Campus Posting Procedures

Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: April 26, 2017

The intent of this policy is to provide the University of Central Missouri students, faculty and staff with maximum opportunity and space to advertise approved events, products, services, etc. at designated locations throughout the campus on bulletin boards or similar devices.

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Offensive, obscene, inflammatory advertising, etc. will not be permitted or tolerated on university display devices.

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Discrimination and Harassment: Procedures for Reporting and Investigation Complaints

Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: April 26, 2017

Harassment: Unwelcome verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct based on age, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, handicap/disability or genetic information that has the purpose or effect of creating a hostile campus environment. Harassment may include, but is not limited to:

• offensive jokes;
• slurs;
• epithets;
• name calling;
• physical assaults or threats;
• offensive touching;
• offensive objects or pictures; or
• graffiti.

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Public Speech Activities Policy

Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: April 26, 2017

For the purposes of this policy “public speech activities” may include demonstrations (individual or collective), picketing, distribution of leaflets/publications, sit-ins, marches, mass gatherings and all other similar gatherings.

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Members of the university community, visitors and/or guests planning to hold or sponsor a public speech activity should provide the Office of Public Safety with notification of the desired time, location, expected attendance of the activity, the type of activity planned and at least 24 hours advance notice of the activity.

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UCM’s Guide to Good Decision-Making: Housing Policies

Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: April 26, 2017

Student room doors facing the hallway and windows facing the exterior of the building are considered public space and must be clear of any offensive materials at all times. The staff has the right to remove offensive material from this public space; it will then be returned to the resident.

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Acceptable Use Guidelines

Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: April 26, 2017

It is a violation of University policy to access the university’s electronic information system when the purpose of such access is to convey misinformation, defamatory material, or intimidating, threatening, pornographic, discriminatory, or disruptive messages.

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UCM’s Guide to Good Decision-Making: Digital Citizenship

Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: April 28, 2017

Responsible digital citizens do not give out too much personal information online, misrepresent or negatively represent themselves through social media, or engage in conduct that constitutes harassment or discrimination as defined in applicable University policies, or that is otherwise prohibited by law, such as defamation, libel, or slander.

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Title IX: Sexual Misconduct Definitions

Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: April 26, 2017

Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, including sexual violence. Sexual harassment can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Stalking, bullying and/or cyber-bullying may also be forms of sexual harassment.

Possible examples of harassment: …

• A student repeatedly sends sexually oriented jokes around on an email list they created, even when asked to stop, causing one recipient to avoid the sender on campus and in the residence hall in which they both live.

Investigations of sexual harassment complaints will take into consideration both objective and subjective factors.

Hostile environment
Sexual harassment, including sexual violence, creates a hostile environment when the conduct is pervasive or sufficiently serious to limit or deny a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the school’s educational or other programs.

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Demonstrations and Mass Gatherings

Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: April 26, 2017

In some instances it may be the desire of some students or other individuals to express their views and make their opinions known through the process of orderly demonstration. The primary responsibility of the University is to maintain conditions conducive to the effective conduct of academic affairs and to the preservation of dignity of public events and ceremonies. Campus demonstrations:

• Must be scheduled a minimum of 48 hours in advance with the Public Safety Office.
• Must be conducted in an orderly manner with areas used to be left in a state identical to that which it was in previous to usage.
• Must not interfere in any way with vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
• Must not interfere with classes, scheduled meetings, ceremonies, activities, or other educational or operational processes of the University.
• May not be held within University buildings or any outdoor facility when University functions are in process therein.
• Individuals or groups with a past history of interrupting the academic processes the University will be denied a reservation to hold a demonstration on campus.

Demonstrations include but are not limited to such activities as picketing, distribution of leaflets, and the presence of persons for the general purpose of registering sentiment and opinion.

Participation in mass gatherings that are considered to be disorderly and/or unlawful will subject a student to possible disciplinary action as severe as suspension from the University. Only a few students intentionally get involved in mob misconduct, but many so-called “spectators” get drawn into a disturbance and by their very presence contribute to the dimensions of the problems. It must be understood that the University considers anyone, whether actively involved or spectator, to be a participant subject to full enforcement of the law and University regulations when he/she is in violation of the laws or policies as an individual or as a member of a crowd.

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Bias Reporting

Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Last updated: April 26, 2017

If you have witnessed or experienced a bias incident that has occurred within the UCM community, please use the form below to report the incident anonymously or with your name. A bias incident is an act of intolerance which is committed against any person, group or property and which discriminates, stereotypes, harasses or excludes anyone….

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UCM’s Guide to Good Decision-Making: Assault, Intimidation & Bullying

Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
Last updated: April 26, 2017

Bullying Definition

Bullying has been the subject of considerable public discussion and is often misunderstood. There is a difference between experiencing mean behavior and experiencing bullying. Bullying occurs when a person is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to extreme negative actions on the part of one or more other persons, and he or she has difficulty defending himself or herself. Bullying is unwanted aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance.

Bullying can take many forms including verbal conduct, such as, but not limited to, physical threats, incitement, illegal intimidation, discrimination and harassment, or defamation, libel, or slander. However, as a public institution, UCM upholds freedom of speech rights grounded in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and similar state laws. Exposure to mere speech that a person disagrees with or finds offensive does not constitute bullying.

Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions and may include hitting, pushing, slapping, and tripping.

The university takes bullying very seriously and does not condone any behavior that compromises the educational opportunities of others.

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Missouri Colleges Could Be Punished For Stifling Student Speech Under Legislation

January 15, 2015

By Matt Lamb at The College Fix Missouri could become the second state in the nation to give college students broad rights to express themselves on campus without the maze of restrictions and permits typically required for demonstrations. The Campus Free Expression Act, introduced by Republican lawmakers in the state house and senate, deems outdoor areas of public universities “traditional public forums” that are protected by the First Amendment – in effect, eliminating “free speech zones.” Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, signed into law the same protections for Virginia students last spring. That bill passed both houses of the […]

FIRE Report Finds Very Restrictive Speech Codes at American Universities

January 21, 2014

by Alec Torres The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) released its annual report on college-campus speech codes last week finding that while the percentage of colleges that seriously infringe upon students’ free-speech rights has diminished in recent years, many universities still burden students with overbearing and sometimes ridiculous speech regulations. Here’s a look at some of the most egregious speech codes that FIRE found: The University of Connecticut requires that “every member of the University shall refrain from actions that intimidate, humiliate, or demean persons or groups, or that undermine their security or self-esteem.” At Athens State University in Alabama, […]

Speech Code of the Month: University of Central Missouri

November 12, 2014

FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for November 2014: the University of Central Missouri. While restrictive speech codes are on the decline nationwide, the University of Central Missouri (UCM) adopted several new, unconstitutional speech codes last year—a move that earned UCM FIRE’s worst, “red light,” rating for severely restricting students’ free speech rights. One of those new policies is found in the “Student Rights and Responsibilities” section of UCM’s Guide to Good Decision-Making (PDF). Pursuant to the “Right to Non-Discrimination, Equal Access, and Fair Treatment” (PDF), students can face unspecified consequences for constitutionally protected speech if someone else […]