University of Mississippi

Green light institutions are those colleges and universities whose policies nominally protect free speech. Read more here.

Public or Private: Public
Federal Circuit: Fifth Circuit
Head of Institution: Chancellor Daniel W Jones
University of Mississippi
123 Lyceum
University, MS 38677
662-915-7111
chancllr@olemiss.edu
Website: http://www.olemiss.edu

« Return to School Overview

Do you have any information, updates, or changes regarding the policies at this institution? Let us know!

On this page, FIRE has excerpted policies that address speech and expression. You may download the full policy in .pdf form, below.

Restrictions on Expressive Rights

Harassment Policies (Learn More)

Policies Affecting Students: Sexual Harassment 11-12

For purposes of protecting students from the impact of sexual harassment, The University of
Mississippi adheres to the guidelines set forth by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
The University of Mississippi prohibits acts of harassment of a sexual nature that is so
objectively offensive, pervasive, or severe that it effectively denies the victim access to the University's resources and opportunities, unreasonably interferes with the victim's work or living
environment, or deprives the victim of some other protected right.
View full policy (PDF, 39 KB).

Policies Affecting Students: Harassment, Including Stalking 11-12

For conduct to violate this policy, the conduct must be more than merely offensive; it must be so objectively offensive, pervasive, and/or severe that if repeated it would it effectively deny the victim access to the University’s resources and opportunities, unreasonably interfere with the victim’s work or living environment, or deprive the victim of some other protected right.
Examples of
conduct prohibited by this policy include, but are not limited to the following: intentionally
inflicting severe emotional distress or harm; fighting words (words that actually tend to provoke
immediate violent reaction); obscene, lewd or lascivious conduct, including communications by
electronic or other means, with the intent to abuse, threaten or harass another; stalking; defaming
another (a false statement that harms the reputation of another); and speech or conduct based
upon race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual
orientation that is so objectively offensive and repeated, pervasive, or severe that it effectively
denies the victim access to the University's resources and opportunities, unreasonably interferes
with the victim's work or living environment, or deprives the victim of some other protected
right.
View full policy (PDF, 23 KB).

Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility (Learn More)

Policies Affecting Students: Residence Hall/Apartment Bill of Rights 11-12

The University has some basic
expectations that govern the special nature of interpersonal relationships within the community.
These are reasonable expectations that students should have for one another while sharing
space in an apartment. The Residence Hall/Apartment Bill of Rights outlines these expectations:
... The right to feel secure against physical harm or emotional distress that is so severe or pervasive that it unreasonably interferes with one’s access to the University’s resources and opportunities.
View full policy (PDF, 21 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Policies Affecting Students: Free Inquiry, Expression and Assembly 11-12

To facilitate robust debate and the free exchange of ideas, the University
has established high visibility areas on campus as "Speaker's Corners" that may be used by any
person including by non-students and other campus guests. This use may be without permission
from the University so long as the area has not been previously reserved or scheduled for a
particular function, no sound amplification is used, and the participants do not violate other
University policies. Designated Speaker's Corners include:
a) the edge of the Union Plaza adjacent to the Grove,
b) the area surrounding the flagpole in the Lyceum Circle, and
c) the plaza in front of Fulton Chapel.
Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as limiting the right of student expression elsewhere on the campus so long as the expressive activities or related student conduct does not violate any other applicable University policies.
View full policy (PDF, 29 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Policies Affecting Students: IT Appropriate Use 11-12

You must not upload, post, or transmit content that is threatening, harassing, defamatory, libelous, invasive of another's privacy. This includes but is not limited to social networking sites, blogs, e-mail or other electronic correspondence.
View full policy (PDF, 153 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Policies Affecting Students: Free Inquiry, Expression and Assembly 11-12

Students at The University of Mississippi have the rights of free inquiry, expression, and
assembly as guaranteed by the Federal and State constitutions.
View full policy (PDF, 29 KB).

NOTE: You must have Adobe Acrobat installed to view policies in PDF format.

The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in January 2012. According to FIRE’s research the substantive policies are current at least until this date. Directory information, including the name of the president of the college or university, may have been updated more recently. If any policy has been revised, or if you believe that we are in error, please contact us.