Red Light School

State University Of New York - University at Buffalo

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 Satish K Tripathi
State University Of New York - University at Buffalo
Office of the President
501 Capen Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260-1600
716-645-2901
president@buffalo.edu
Website: http://www.buffalo.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)

Green light: Policy Library: Discrimination and Harassment 12-13

Harassment-- conduct that is unwelcome, severe, pervasive, or persistent enough to interfere
with an individual's employment, education, or other access to University programs and
activities, and that is targeted toward an individual or group based on a protected factor,
including race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, gender, pregnancy, gender
identity, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, veteran
status, military status, domestic violence victim status, and ex-offender status; harassment is
a form of discrimination.
Sexual Harassment-- unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal
or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when: ... such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's
performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive University environment.
View full policy (PDF, 128 KB).

Yellow light: Rules and Regulations: Proscribed Conduct- Harassment 12-13

Engaging in a course of conduct or repeatedly committing acts directed at another
person which would seriously annoy a rational person.
View full policy (PDF, 128 KB).

Red light: Rules and Regulations: Proscribed Conduct- Sexual Harassment 12-13

Sexual harassment: A. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical
conduct of a sexual nature.
B. Unreasonably interfering with an individual’s performance or creating an intimidating,
hostile, or offensive University environment. C. Submission to or enduring such conduct when rejected is made either explicitly or
implicitly a term or condition of instruction, employment, or participation in other
University activity.
View full policy (PDF, 124 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: Rules and Regulations: Proscribed Conduct- Computer Abuse 12-13

Theft or other abuse of computer time, including but not limited to: ... Use of computing facilities and E-mail to send obscene or abusive messages.
View full policy (PDF, 126 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

Yellow light: Office of Judicial Affairs & Student Advocacy: Guidelines For Reporting Bias-Related Confrontations and Incidents 12-13

An act of intolerance is any attempt to injure, harm, or harass a person because of race, religion, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, or sexual orientation. Such behavior includes acts or attempts that may pose physical or psychological harm or threat to individuals, groups, the University, or the community.
An act of intolerance differs from other acts of intimidation or criminal behavior because it is motivated by hatred of the characteristics or beliefs of the victim. Acts of intolerance are conscious, deliberate behaviors in contrast to insensitive acts, which may be the result of lack of awareness.
View full policy (PDF, 283 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Rules and Regulations: Preamble 12-13

A university, especially a State University subject to constitutional requirements, must guarantee students the rights which the society and its laws protect. An American university guarantees its students these rights on a campus.
View full policy (PDF, 259 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 May 2013. 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.