School Spotlight

Towson University

Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Type: Public
Tell Towson University to revise its speech policies by filling out this form.

Speech Code Rating

Towson 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

  • Reporting Hate Crimes & Bias Incidents

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
    Last updated: July 31, 2019

    To 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 More

  • Student Affairs Procedures Affecting Students: Guidelines for Responsible Computing

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: July 31, 2019

    Each user must accept the responsibility for his/her actions and agree to: … Use appropriate language, behavior and style Read More

  • Student Affairs Procedures Affecting Students: Chalking Procedures

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: July 31, 2019

    Chalking 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 More

  • Code of Conduct: Definitions

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: July 31, 2019

    Harassment 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 More

  • Policies 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 More

  • Policies 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, 2019

    Students, 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 More

  • Policies Affecting Students: 10-01.02 – Acceptable Use Policy

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: July 31, 2019

    Unacceptable 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 More

  • University 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, 2019

    Items, 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 More

  • Reporting Hate Crimes & Bias Incidents

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
    Last updated: July 31, 2019

    Hate itself is not a crime and Towson University is mindful of protecting freedom of speech and other civil liberties. Read More
At present, FIRE has not been publicly involved in any cases at this school.

  • 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