School Spotlight
University of Southern Mississippi
Speech Code Rating
Housing and Residence Life Handbook: Southern Miss Standard
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: July 1, 2021The Southern Miss Standard was developed to embody the values we hope residents possess. At the same time, the university is strongly committed to freedom of expression. Consequently, these principles do not constitute university policy and are not intended to interfere in any way with a resident’s personal freedoms... Read MorePolicy ACAF-IT-010: Acceptable Use Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: July 1, 2021The following activities including, but not limited to, are strictly prohibited: … Any form of harassment via email, messaging service, forum, or social media; whether through language, frequency, or size of messages. Read MoreInterim Sexual Harassment Policy And Procedures
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: July 1, 2021Sexual Harassment Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so objectively offensive, pervasive, and severe that it effectively denies a person equal access to the recipient’s educational program or activity. Read MorePolicy STUA-UNA-012: Free Speech, Demonstration and Protest Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: July 1, 20211. The University has established high visibility areas on campus in order to facilitate robust debate and the free exchange of ideas. These Free Speech Zones may be used by any person, including non-students and other campus guests: 1. Hattiesburg Campus: 1. Shoemaker Square Fountain (Paved area immediately surroun... Read MoreCode of Student Conduct: The Creed at Southern Miss
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience
Last updated: July 1, 2021While not a part of the Code of Student Conduct, The Creed at Southern Miss is a statement that was endorsed by the Student Government Association to express how students should ideally interact with each other in a community of diverse ideas and opinions. Students are only subject to disciplinary action based on vi... Read More
Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning: Tenure Review Considers “Effectiveness in Communications,” “Collegiality”
April 27, 2022
On April 21, 2022, the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees, which oversees eight Mississippi public universities, amended its tenure review process to grant university presidents the authority to award tenure and to include “effectiveness … and integrity in communications” and “collegiality” as mandatory criteria for consideration. On April 27, FIRE and PEN America… Read more
FIRE, PEN America, condemn new rule forcing some Mississippi universities to consider ‘collegiality’ in tenure review
April 27, 2022
FIRE and PEN America wrote the board of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning today to object to a new rule that forces presidents at eight of the state’s public universities to consider vague standards like “collegiality” when granting faculty tenure. The rule, quietly adopted last Thursday, says college presidents at IHL universities “shall take… Read more
University of Southern Mississippi earns FIRE’s highest free speech rating
February 19, 2019
After policy changes, Southern Miss becomes 47th institution in America to earn FIRE’s highest rating for free speech Mississippi’s three largest universities earn FIRE’s highest rating, while other state institutions maintain policies that restrict First Amendment rights HATTIESBURG, Miss., Feb. 19, 2019 — The University of Southern Mississippi revised its speech policies to join an… Read more
Discipline of Southern Mississippi Band Members Raises Possible Free Speech Concerns
March 21, 2012
The Associated Press reports that the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has taken disciplinary action against five members of the university’s pep band for chanting "Where’s your green card" at Kansas State University basketball player Angel Rodriguez while he shot free throws during a game against USM last week. The university confirmed in a statement… Read more
In Mississippi, ‘The Clarion-Ledger’ Reports on Dangers of State Colleges’ Speech Codes
August 16, 2010
In today’s edition of The Clarion-Ledger, the Jackson, Mississippi newspaper reports on speech codes maintained at public colleges statewide. Spurred by FIRE’s recent victory at nearby Hinds Community College, reporter Elizabeth Crisp writes: Students at Mississippi universities may have to watch what they say more than those in other states because of policies that free-speech… Read more