Red Light School

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

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: Ninth Circuit
Head of Institution: President J. Michael Ortiz
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
Cal Poly Pomona
3801 West Temple Avenue
Pomona, California
Pomona, CA 91768
909-869-2290
jmo@csupomona.edu
Website: http://www.csupomona.edu/

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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)

Red light: Housing License Agreement: Policies and Regulations 12-13

Physical/Written/Verbal Abuse or Harassment: Any violations may result in eviction from UHS property on the first offense.
Cal Poly Pomona supports a Zero Tolerance Policy on Campus Violence. Threats, racist/sexist/ethnic harassment, malicious pranks and abusive name calling by any member of the community or guest toward an individual or group that seriously threatens or alarms a person or group is prohibited. Causing physical or mental harm, intimidation, and/or the apprehension of physical or verbal harm to any person or self (including threats or attempts of suicide) will result in disciplinary action and/or arrest by the police, as appropriate. Harassment of any person and/or group, through any medium, including the Internet is not permissible.
Sexual Harassment: Any violations may result in eviction from UHS property on the first offense.
Sexual harassment includes such behavior as unwanted sexual advances, unwanted request for sexual favors and other unwanted verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature directed towards an employee, student, employment applicant or guest.
View full policy (PDF, 564 KB).

Green light: Executive Order 1074: Systemwide Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Against Students 12-13

Harassment means unwelcome conduct engaged in because of a Protected Status that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that its effect, whether or not intended, could be considered by a reasonable person in the shoes of the Student, and is in fact considered by the Student, as limiting the Student's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or opportunities offered by the University.
Sexual Harassment, as defined in California Education Code 212.5, consists of both non-sexual conduct based on sex or sex-stereotyping and conduct that is sexual in nature, and includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature where: ... The conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that its effect, whether or not intended, could be considered by a reasonable person in the shoes of the Student, and is in fact considered by the Student, as limiting the Student's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or opportunities offered by the University.
View full policy (PDF, 483 KB).

Yellow light: Executive Order 1072: Implementation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Related Sexual Harassment/Violence Legislation for CSU Students 12-13

"Sexual Harassment" is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that includes, but is not limited to: sexual violence; sexual advances; requests for sexual favors; indecent exposure; and other verbal, nonverbal or physical unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, where such conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that its effect, whether or not intended, could be considered by a reasonable person in the shoes of the individual, and is in fact considered by the individual, as limiting the individual's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or opportunities offered by the university. Sexual harassment also includes gender-based harassment, which may include acts of verbal, non-verbal or physical aggression, intimidation or hostility based on sex or sex-stereotyping, even if those acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature.
View full policy (PDF, 256 KB).

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

Yellow light: University Catalog: Student Conduct and Discipline- Student Conduct and Discipline 12-13

Students are expected to be good citizens and to engage in responsible behaviors that reflect well upon their university, to be civil to one another and to others in the campus community, and contribute positively to student and university life.
View full policy (PDF, 1025 KB).

Yellow light: Housing License Agreement: Policies and Regulations 12-13

Lewd, indecent or obscene behaviors, whether through conduct or expression, which are not civil or respectful and which breach the peace within or around the residential facilities, other UHS property, or at any UHS-related function are not permitted.
View full policy (PDF, 564 KB).

Yellow light: University Catalog: Student Conduct and Discipline- Hate Crime Policy 12-13

Hate Incident: Not all expressions of hate or group bias rise to the
level of a hate crime as defined in state and federal statute. A noncriminal act or incident, while not criminal, is done with the apparent
intention to: harass, intimidate, threaten, retaliate, create conflict,
because of a person’s race, ethnic/national origin, religious belief,
sexual orientation, gender, or disability. Reporting and monitoring of
hate incidents is important, as they may serve as indicators of
potential threats and/or campus climate that may escalate into
criminal acts.
View full policy (PDF, 1025 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Yellow light: Presidential Order: Use of University Buildings, Facilities, or Grounds 12-13 View full policy (PDF, 2971 KB).

Posting Policies

Yellow light: UHS Posting Policy 12-13

Postings that promote alcohol or other drugs will not be approved.
View full policy (PDF, 233 KB).

Yellow light: Posting and Chalking Policy 12-13

All posters, flyers, banners and signs must be stamped at OSLCC, indicating that they have met the above criteria.
All printed advertisements, announcements and signs must be identified with the name of the person or organization responsible in order for the material to be stamped by the OSLCC. Also, OSLCC must have the name, telephone and email of the contact person responsible for posted material by any group/individual. If any member of the campus community finds the material offensive or wishes further information, this contact information ensures the potential for dialogue and still guarantees the rights of expression under the First Amendment of the Constitution.
View full policy (PDF, 2495 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Interim Freedom of Expression Policy 12-13

Since Cal Poly Pomona, or any university, is a "marketplace of ideas," freedom of
speech is a particularly important facet of university life.
View full policy (PDF, 124 KB).

Green light policy: Posting and Chalking Policy 12-13

. While there will always be disagreements over what may constitute good taste or appropriate comment, there can be no question particularly in a university, that freedom of expression as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution, is a cherished and protected right.

Accordingly, the campus community is asked to be tolerant of differing points of view and to respect the rights of others to express themselves. While you may find certain materials to be quite offensive or even insulting, the appropriate way to counteract such materials is through discourse, criticism, and the expression of contrary points of view.
View full policy (PDF, 2495 KB).

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