University of Texas at San Antonio
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Website: http://www.utsa.edu
Type: Public
Federal Circuit: 5th Circuit
Speech Code Rating
University of Texas at San Antonio 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 here.
Student Code of Conduct: Specific Conduct Proscribed
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: June 22, 2018Disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student for any of the following acts or violations: … engaging in an inappropriate or disproportionate use of an information technology resource owned or controlled by the University or System or using an information technology resource for an illegal, threatening, or disruptive/destructive purpose; prohibited conduct includes but is not limited to circumventing system or network security, committing copyright infringement, transmitting unsolicited e-mail …
Student Code of Conduct: Specific Conduct Proscribed
Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
Last updated: June 22, 2018Disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student for any of the following acts or violations: … otherwise engaging in conduct that is inappropriate for members of an academic institution (such conduct includes, but is not limited to pranks, choosing to remain where the odor of marijuana is confirmed by a University official, throwing food at persons or property, public nudity, unwanted communications, unwanted non-physical contact, and harassing telephone calls)
Handbook of Operating Procedures: 9.24 Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: June 22, 2018Hostile Environment: Exists when sex-based harassment is sufficiently severe or pervasive to deny or limit the individual’s ability to participate in or benefit from the University’s programs or activities or an employee’s terms and conditions of employment. A hostile environment can be created by anyone involved in a University’s program or activity (e.g., administrators, faculty members, employees, students, and University visitors).
First Amendment Considerations: this Policy does not impair the exercise of rights protected under the First Amendment. The University’s sexual harassment policy prohibits only sex-based harassment that creates a hostile environment. In this and other ways, the University applies and enforces this Policy in a manner that respects the First Amendment rights of students, faculty, and others.
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Other Inappropriate Sexual Conduct: Includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature directed towards another individual that does not rise to the level of sexual harassment but is unprofessional, inappropriate for the workplace or classroom and is not protected speech. It also includes consensual sexual conduct that is unprofessional and inappropriate for the workplace or classroom.
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Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature including but not limited to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, when submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of a person’s student status, employment, or participation in University activities; such conduct creates a Hostile Environment. Sexual Harassment is a form of sex discrimination that includes: …
C. Verbal conduct not necessary to an argument for or against the substance of any political, religious, philosophical, ideological, or academic idea, including oral, written, or symbolic expression, including but not limited to:
- explicit or implicit propositions to engage in sexual activity;
- gratuitous comments, jokes, questions, anecdotes or remarks of a sexual nature about clothing or bodies;
- gratuitous remarks about sexual activities or speculation about sexual experiences;
- persistent, unwanted sexual or romantic attention;
- subtle or overt pressure for sexual favors;
- exposure to sexually suggestive visual displays such as photographs, graffiti, posters, calendars or other materials; or
- deliberate, repeated humiliation or intimidation based upon sex
Handbook of Operating Procedures: 9.09 University Posting of Materials
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: June 22, 2018Materials to be posted may not: … (3) Contain material that is obscene, vulgar, or libelous. …
Resident Handbook: Hazing/Harassment
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: June 22, 2018UTSA is committed to providing an environment whereby students are free from any harassment or hazing. Harassment involves behavior towards a person that is unwanted (i.e., pranks, practical jokes, phone calls, emails, text messages, etc.) and will not be tolerated. If you feel you are being hazed or harassed, please contact a UTSA staff member immediately.
Student Code of Conduct: Specific Conduct Proscribed
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: June 22, 2018Disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student for any of the following acts or violations: … engaging in harassment; harassment is defined as conduct that is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent to create an objectively hostile environment that interferes with or diminishes the ability of an individual to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by the University …
Handbook of Operating Procedures: 9.37 Peaceful Public Assembly
Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
Last updated: June 22, 2018University staff, faculty and students may peaceably assemble anywhere on the UTSA campuses that they are otherwise permitted to be without advanced permission, as long as there is no disruption to other university activities.
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Persons or organizations who are planning a public assembly with more than 50 participants are strongly encouraged to notify and consult with Events Management and Conference Services (EMCS) as soon as practicable after the point at which the planners anticipate or plan for more than 50 participants. Persons or organizations planning smaller assemblies are encouraged to consult with EMCS if there is uncertainty about applicable university rules, the appropriateness of the planned location, or possible conflict with other events. EMCS has experience in helping student organizations structure events in ways that both comply with the university’s rules and achieve the organization’s goals for the event. EMCS can help identify appropriate space and potentially conflicting events, as well as help the planners avoid unintended disruption or other violations.
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Texas Students, FIRE’s Joe Cohn is Coming to a Campus Near You
October 6, 2014
Yeehaw! Joe Cohn, FIRE’s Legislative and Policy Director, will be traveling across the Lone Star State for a rootin’ tootin’ Texan campus tour. Students and faculty at or near the University of Houston, University of Texas at San Antonio, University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University at San Marcos, and Texas A&M are invited to attend Joe’s presentation and learn about their rights to freedom of speech and due process on campus. University of Houston When: Monday, October 6, 6:30 p.m. Where: Moody Towers Lobby University of Texas at San Antonio When: Tuesday, October 7, 6:00 p.m. Where: […]
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Speech Code of the Month: University of Texas at San Antonio
March 6, 2013
FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for March 2013: the University of Texas at San Antonio. According to the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures (PDF), Anonymous publications are prohibited, and any individual or organization publishing or aiding in publishing, or circulating or aiding in circulating, any anonymous publication will be subject to disciplinary action. However, the Supreme Court of the United States has repeatedly held that bans on anonymous publications violate the First Amendment, by which the University of Texas at San Antonio—a public university—is legally and morally bound. In Talley v. California, 362 U.S. 60, 64 (1960), […]
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‘Free Speech Week’ Celebrated on Campuses Nationwide
April 13, 2012
FIRE celebrated Free Speech Week last week by teaming up with Students For Liberty to send FIRE speakers and materials to student groups across the country. We’re pleased to announce it was a great success! To mark the occasion, 72 student groups distributed FIRE materials and pocket-sized Constitutions on campus. More than 20 student groups also organized expressive events. Many decided to build Free Speech Walls at schools including American University, Boston University, Harvard University, Kansas State University, Winthrop University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Texas San Antonio. FIRE’s Campus Freedom Network (CFN) also worked with […]
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