Red Light School

California State University - Los Angeles

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 James M Rosser
California State University - Los Angeles
President's Office
815 Administration Building
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
323-343-3030
jrosser@cslanet.calstatela.edu
Website: http://www.calstatela.edu

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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: 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, 482 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).

Red light: Policy and Complaint Procedure for Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation for Applicants, Students and Independent Contractors 12-13

Examples of harassment include:
* Written communications, such as sending inappropriate jokes or comments in print or by e-mail;
* Verbal communications, such as making graphic or degrading comments about an individual and/or his or her body or personal characteristics, or using epithets, derogatory comments or slurs ....
View full policy (PDF, 342 KB).

Red light: Policy on the Prohibition of Sexual Harassment 12-13

Sexual harassment includes but is not limited to: * Unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. * Any act which contributes to a workplace or learning environment that is hostile, intimidating, offensive, or adverse to persons because of the sexual nature of the conduct ....
View full policy (PDF, 501 KB).

Yellow light: Housing Services Student Guide: Violence, Harassment and Assault 12-13

Behavior or expression which is interpreted as abusive or threatening to any member of the community is prohibited.
View full policy (PDF, 66 KB).

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

Yellow light: Standards for Student Conduct 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, 137 KB).

Yellow light: Housing Services Student Guide: Disorderly Conduct 12-13

Any behavior or expression that disrupts or obstructs the administrative, educational, or communal nature of the Housing Services complex is prohibited.
View full policy (PDF, 60 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Yellow light: Policy on Time, Place, and Manner of Free Expression 12-13

Spontaneous events and
demonstrations may not take place in the limited public forum areas. ... The following areas are limited public forums:
All outdoor areas on campus (i.e., areas not inside a building) with the exception of: public forum areas,
athletic fields (including but not limited to the tennis courts and the swimming pool and deck); streets;
street crosswalks; driveways; parking lots; the corporation yard; the area directly between Kennedy
Library North and the Palmer Wing South; bridges between
buildings; building balconies; building walls; building rooftops; Luckman amphitheater; areas directly
adjacent to electrical transformers, generators and panels; and designated construction areas.
Spontaneous events and demonstrations may take place in the public
forum areas without reservations. ... The following areas are public forums:
The stage that is northeast of the University-Student Union, plus the area extending outwards 5 feet from
every side of the stage; and the walkway area from the statute of the Golden Eagle east of the Golden
Eagle building to the southernmost end of the Street of the Arts (see Appendix 1.).
View full policy (PDF, 323 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Red light: User Guidelines for E-mail Communications 12-13

The following are considered improper use of electronic communications: ... Using electronic communications to degrade, demean, discriminate, harass, threaten, offend or slander other individuals.
View full policy (PDF, 975 KB).

Yellow light: Standards for Student Conduct 12-13

Use of computing facilities and resources to send obscene or intimidating and abusive messages.
View full policy (PDF, 137 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Policy on Time, Place, and Manner of Free Expression 12-13

Exposure to the widest possible range of ideas, viewpoints, opinions and creative expression is an integral
and indispensable part of a University education for life in a diverse global society. California State
University, Los Angeles, supports the right of individual students, faculty, staff and student organizations
to exercise free speech, including but not limited to artistic, political, and/or symbolic speech, provided
only that such expression does not significantly or materially disrupt normal activities or infringe upon
the rights of others.
View full policy (PDF, 323 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.