University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee

University of Wisconsin: Students’ Due Process Rights

March 13, 2009

FIRE successfully persuaded the University of Wisconsin’s Board of Regents to affirm due process rights for students, including the option of a hearing before a committee including student peers, attorney representation in the case of serious allegations, and both e-mail and paper notification of proceedings. The Board had proposed changes to the State Administrative Code governing infractions and judicial procedures within Wisconsin’s public universities that would have limited due process rights and granted more discretion to administrators. FIRE’s Adam Kissel engaged in a speaking tour of University of Wisconsin schools in opposition to these changes, even speaking before the Board […]

Chapter UWS 18: Conduct on University Lands- Computer Use

Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: October 4, 2018

No person may, with intent to harass, annoy or offend another person, send a message to the person on an electronic mail or other computerized communication system and in that message use any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggest any lewd or lascivious act.

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Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 4, 2018

Sexual Harassment. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when … such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or learning environment.

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Office of Equity/Diversity Services: Hate/Bias

Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Last updated: October 4, 2018

UWM defines a hate- or bias-motivated incident as any disruptive conduct (oral, written, graphic or physical) that is directed against an individual, or individuals, because of their actual or perceived protected characteristics, as defined by S-47, UWM’s Discriminatory Conduct Policy.

UWM urges all members of the campus community to report any hate/bias incident that has occurred: (1) on UWM property, buildings, or housing; and/or 2) at UWM sponsored events or activities, regardless of location.

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Resident Handbook: Sexual Harassment

Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 4, 2018

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Resident Handbook: Disorderly Conduct

Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
Last updated: October 4, 2018

Disorderly conduct within or immediately surrounding the residence halls or Kenilworth Square Apartments is not permitted. Individuals are in violation of the disorderly conduct policy when engaging in the following types of behavior, knowing or having reasonable grounds to know, that it will or potentially could tend to alarm, anger, harm, or disturb others, or provoke an assault or breach of peace:

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b. Use offensive, obscene, or abusive language, or engage in other conduct that would reasonably tend to arouse alarm, anger, fear, or resentment in others.

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f. Harassing or demeaning materials should not be posted outside of a common area door.

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Resident Handbook: Harassment

Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 4, 2018

Behavior which demeans, intimidates, or threatens individuals based on age, ability, appearance, ethnicity, gender, group affiliation, HIV status, personal values, race, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, or size is not tolerated.

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Chapter UWS 18: Conduct on University Lands- Picketing, Rallies, Parades, Demonstrations and Other Assemblies

Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: October 4, 2018

(a) In order to preserve the order which is necessary for the enjoyment of freedom by members of the university community, and in order to prevent activities which physically obstruct access to university lands or buildings and prevent the university from carrying on its instructional, research, public service, or administrative functions, any picketing, rally, parade, demonstration, other assembly, or congregation of spectators to such activity may be declared unlawful if its participants:

1. Intentionally gather or intentionally remain assembled outside any university building in such numbers, in such proximity to each other or in such fashion as to physically hinder entrance to, exit from, or normal use of the building.

2. Intentionally congregate or assemble within any university building in such fashion as to obstruct or seriously impair university−sponsored or university−authorized activities, or in such fashion as to violate any of the following conditions:

a. No group may be admitted into the private office of any faculty member or other university employee unless invited by the authorized occupant of that office, and then not in excess of the number designated or invited by that person.

b. No group may obstruct or seriously impair passage through corridors, stairways, doorways, building entrances, fire exits, and reception areas leading to offices.

c. No group, not authorized to do so by the person in immediate charge of the room, or by a person designated by the chief administrative officer to approve requests for the use of rooms for meetings, may enter or occupy any university building or part thereof.

d. No group may assemble immediately outside rooms at times when they are normally in use for classes, study, or research.

e. No signs supported by standards or sticks shall be permitted in any assembly in a university building.

3. Intentionally create a volume of noise that unreasonably interferes with university−sponsored or university−authorized activities.

4. Intentionally employ force or violence, or intentionally constitute an immediate threat of force or violence, against members of the university community or university property.

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Regent Policy Document 14-6: Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation

Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 4, 2018

Discriminatory Harassment is a form of discrimination consisting of unwelcome verbal, written, graphic or physical conduct that:

1. Is directed at an individual or group of individuals on the basis of the individual or group of individuals’ actual or perceived protected status, or affiliation or association with person(s) within a protected status (as defined herein above); and
2. is sufficiently severe or pervasive so as to interfere with an individual’s employment, education or academic environment or participation in institution programs or activities and creates a working, learning, program or activity environment that a reasonable person would find intimidating, offensive or hostile

To constitute prohibited harassment, the conduct must be both objectively and subjectively harassing in nature. Harassment may include but is not limited to verbal or physical attacks, threats, slurs or derogatory or offensive comments that meet the definition set forth herein. Harassment does not have to be targeted at a particular individual in order to create a harassing environment, nor must the conduct result in a tangible injury to be considered a violation of this policy. Whether the alleged conduct constitutes prohibited harassment depends on the totality of the particular circumstances, including the nature, frequency and duration of the conduct in question, the location and context in which it occurs and the status of the individuals involved.

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UWM Respectful Campus Standards

Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
Last updated: October 4, 2018

Bullying is unwanted offensive and malicious behavior which undermines an individual or group through persistently negative verbal or psychological abuse. There is typically an element of vindictiveness and the behavior is calculated to threaten, undermine, patronize, humiliate, intimidate, or demean the recipient.

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UW-Milwaukee Posters Warn Students Not to Say ‘Politically Correct’, Or Use Words Like ‘Lame’, ‘Crazy’ and ‘Trash’

August 20, 2016

By Jillian Kay Melchior at Heatstreet The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee recently warned students not to use the phrase “politically correct,” which it said “has become a way to deflect, say that people are being too ‘sensitive’ and police language,” adding that it is “disconnected from authentic understanding of impact.”… Read more here.

‘Kissing Sounds’ and ‘Leering’ Considered Sexual Harassment at UWM

October 28, 2015

By Peter Hasson at Campus Reform “Kissing sounds,” “leering,” and “invading someone’s personal space” all constitute as sexual harassment at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. According to the university website, “repeated ‘love’ letters,” “sexual comments about clothing or body parts,” “sexually oriented humor or language,” “leering or ogling,” “kissing sounds, whistling, [and] cat calls” are all examples of sexual harassment at the university. “Providing lists of examples of harassment like this can serve to chill speech on campus, as many will look at the examples and either deduce that those things listed are simply forbidden, or that it is not worth […]

Student Columnist Slams University of Wisconsin’s Revisions of Misconduct Code

October 8, 2008

Following on the heels of criticism from UW faculty and the Badger Herald editorial board, another columnist in yesterday’s Badger Herald slams the University of Wisconsin’s (UW) Board of Regents for passing the proposed policy revisions to the student misconduct code. Columnist Alex Gallagher reiterates the Herald‘s complaint that the Board of Regents greatly expanded the power of UW administrations over the lives of their students: [T]he UW System Board of Regents granted an even greater arsenal of disciplinary actions for non-academic student misconduct. Through vague language and limitless jurisdiction, UW has just claimed the authority to punish you for […]

Student Editorial Blasts Proposed Revisions to University of Wisconsin Misconduct Code

October 7, 2008

In yesterday’s editorial, “We’re down with Downs,” the Badger Herald editorial board blasted the proposed policy revisions to the University of Wisconsin misconduct code and expressed support for Professor Donald Downs’ criticisms of the policy. The Badger offered the same concerns over lowering the standard of proof for sexual harassment and “[denial of] right to counsel during disciplinary hearings” articulated in the statement released yesterday by Downs’ Committee for Academic Freedom and Rights at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Furthermore, the editorial expressed concern over the parts of the policy that establish jurisdiction. Supposedly, the policy changes only regard serious […]