Winona State University
Location: Winona, Minnesota
Website: http://www.winona.edu
Type: Public
Federal Circuit: 8th Circuit
Speech Code Rating
Winona 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.
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Winona State University: Outdoor Speech Restrictions
April 20, 2012
In April 2012, the GLBTA Partnership at Winona State University planned to hold a “Day of Silence” event and requested permission from WSU to position mannequin torsos bearing various epithets and slurs on campus. The university prohibited GLBTA from displaying the torsos in or near WSU’s outdoor gazebo, claiming that school-aged children would be on the campus and that it “would not be appropriate to expose” them to the language. Following a letter from FIRE, WSU defended as “reasonable” its decision to allow the outdoor display of the mannequins only from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.-an unreasonable restriction.
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Student Conduct Code: Proscribed Conduct
Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
Last updated: October 20, 2017Failure to engage in responsible social conduct that reflects credit upon the University community and to model good citizenship in any community.
Housing & Residence Life Policies & Procedures Handbook: Disorderly Conduct
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: October 20, 2017Disorderly conduct; breach of the peace; engaging in obscene or abusive language or conduct; and aiding, abetting, or procuring another to breach the peace on University-controlled property or at University-sponsored or University-supervised functions.
Student Conduct Code: Proscribed Conduct
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 20, 2017Physical or verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, and/or other conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person. This includes any form of fighting.
Minnesota State Colleges & Universities: Procedure 5.22.1, Acceptable Use of Computers and Information Technology Resources
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: October 20, 2017Users must not engage in inappropriate uses, including: … Storage, display, transmission, or intentional or solicited receipt of material that is or may be reasonably regarded as obscene, sexually explicit, or pornographic, including any depiction, photograph, audio recording, video or written word, except as such access relates to the academic pursuits of a system student or professional activities of a system employee.
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board Policies: 1B.1 Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination in Employment and Education
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 20, 2017Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, sexually motivated physical conduct, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: … Such conduct has the purpose or effect of threatening an individual’s employment; interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance; or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment.
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board Policies: 1B.1 Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination in Employment and Education
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 20, 2017Discriminatory harassment means verbal or physical conduct that is directed at an individual because of his or her protected class, and that is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent so as to have the purpose or effect of creating a hostile work or educational environment.
Housing & Residence Life Policies & Procedures Handbook: Civility
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: October 20, 2017Students will respect the dignity and value the worth of all persons. Students will at no time physically, psychologically, or sexually abuse any member of this community; or participate in harassment, discrimination, intimidation or threat; whether verbal, written, online, physical or psychological, direct or implied. If you are disturbed by inappropriate activity of another student, you should address that student (when appropriate) in a non-threatening manner before involving your RA/CA. Physical aggression in any form will not be tolerated at WSU or within the residence hall community.
Minnesota State Colleges & Universities Board Policies: 3.1, Students Rights & Responsibilities
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: October 20, 2017Part 1. Freedom to Learn
In addition to the basic constitutional rights enjoyed by all citizens, students at colleges and universities have specific rights related to academic freedom and their status as students. Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. …Part 2. Freedom of Expression
Individual students and student organizations shall be free to examine and to discuss all questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly and privately. …Part 3. Freedom of Association
Students shall be free to organize and join organizations to promote their common and lawful interests, subject to college or university policies, procedures, or regulations. …Part 4. Student-Sponsored Forums
Students shall have the right to assemble, to select speakers, and to discuss issues of their choice. …Part 5. Student Publications
Student-funded publications must be free of censorship and advance approval of copy. …Regulation 4-4: Use of University Space/Facilities
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: October 20, 2017Protesting is permissible in public and limited public places unless it is a disruptive activity or impedes access.
[…]
Public spaces:
- Streets
- Sidewalks
- Public parking areas
- Green space
[…]
Public spaces — no reservation required.
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Campus Speech Codes Under Fire at Minnesota Morris, Winona State
November 9, 2016
By Maura Lerner at StarTribune On the face of it, the University of Minnesota’s Morris campus says it’s merely trying to promote tolerance, respect and civility by regulating what kind of posters can be displayed in dorm hallways… Read more here.
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