School Spotlight
University of South Alabama
Speech Code Rating
Student Handbook: Code of Student Conduct- Discriminatory Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 15, 2021The term “discriminatory harassment” refers to intentional behavior, including but not limited to written, electronic, verbal, or physical acts that denigrate or show hostility toward an individual on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, r... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Code of Student Conduct- Sexual Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 15, 2021The term “sexual harassment” includes, but is not limited to, verbal or non-verbal conduct that a reasonable person would find intimidating, demeaning, hostile, or offensive with an inappropriate focus on sex, sexual history, individual gender- based characteristics, or sexual orientation; unwelcome verbal or physic... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Speech, Expressive Activities, and Use of University Space, Facilities, and Grounds- Indoor Posting
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: October 15, 2021Reservations for all flyers, posters, and banners should be made at the Student Center Information Desk located on the second floor or the Student Center Services Office on the first floor (unless a different group has approval authority as indicated below in Section 5.2.3). Groups or departments that have their own... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Policies- Student Computer Policy
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: October 15, 2021Activity that violates state or federal law. This may include viewing, downloading, posting, printing or sending pornography, or other sexually explicit, profane, obscene, hostile, or blatantly offensive and intimidating material, including hate speech, threats, harassing communications (as defined by law), or infor... Read MoreStudent Handbook: USA Spirit
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience
Last updated: October 15, 2021Becoming a member of the University of South Alabama’s community necessitates that the spirit of a truly civilized community be fully embraced. As a member of the University community…. I will respect the spirit of equality, which upholds the dignity of all persons. …a commitment to this ideal means I will not compr... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Code of Student Conduct- Conduct which is disorderly or indecent
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: October 15, 2021“Disorderly conduct” occurs when an individual acts with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, when he/she: … In a public place, uses abusive or obscene language or makes an obscene gesture. Read MoreStudent Handbook: Code of Student Conduct- Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 15, 2021The term “harassment” means conduct that, in the aggregate, is sufficiently pervasive, persistent or severe that a reasonable person with the same characteristics of the victim of the harassing conduct would be adversely affected to a degree that interferes with his or her ability to participate in or to realize the... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Speech, Expressive Activities, and Use of University Space, Facilities, and Grounds
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: October 15, 2021For members of the campus community (i.e., students, administrators, faculty, staff, and invited guests of University students, administrators, faculty, and staff), all outdoor areas of the University campus are open for expressive activities except for the following: • Areas within 100 feet of academic buildings (b... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Code of Student Conduct- Student Rights and Responsibilities
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: October 15, 2021The University of South Alabama is a community of scholars in which the ideals of freedom of inquiry, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of the individual are sustained. The University is committed to supporting the exercise of any right guaranteed to individuals by the Constitution and the Code ... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Sexual Misconduct Policy & Complaint Resolution Procedures
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 15, 2021Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person access to the University’s education programs and activities. Read More
University of South Alabama: Student Directed to Remove Pro-Trump Sign
April 17, 2017
A University of South Alabama administrator demanded that a student remove a Trump campaign sign from his dorm room window, citing the university’s 501(c)(3) tax status.
University of South Alabama backs down after ordering student to remove pro-Trump sign
April 13, 2017
Nearly 100 days into the Trump presidency, some college administrators are still fearful that their college’s tax-exempt status may be in jeopardy because of students’ political signs. That was the case at the University of South Alabama last week when student David Meredith put a “Trump/Pence 2016” sign in his dormitory window, months after Trump… Read more
Federal Judge Issues Mixed Ruling in U. of South Alabama Free Speech and Due Process Case
February 17, 2015
Last August, I reported on a University of South Alabama (USA) student group’s federal lawsuit alleging that the university violated the group’s members’ First Amendment right to free expression by confining them to a tiny “speech zone” on campus, and that its overbroad and vague policies violate students’ due process and equal protection rights. Earlier… Read more
U. of South Alabama Pro-Life Group Alleges First, Fourteenth Amendment Violations
August 29, 2014
The University of South Alabama (USA) student group Students for Life USA filed suit against the university in federal court in April, alleging that by restricting the group’s speech to a tiny “speech zone” on campus, the university violated members’ First Amendment right to freedom of expression, as well as their Fourteenth Amendment rights to due process and equal protection. Earlier this month, USA revised a solicitation policy at issue in the lawsuit, but according to Students for Life USA and the group’s counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the second policy identified in the suit still infringes on student rights. ADF filed an amended complaint (PDF) this week, which includes requests to enjoin enforcement of both policies and to provide nominal damages and attorneys’ fees.