Towson’s "yellow light" rating in FIRE’s recent speech code report, Spotlight on Speech Codes 2012: The State of Free Speech on Our Nation’s Campuses. The article does a good job of explaining Towson’s speech code rating, which could certainly… Read more
In Pursuing Theft of Towson Newspapers, State’s Attorney Chooses Expediency Over the Law
March 31, 2011
I wrote here last month about the theft of 2,000 to 3,000 issues of the Towson University campus newspaper The Towerlight. I wrote then, as did The Baltimore Sun on March 2, that The Towerlight intended to press charges against the perpetrators of the thefts, if they were caught, under the Maryland Newspaper Theft Statute. It appeared progress… Read more
Towson University’s ‘Towerlight’ Responds to Theft of Campus Paper
February 14, 2011
At Towson University in Maryland, the editors of The Towerlight, the campus’ student newspaper, are promising to take action after, according to initial reports, almost all of its most recent edition was stolen—nearly 10,000 copies in all (update, 2/15/11: a more recent estimate is that 2,000-3,000 papers were stolen). Such thefts are depressingly common on… Read more
CFN Member Profile: John Eubank
November 3, 2008
The Campus Freedom Network is full of liberty-minded students who are willing to work for reform on their campuses. One such student is John Eubank IV. A senior at Towson University in Maryland, John is active in the Student Government Association, Towson PROLIFE, Campus Crusade for Christ, and intramural flag football. John first learned of… Read more
FIRE’s Adam Kissel Speaking at Towson University Tonight
October 7, 2008
Adam Kissel, director of FIRE’s Individual Rights Defense Program, will be presenting two lectures at Towson University tonight. He has been invited to speak to the Towson Student Government Association early this evening and will give some remarks on the various measures that student representatives can take to ensure that they are doing their best… Read more
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