Wright State University
A red light university has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech. Read more here.
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)
Housing Sourcebook: Harassment 12-13
Verbal, written, electronic, or other types of harassment - including, but not limited
to, sexual, racial, ethnic, or religious harassment that causes injury to, distress, or emotional or
physical discomfort of Residence Services staff members and/or other community members will
be considered a violation of this policy
View full policy (PDF, 139 KB).
Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment 12-13
Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when...such conduct has the purpose or effect of...creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment.
Following is a non-exclusive list of practices which may constitute sexual harassment:
a.) Verbal: sexual innuendo, suggestive comments, insults, humor and jokes about sex or gender-specific traits, sexual propositions, threats.
b.) Non-verbal: suggestive or insulting sounds, leering, whistling, obscene gestures.
View full policy (PDF, 1400 KB).
Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment 12-13
Harassment is conduct that has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's work or educational performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment. Such conduct may constitute harassment even if done under the guise of humor.
View full policy (PDF, 1400 KB).
Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct: Code of Conduct 12-13
Any unwelcome sexual advance and all forms of sexual misconduct including but not limited to deliberate touching of another’s sexual parts without consent, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that expressly or implicitly imposes conditions upon, threatens, interferes with, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or demeaning environment for an individual’s participation in any aspect of university life.
View full policy (PDF, 534 KB).
Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct: Code of Conduct 12-13
All hostile, threatening, or intimidating behavior that by its very nature would be interpreted by a reasonable person to threaten or endanger the health, safety or well being of any person is contradictory to the University’s mission and therefore not acceptable.
Communicating verbally either directly or indirectly through another party, by telephone, regular or electronic mail, voice mail or any verbal, mechanical, electronic or written communication in a manner likely to cause causes injury, distress, or emotional or physical discomfort is also prohibited.
View full policy (PDF, 534 KB).
Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility (Learn More)
Housing Sourcebook: Respecting the Rights of Others 12-13
Because we live in a community of respect, no individual shall infringe upon the right of the community at large whether through repeated disruptive noise, aggressive behavior, or any other action construed as detrimental by members of the residential community.
View full policy (PDF, 66 KB).
Free Speech Zones
Demonstrations and Marches 12-13
Sponsors of marches and demonstrations are to register their events with the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. ... Sponsors should register their events not less than 24 hours in advance of the event.
View full policy (PDF, 136 KB).
Internet Usage Policies
Responsible Use of Information Technology- WSU Students 12-13
Students may not access, send, or store any messages and/or material that is found to be fraudulent, harassing, or in violation of any local, state, federal, or international law.
View full policy (PDF, 167 KB).
Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Division of Student Affairs: Bias Incident Response Team Information 12-13
A bias-related incident is any behavior or action directed toward an individual or group based upon actual or perceived identity characteristics or background, including but not limited to: race, sex (including gender identity/expression), color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, military status, or sexual orientation. Such acts may result in creating a hostile environment and may have a negative psychological, emotional, or physical impact on an individual, group, and/ or community. Bias-related incidents occur without regard to whether the act is legal, illegal, intentional, or unintentional.
The Bias Incident Response Team is committed to contributing to a campus community that fosters civility, community standards, total student development, academic freedom, freedom of expression, diversity and personal empowerment. The bias response will provide for a timely internal and external intervention to incidents and will be sensitive to the rights of all parties involved.
When a bias-related incident occurs, a coordinated, effective, and timely university response will be implemented. The BIRT provides a university response that is comprehensive, coordinated, unified and establishes a communication system that will ensure that all BIRT members are informed and updated on a regular basis.
View full policy (PDF, 761 KB).
Housing Sourcebook: Intolerance 12-13
Examples of acts of intolerance or bias related incidents include: ... A group of men whistle and make comments about the body of a woman who jogs by them. ... Someone makes a joke that your Chinese friend must have a great GPA because "all of those Orientals sure are smart."
Acts of intolerance based on race, gender, sexual orientation, culture, ethnicity, or disability disrupt the educational environment necessary for furthering the mission of the university. Acts of intolerance cannot be a part of our community of caring.
Acts of intolerance include overt actions such as verbal attacks and physical assaults on students and their property, as well as covert actions such as jokes, posters, and comments.
View full policy (PDF, 139 KB).
Other Speech Codes
Housing Sourcebook: Inappropriate Behavior 12-13
For our community, inappropriate behavior is defined as any behavior
by a community member deemed to be inappropriate or in violation of the general community
standards.
View full policy (PDF, 139 KB).
Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Demonstrations and Marches 12-13
Wright State University recognizes the exercise of the rights of expression, affiliation, and peaceful assemblage. Wright State students, faculty, and staff may express their views by demonstrating peacefully for concepts they wish to make known, and the university will make every reasonable effort to protect this right.
View full policy (PDF, 136 KB).
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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in February 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.
