Red Light School

Ohio University

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: Sixth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Roderick J McDavis
Ohio University
Office of the President
108 Cutler Hall
Athens, OH 45701
740-593-1804
president@ohio.edu
Website: http://www.ohio.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)

Green light: Sexual Misconduct 12-13

Sexual Harassment by Hostile Environment:
Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a person's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for working, learning, or living on campus.
View full policy (PDF, 480 KB).

Red light: Student Code of Conduct: Mental or Bodily Harm to Others 12-13

Conduct covered by this offense includes but is not limited to:
...
* intentionally inflicting mental or bodily harm upon any person;
* attempting to inflict mental or bodily harm upon another person;
* taking any reckless, but not accidental, action from which mental or bodily harm could result to another person;
* causing a person to believe that the offender may cause mental or bodily harm;
...
* any act which demeans, degrades, disgraces any person.
View full policy (PDF, 253 KB).

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

Yellow light: Student Code of Conduct: Community Expectations 12-13

[T]he following expectations of behavior have been established: ... Students and student organizations are expected to be responsible members of a diverse community, and to honor and respect differences of culture, lifestyle, and religion. ... The Ohio University community is an open forum involving the free exchange of ideas and opinions. For exchange to occur there must be a continuous acceptance of freedom of ideas and expression and civility in disagreement.
View full policy (PDF, 170 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Yellow light: Student Organizations: Guidelines and Policies- Rallies and Demonstrations 12-13

Rallies or demonstrations require the approval of the Campus Involvement Center and and University Event Services. The purpose of approval is to insure that the rally or demonstration can be conducted in a manner that recognizes and supports individuals' First Amendment rights of expression yet is safe and does not disrupt the functioning of the University. ... To have a rally or demonstration considered for approval, please contact Event Services at 593-4021.
View full policy (PDF, 95 KB).

Posting Policies

Yellow light: Student Housing Handbook: Posting Policy 12-13

Posters should be informative, not editorial in nature with the exception of political election posters.
View full policy (PDF, 71 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: Computer and Network Use 12-13

Acceptable use demonstrates respect for ... individuals' right to privacy and freedom of intimidation, harassment, and unwarranted annoyance.
In making acceptable use of resources, you must NOT:
...
Use resources to intimidate or single out individuals or groups for degradation or harassment in violation of federal or state law and other university policies.
View full policy (PDF, 357 KB).

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