Wichita State University

Location: Wichita, Kansas
Website: http://www.wichita.edu/
Type: Public
Federal Circuit: 10th Circuit

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Speech Code Rating

Wichita State University 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.

Yellow Light Policies

  • Housing and Residence Life Handbook: Common Areas

    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: May 9, 2018

    Residents using public areas should be dressed appropriately, refrain from any behavior which might prove offensive to others, conduct themselves in an orderly manner, and respect the rights of others.

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  • Policies and Procedures: 11.10 / Poster/Flyer Policy for University Grounds and Facilities

    Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
    Last updated: May 9, 2018

    Posters/flyers shall … contain appropriate print and content for the University community. … Posters/flyers not posted in accordance with this policy will be removed by University employees.

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  • Housing and Residence Life Handbook: Personalizing Your Room

    Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
    Last updated: May 9, 2018

    Pictures and other materials that may be considered objectionable are not to be displayed in areas that may be visible outside a residence hall room/suite/apartment (including viewed from outside of room through window or door). Incidents will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

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  • Cut H8: Terminology

    Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
    Last updated: May 9, 2018

    Hostile Climate is defined as a focus on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression of another person or group which is severe enough to affect an individual’s or a group’s campus or academic life.

    Hate Speech is any speech, gesture or conduct, writing, or display that may incite violence or prejudicial action against someone based on actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, gender, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability or sexual orientation.

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  • Cut H8: Frequently Asked Questions

    Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
    Last updated: May 9, 2018

    What is a bias incident or hostile climate?

    Any demeaning, derogatory, or otherwise offensive behavior directed toward an individual on the basis of sex, gender identity or expression, race/ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, ability/disability, or other group or personal characteristic may qualify as a bias incident or hostile climate action.

    What should I do if I experience or witness a bias incident?

    You can file a report directly here. You can also contact on the office on the Resource List and submit a report in person. Your report will be directed to the appropriate office.

    Why should I report a bias incident?

    Engaging in behavior that demeans any individual or group member is contrary to the values of the university community. Bias incidents and hostile climate actions divide our community, diminish an individual‘s sense of belonging and participation, and undermine the university’s goals of creating and maintaining a welcoming and inclusive community for all of its members. WSU needs your help in responding to these situations. The purpose of reporting is not to start a punitive action but to allow the university to address incidents and respond in other ways using education, speaking out, and/or other appropriate means. Any disciplinary measures will be initiated in compliance with university policies and in accordance with the law.

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  • Policies and Procedures: 8.16 / Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence and Stalking Policy for Students

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: May 9, 2018

    Sexual Misconduct – unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that is committed without consent between people regardless of sex or gender. Sexual misconduct can include both intentional conduct and conduct that results in negative effects, even if those negative effects were unintended.

    i. Sexual Harassment – unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and/or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment can take two forms: quid pro quo and hostile environment.

    …

    Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment occurs when unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a person’s work or academic performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for working, learning, or living on campus, or in connection to an institutional program. The determination for whether an environment is “hostile” is often contextual and must be based on the circumstances.

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  • Policies and Procedures: 8.05 / Student Code of Conduct

    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: May 9, 2018

    Disruptive Behavior– behavior that the person knows or should have known will disturb, alarm, anger, or provoke others or constitutes a breach of the peace….

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  • Policies and Procedures: 8.05 / Student Code of Conduct

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: May 9, 2018

    Harassment – engaging in behavior that is severe, pervasive, or persistent to a degree that it interferes with a reasonable person’s ability to work, learn, live, participate in, or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by the University. Harassment may occur via written, electronic, verbal, or any other form of communication; or through physical presence; and includes, but is not limited to, bullying, cyberbullying, intimidation, or coercion.

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  • Procedures, Regulations and Requirements for Section 11.12 Use of University Campus for First Amendment Activities

    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: May 9, 2018

    A First Amendment Activity (Event) should be registered with the University Event Services Office by emailing letsmeet@wichita.edu or calling (316) 978-3475 no later than seventy-two (72) hours prior to the Event by providing a Notification of Intent (Limited Public Forum) to be on University property.

    […]

    Examples would include, but not necessarily be limited to, informational picketing, petition circulation, the distribution of information leaflets or pamphlets, speech-making, demonstrations, rallies, appearances of speakers in outdoor areas, mass protests, meetings to display group feelings or sentiments and/or other types of constitutionally protected peaceful and non-violent assemblies to share information, perspective or viewpoints.

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  • Policies and Procedures: 19.01 / Acceptable Use

    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: May 9, 2018

    The use of the University’s computing and information technology resources to send, upload, download, post, transmit or store … profane, libelous, threatening, intimidating or other unlawful messages is specifically prohibited.

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Green Light Policies
At present, FIRE does not maintain information on this school's policies.

  • VICTORY: Wichita State drops bogus Title IX investigation of fraternity for hanging a banner

    September 14, 2017

    The banner faced a neighboring sorority recruitment event and read “New Members Free House Tours!” Administrator: “I think we’re all a little more sensitive because of the statements Betsy DeVos made” about Title IX enforcement the previous week FIRE wrote to the university to demand it drop the investigation WICHITA, Kan., Sept. 14, 2017 — Administrators at Wichita State University have reversed course after launching a Title IX investigation into a fraternity for hanging a banner outside their fraternity house that read “New Members Free House Tours!” An administrator initially justified the investigation, saying, “I think we’re all a little more […]

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  • Wichita State University must end investigation of ‘free house tours’ banner

    September 12, 2017

    What does it take to launch a Title IX investigation at Wichita State University? One arguably suggestive banner hung outside a window for five minutes, apparently. Today, FIRE wrote a letter to Wichita State calling upon the university to abandon a promised, and meritless, Title IX investigation into a fraternity house banner offering “house tours” to fellow students. It’s a well-known, but not always well-loved, tradition every fall: suggestive banners tend to appear outside fraternity and apartment housing during back-to-school season, and they often elicit controversy. On September 8, members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Wichita State hung […]

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  • VICTORY: Wichita State student court recognizes libertarian group, reverses student government discrimination

    April 14, 2017

    WICHITA, Kan., April 14, 2017 — An embattled student group at Wichita State University is finally free to engage in on-campus activism as a registered student organization. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of the Wichita State University Student Government overturned the Student Government Association’s unconstitutional decision to deny recognition to Young Americans for Liberty, a libertarian student group, because of the group’s belief in First Amendment principles. The unanimous decision by the SGA’s judicial branch came less than a week after the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education wrote to Wichita State President John Bardo to demand that he immediately reverse […]

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  • Wichita State student government refuses to recognize libertarian student group because of First Amendment advocacy

    April 7, 2017

    Student senators quizzed student group leader about her group’s stance on “free speech zones,” “hate speech,” and “safe spaces” Student senator: “We’ve seen very dangerous statements being said in the name of free speech” The U.S. Supreme Court has held that viewpoint-based discrimination against a student group is unconstitutional WICHITA, Kan., April 7, 2017 — The law is clear: Colleges and universities cannot discriminate against student groups because of their viewpoints. However, that is exactly what the Wichita State University Student Government Association did when it refused to recognize Young Americans for Liberty, a prospective libertarian student group, because of […]

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  • Wichita State Drops Viewpoint Discrimination in Student Fee Funding

    March 6, 2012

    There’s some good news out of Wichita State University (WSU), which recently had decided to enact a rule that prohibited any “non-scholarly religious” student group from receiving student fee funding. The good news is that WSU has now un-enacted that rule. The reasoning usually offered for this type of rule is that it is intended to prevent religious groups from using student fee money to advocate for their religion on campus, or to engage in worship or other activities to which others might object. But when these rules are confined to only religious student groups (as opposed to groups engaged […]

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