University of Alabama at Birmingham

Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Website: http://www.uab.edu
Type: Public
Federal Circuit: 11th Circuit

Speech Code Rating

University of Alabama at Birmingham has been given the speech code rating Red. A red light university has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech. Read more here.

At present, FIRE has not been involved in any cases at this school.

Red Light Policies

  • UAB Information Technology: Policy Violations

    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: February 14, 2017

    Creating, displaying, or transmitting threatening, racist, sexist, or harassing language and/or materials.

    » Read More

  • Non-Academic Student Conduct Policy: Prohibited Conduct

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: February 14, 2017

    Harassment. Any unwelcome conduct based on actual or perceived status including: sex, gender identity/expression, race, color, age, national origin, creed, disability, religion, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or veteran status. Any unwelcome conduct should be reported to University officials who will act to remedy and resolve reported incidents on behalf of the victim and community.

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Yellow Light Policies

  • Student Affairs Policy VII-028: On-Campus Student Demonstrations

    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: February 14, 2017

    Student demonstrations on the UAB campus, which by their nature may interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic or other activities, shall require prior notification to the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee at least 48 hours in advance of the event.

    » Read More

  • Residence Hall Handbook: The UAB Inclusive Campus Commitment

    Speech Code Category: Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience
    Last updated: February 14, 2017

    I will strive to build an inclusive community at UAB. I believe that every student, faculty member & staff has the right to be treated with dignity, respect, and self-worth. I will work to ensure that my behavior and my actions do not harass or make fun of anyone due to their race, gender, culture, faith, class, sexual orientation or any other difference. Although I know I am not perfect and I will make mistakes, I believe that it is my responsibility to act in a manner free of bias, exclusion, and discrimination. I believe I have the power to build an inclusive UAB!

    » Read More

  • Non-Academic Student Conduct Policy: Prohibited Conduct

    Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
    Last updated: February 14, 2017

    Bullying and cyberbullying are intentional repeated and/or severe aggressive behaviors that a reasonable person should know will intimidate, cause fear, or cause physical and/or emotional harm and/or control to one or more individuals and are not protected by freedom of expression.

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  • Residence Life Handbook: Respect for Persons

    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: February 14, 2017

    2.  The Office of Student Housing and Residence Life respects and celebrates the diversity of its residents. Acts of intolerance and/or harassment due to race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, religion, disability, or sexual orientation are neither appropriate nor tolerated.

    3.  Residents will refrain from harassment and verbal abuse of other residents, which includes, but is not limited, to harassment and verbal abuse through the internet.

    » Read More

  • Residence Life Handbook: Harassment

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: February 14, 2017

    Harassment is defined as an attempt made to threaten another person(s) physically, emotionally or mentally by using verbal language, or electronic communication, including, but not limited to, text messaging and social networking sites.

    » Read More

  • Equal Opportunity and Discriminatory Harassment Policy

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: February 14, 2017

    Discriminatory Harassment of a Non-Sexual Nature

    The same principles related to sexual harassment also apply to harassment on the basis of any characteristic that is protected by law.  Thus, UAB’s policy prohibits discriminatory harassment of a non-sexual nature, which includes verbal, physical, or graphic conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability unrelated to job performance, veteran status, genetic or family medical history, or other status protected by applicable law and that

    • Has the effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment, educational, or living environment; or

    • Has the effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or a student’s academic performance.

    UAB also adopts these principles with regard to discrimination or discriminatory harassment on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

    » Read More

  • Student Conduct Code: Harassment/Endangerment

    Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies, Harassment Policies
    Last updated: February 14, 2017

    e.    Harassment/Endangerment
    Harassment/Endangerment that is defined as not being of a sexual nature includes:
    i.      Any action, in action, or communication that may reasonably be perceived as unlawful, harassing, or threatening harm to another person or group.
    ii.     Any attempt to intentionally and repeatedly make contact with a person over their stated objections, including, but not limited to, non-gender based stalking.
    iii.    An act that invades the privacy of another person.
    iv.   Bullying behaviors, which include infliction of physical or psychological distress by way of teasing, social exclusion, threats, intimidation, violence, theft, or destruction of property.
    v.    Any targeted action or statement via social media, computer, or other data network that may reasonably be perceived as unlawful or threatening.

    » Read More

Green Light Policies

  • Title IX Student Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: February 14, 2017

    Sexual Harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, whether verbal, non-verbal, graphic, physical, or otherwise, when the conditions outlined in (1) and/or (2), below, are present. …

    (2) Such conduct creates a hostile environment.  A “hostile environment” exists when the conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it unreasonably interferes with, limits, or deprives an individual from participating in or benefitting from the University’s education or employment programs and/or activities.  Conduct must be deemed severe, persistent, or pervasive from both a subjective and an objective perspective.

    …

    A hostile environment can be created by persistent or pervasive conduct or by a single or isolated incident, if sufficiently severe.  The more severe the conduct, the less need there is to show a repetitive series of incidents to prove a hostile environment, particularly if the conduct is physical.  A single incident of Sexual Assault, for example, may be sufficiently severe to constitute a hostile environment.  In contrast, the perceived offensiveness of a single verbal or written expression, standing alone, is typically not sufficient to constitute a hostile environment. 

    » Read More

  • Non-Academic Student Conduct Policy: Policy Summary

    Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
    Last updated: February 14, 2017

    The University of Alabama at Birmingham exists to educate its students, to advance, preserve and disseminate knowledge through research and scholarship, and to advance the interests and the welfare of society as a whole. Free inquiry and free expression are indispensable to the attainment of these goals.

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  • Troy art student sues after nude photos banned

    November 1, 2005

    An art student sued Troy University on Monday, saying the school violated his free speech rights by censoring his artwork and implementing a campus speech code that unconstitutionally restricts speech. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Montgomery, contends Troy officials removed portions of Blake Dews’ artwork because it featured female nudity. The university issued a statement defending its decision on Dews’ art. ”The photographs in question displayed male full frontal nudity and the university did not consider the photographs to be consistent with our community ‘s standards,” the statement said. ”This is a matter now under litigation and […]

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