School Spotlight

University of California – Riverside

Location: Riverside, California
Type: Public
Tell University of California – Riverside to revise its speech policies by filling out this form.

Speech Code Rating

University of California – Riverside 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

  • UCR Housing Residential Student Conduct Policies: Abuse, Threatening Behavior, Harassment, Stalking and Violence

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: April 16, 2020

    Direct and indirect forms of abuse, threats, coercion, harassment, intimidation, stalking, bullying, unwanted personal contact, violence against another person or their property or causing the reasonable apprehension of physical or verbal harm, are prohibited. This policy includes but, is not limited to, physical, e... Read More

  • UCR Principles of Community

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: April 16, 2020

    We as members of the University of California Riverside affirm our responsibility and commitment to creating and fostering a respectful, cooperative, professional and courteous campus environment. Implicit in this mutual respect is the right of each of us to live, study, teach, and work free from harassment or denig... Read More

  • Policy Number: 700-70: Speech and Advocacy

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: April 16, 2020

    On University grounds open to the public generally, all persons may exercise the constitutionally protected rights of free expression speech, assembly, worship and distribution and sale of non-commercial literature incidental to the exercise of these freedoms. … “Areas open to the public generally”... Read More

  • Policy Number 700-50: Posting Regulations

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
    Last updated: April 16, 2020

    All materials to be posted on bulletin boards and kiosks must be no larger than 8 1/2″ x 11″. Materials must clearly bear the name of the sponsoring organization or department, and must be stamped “MEETS UC RIVERSIDE POSTING POLICY” in the Campus Activities Office. Read More

  • UCR Housing Residential Student Conduct Policies: Disorderly Conduct

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: April 16, 2020

    Lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct or expression (including oral, visual, and other means) is prohibited. Viewing of sexually explicit materials or engaging in sexual acts in common areas is not permitted. Read More

  • Time, Place and Manner Ground Rules

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: April 16, 2020

    Demonstrators may conduct their activities during normal business hours in the public areas of any campus facility, or any time in any outdoor public place (.e., outdoor places/spaces with unrestricted access). After-hours activities may be authorized in specific campus facilities, after consultation with the approp... Read More

  • Standards of Conduct: Harassment

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: April 16, 2020

    Harassment, defined as conduct that is so severe and/or pervasive, and objectively offensive, and that so substantially impairs a person’s access to university programs or activities that the person is effectively denied equal access to the university’s resources and opportunities.   Read More

  • University of California Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: April 15, 2020

    Sexual Harassment is unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors, and other unwelcome verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: … such conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it unreasonably denies, adversely limits, or interferes with a person’s partici... Read More

  • UC Riverside Student Government Resolves to Reform Free Speech Policy; FIRE to Help

    November 7, 2013

    Some good is beginning to come from the fiasco at Modesto Junior College, where administrators stopped student Robert Van Tuinen from distributing copies of the Constitution on Constitution Day because he had not booked the campus’ “free speech area” five days in advance. As reported by University of California, Riverside students Sandy Van and Winnie Jeng in the Highlander, the Associated… Read more

  • UC Riverside: Told You So

    December 15, 2011

    Just two weeks ago, writing about free speech in the University of California system, I noted: UC Riverside’s policy with the misleading name “Freedom of Speech in Promoting Events and Organizations” states that “[P]ublicity should not contain … violent images or language against individuals or groups” and goes even further to state, “When considering forms… Read more

  • University of California Schools Flout Student Speech Rights

    November 29, 2011

    While some University of California schools are facing scrutiny due to their handling of students’ exercises of free speech and civil disobedience, others in the system have unfinished business protecting students’ free speech rights in their policies. All eight of the UC universities reviewed by FIRE have “red light” or “yellow light” ratings for restricting campus… Read more

  • Practical Advice for Fraternities Caught in the Battle for Free Speech on Campus

    September 16, 2004

    I. Introduction While there is no shortage of free speech battles on college campuses, fraternities have the dubious honor of being at the center of many of the least sympathetic controversies. From Halloween parties where brothers show up dressed as Ku Klux Klan members to fraternity newsletters that graphically relate a brother’s sexual exploits with… Read more