Yellow Light School

California State University - Northridge

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: Ninth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Dianne F Harrison
California State University - Northridge
Office of the President
18111 Nordhoff Street, UN 200
Northridge, CA 91330
818-677-2121
dianne.harrison@csun.edu
Website: http://www.csun.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: 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).

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

Yellow light: Student Housing Rules and Regulations: Disorderly Conduct 12-13

Behaviors whether through conduct or expression which are not civil or respectful and which breach the peace within or around the residence halls or at any residence-hall related function are not permitted.
View full policy (PDF, 204 KB).

Yellow light: Student Housing Rules and Regulations: Harm or Threat of Harm to Self or Another 12-13

Committing acts of
physical or mental abuse or engaging in actions that intimidate,
harass, threaten, coerce, or otherwise endanger the health or
safety of self or another person (including threats or attempts of
suicide) is prohibited.
View full policy (PDF, 204 KB).

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, 127 KB).

Yellow light: Residence Life Student Handbook: Resident's Rights 12-13

Each
resident has the right to: ... Live free from intimidation, physical, and emotional
harm.
View full policy (PDF, 44 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Yellow light: University Policies and Procedures: Handbills, Circular, Petitions, Surveys, Questionnaires and other Forms of Written Materials Policy 12-13

All recognized university employee groups and student organizations or clubs, or individual students and employees must obtain the appropriate Posting/Distribution of Literature Form ... Distribution of materials may not occur until approval of time, place, and manner has been received.
View full policy (PDF, 185 KB).

Yellow light: University Policies and Procedures: Public Meetings, Performances, Rallies, Speakers and Similar Events 12-13

Use of campus facilities may not be denied student/employee groups, clubs and organizations desiring the use of said facilities for the presentation of productions, films, and the like, simply by reason of a controversial content or appeal to prurient interests. However, such activities, as all other activities by student/employee clubs and organizations, must be regulated, monitored and/or supervised by the President's designee. With respect to the aforementioned productions, films, and the like, the following recommendations shall govern:
a. Time, place, and manner of presentment shall be determined or approved by the president's designee as identified herein;
b. Advertising of the event shall be limited to on-campus publications, bulletin boards and flyers distributed only on campus;
c. Information describing, generally, content or nature of the presentation shall be prominently posted at or near the entrance to the area in which the event is being held;
d. Only members of the campus community and bona fide guests of such members may be admitted;
e. The authorization or permit for such presentations may not be granted with such frequency as to constitute competition with similar presentations in communities in close proximity to the campus ....
All recognized university employee groups and registered student organizations or clubs, or individual students and employees must obtain the appropriate event and space reservation form: for events held on campus grounds from the Matador Involvement Center ....
View full policy (PDF, 242 KB).

Posting Policies

Yellow light: Student Housing Rules and Regulations: Posting 12-13

No offensive or
alcohol/drug-related materials may be posted in a public area or a
place where they can be viewed from a public area (e.g. external
unit door, balcony, in a visible place from windows, etc.).
View full policy (PDF, 204 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

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, 127 KB).

NOTE: You must have Adobe Acrobat installed to view policies in PDF format.

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.