State University of New York - Fredonia

A red light university has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech. Read more here.

Public or Private: Public
Federal Circuit: Second Circuit
Head of Institution: President Dennis L Hefner
State University of New York - Fredonia
Office of the President
138 Fenton Hall
280 Central Ave.
Fredonia, NY 14063
716-673-3456
Dennis.Hefner@fredonia.edu
Website: http://www.fredonia.edu

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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)

Judicial Affairs: Student Rights and Responsibilities- Specific Standards of Behavior 11-12

Engaging in any action or situation which endangers the mental or physical health of any member of the university or local community.
View full policy (PDF, 55 KB).

Judicial Affairs: University Policies- Celebration of Diversity 11-12

Campus specifically prohibits:
...
creating in a situation that results in the discomfort of, or harassment or excessive ridicule of a member of the college community.
View full policy (PDF, 173 KB).

Judicial Affairs: University Policies- Sexual Discrimination and Sexual Harassment 11-12

Sexual harassment may include repeated unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature carried out by someone in the workplace or educational setting. Such behavior may offend the recipient, cause discomfort or humiliation and interfere with job or school performance.

Peer Harassment - Students have a right to an environment free from sexual harassment, not only by persons in positions of power, but by any member of the university community. Sexual harassment constitutes a serious threat to the free interaction and exchange necessary for educational and personal development.

Sexual harassment may range from inappropriate sexual innuendos to coerced sexual relations. It can happen to both men and women, but a woman is more often the victim.
View full policy (PDF, 173 KB).

Human Resources: Sexual Harassment Policy 11-12

[S]exual exploitation, when it occurs, will not be tolerated;
nor will we tolerate derogatory sexual remarks and/or insensitive innuendoes, advances, or pressure toward anyone, no matter what the source.
Sexual harassment is any repeated or unwanted verbal or physical sexual advance, sexually
explicit derogatory statement, or sexually discriminatory remark made by someone in the
workplace or educational setting. Such objectionable behavior may offend the recipient, cause
discomfort or humiliation, and interfere with the recipient's job or school performance. This
behavior constitutes sexual harassment when: ... such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work
performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or learning
environment.
View full policy (PDF, 10 KB).

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

Judicial Affairs: Student Rights and Responsibilities- Specific Standards of Behavior 11-12

[A]ll members of the community are expected to conduct dialogues with mutual respect and courtesy.
View full policy (PDF, 55 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Information Technology Services: Computer and Network Usage Policy 11-12

SUNY Fredonia Website Services provides server space and forum and web log or blog services in support of scholarly, academic, extra-curricular and professional communications conducted by members of the university community who have network accounts. Standards for posting behavior:

* Content should be free of vulgar, racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise objectionable matter, including personal attacks against named individuals.
Using computers or networks to harass, abuse or intimidate another person is prohibited. Users shall not develop or use programs that harass other users. Users shall be sensitive to the public nature of shared facilities, and take care not to display on screens in such locations images, sounds or messages that could create an atmosphere of discomfort or harassment for others.
Obscene language in electronic mail, messages, process names, file names, file data, and other publicly visible forms is prohibited.
View full policy (PDF, 164 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

Judicial Affairs: Student Rights and Responsibilities- Bias Crime Prevention 11-12

In addition to preventing and prosecuting hate/bias crimes, State University of New York at Fredonia Police also assist in addressing bias-related activities that do not rise to the level of a crime. These activities, referred to as bias incidents and defined by the
University as acts of bigotry, harassment, or intimidation directed at a member or group within the Fredonia community based on national origin, ethnicity, race, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, color, creed, or marital status, may be addressed through the State University's Discrimination Complaint Procedure or the campus conduct code. Bias incidents can be reported to University Police as well as to the Office of Student Affairs.
View full policy (PDF, 173 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Judicial Affairs: Student Rights and Responsibilities- General Policy 11-12

The campus must be open to a free exchange of ideas and individuals and groups have protected Constitutional rights ....
View full policy (PDF, 55 KB).

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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in July 2011. 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.