University of Oklahoma

Yellow light colleges and universities are those institutions with at least one ambiguous policy that too easily encourages administrative abuse and arbitrary application. Read more here.

Public or Private: Public
Federal Circuit: Tenth Circuit
Head of Institution: President David L Boren
University of Oklahoma
President's Executive Office
550 Parrington Oval
Norman, OK 73019
405-325-3916
dboren@ou.edu
Website: http://www.ou.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)

Equal Opportunity Office: Non-Discrimination 11-12

Harassment as a form of discrimination is defined as verbal or physical conduct that is directed at an individual or a group because of race, color, sex ... sexual orientation, genetic information, religion, political beliefs, national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or veteran status when such conduct is sufficiently severe, pervasive and objectively offensive so as to have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s or group’s academic or work performance or of creating a hostile academic or work environment viewed by examining a totality of the circumstances from the standpoint of a reasonable person with the same characteristics as the purported recipient of the harassing conduct.
View full policy (PDF, 652 KB).

Student Code: Prohibited Conduct 11-12

Abusive conduct: Unwelcome conduct that is sufficiently severe and pervasive that it alters the
conditions of education or employment and creates an environment that a reasonable person would
find intimidating, harassing or humiliating. ... Mental harassment: Intentional conduct that is so extreme and outrageous that a reasonable person
would not tolerate it.
View full policy (PDF, 414 KB).

Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination & Sexual Harassment Policy 11-12

Other forms of misconduct based on one’s gender also constitute violations of this policy including: threatening or causing physical harm, extreme verbal abuse, or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person ... Bullying, defined as repeated and/or severe aggressive behavior likely to intimidate or intentionally hurt, control or diminish another person, physically or mentally (that is not speech or conduct otherwise protected by the First Amendment).
Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. Sexual harassment is unwelcome and discriminatory speech or conduct undertaken because of an individual’s gender that is so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that it has the systematic effect of unreasonably interfering with or depriving someone of educational, institutional, or employment access, benefits, activities, or opportunities.
View full policy (PDF, 392 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Facility Use and Solicitation Policy for Registered Student Organizations and Individual OU Students 11-12

There are several areas located on the University campus that are open to students and RSOs for
free speech, protests, leafleting, etc. and require no reservation or notice (unless such use also
includes the placement of tables, booths, structures, large displays, vehicles, sound, audio or PA
systems, or when assistance is needed from the University, in which case reservations as noted in
Paragraph B below are required) ... The public areas for use by RSOs/Students include all public sidewalks, and the following areas:
Areas Governed by Student Life (405-325-4415)
Concrete South of Bizzell Statue
East side of Dale Hall
West side of Gaylord Hall
Lloyd Noble Parking Lot-Southeast Quadrant
Duck Pond
South Oval (West side grassy area and East side grassy area)
Unity Garden
East side Dale Hall, Copeland Hall, Kaufman Hall, Gittinger Hall or Nielson Hall
West side of Gaylord Hall, Gould Hall, George Lynn Cross Hall or Richards Hall
East side of Physical Science Center
West lawn of Felgar Hall
Gould Hall courtyard
Library Mall walkway north of Nielson Hall
Dale Hall breezeway
Non-landscaped areas of the North Oval
The grassy area immediately north of Evans Hall
View full policy (PDF, 1162 KB).

Other Speech Codes

Facility Use and Solicitation Policy for Registered Student Organizations and Individual OU Students 11-12

The University of Oklahoma Chief of Police, or his or her designee, shall have the final decisionmaking capability and will decide how many police officers will be present, if any, and how
many security personnel will be present, if any, after being properly advised as to the facts
surrounding the event and the likelihood of potential disruptions or security threats ... The
RSO/student shall be responsible for the cost of additional security.
View full policy (PDF, 1162 KB).

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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in May 2012. 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.