California State University - Sacramento

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 Alexander Gonzalez
California State University - Sacramento
President's Office
Sacramento Hall 206
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819-6022
916-278-7737
alexg@csus.edu
Website: http://www.csus.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)

Guide to Residential Life Handbook: Harassment 10-11

HARASSMENT CAN BE:
* Verbal, non-verbal, or physical
* Exclusion based upon personal or group differences
* Intimidation or humiliation based on personal or group differences
* Abusive language, threats of any kind -- real, false, implied,or perceived -- against a person or property or similar acts of bigotry, racism, sexism or discrimination
* Jokes, comments, gossip or graffiti that perpetuate personal or group myths, fallacies, prejudices or stereotypes
* Any subtle or direct references, based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or religion, which demean,
exclude, intimidate or adversely affect an individual or group
* Unsolicited e-mail or telephone calls containing abusive language or threats that causes discomfort, is derogatory, or sexual in nature
* Unsolicited, deliberate or repeated sexually derogatory statements, gestures or physical contact that are objectionable to the recipient and that cause discomfort or humiliation
* Pressure from a person of either sex against a person of the opposite or same sex
* Unwelcome sexual behavior or words including demands for sexual favors accompanied by implied or overt threats concerning an individual’s educational or employment status
* Conduct that is criminal in nature such as rape, sexual assault,
stalking and similar offenses
View full policy (PDF, 710 KB).

University Policy Manual: Student Conduct Code 10-11

Conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person within or related to the University community, including physical abuse, threats, intimidation,
harassment, or sexual misconduct.
View full policy (PDF, 77 KB).

University Policy Manual: Policy Against Sexual Harassment 10-11

Examples of sexual harassment might include: inappropriate personal attention by an instructor or person with power or authority over another, inappropriate touching, personal questions or comments of a sexual nature, pressure for dates or sexual activity, attempted sexual relations, sexual relations, sexual cartoons or posters, and sexual jokes or comments.
An individual's behavior constitutes sexual harassment when it is sexual in nature and unwanted by the person toward whom it is directed. A finding of sexual harassment will be made when one or more of the following circumstances are present: ... The conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with a student's academic performance, creating an intimidating, hostile, offensive or otherwise adverse learning environment, or adversely affecting any student.
View full policy (PDF, 74 KB).

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

Guide to Residential Life Handbook: Community Expectations 10-11

Sacramento State is a multi-cultural community of individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, national and class backgrounds,
with diverse religious and political beliefs, physical abilities and
sexual orientations. This is also the community of the Sacramento State Residence Halls. In this community setting, harassment,
bigotry and denigration of individuals will not be tolerated.
View full policy (PDF, 730 KB).

University Catalog: Appendices- Student Conduct 10-11

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, 200 KB).

University Policy Manual: Student Rights and Reponsibilities 10-11

Students have the right to assume and expect:
...
That race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability or veteran status shall not be used in a derogatory manner in the classroom.
View full policy (PDF, 79 KB).

Free Speech Zones

University Policy Manual: Amended Rule Regulating the Time, Place and Manner of Individual Expression and Conduct on Campus 10-11

Reservations for use of campus facilities and outdoor spaces are required.
For any public meeting, demonstration, rally, etc., held on University premises, advance reservations are required and the activity will be assigned to a specific designated area of campus.
Disruptive and/or unauthorized activities on campus include, but are not limited to, the following: ... Use of space by a group which advocates unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability or veteran status.
View full policy (PDF, 83 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

University Policy Manual: Student Conduct Code 10-11

Use of computing facilities and resources to send obscene, intimidating, or abusive
messages.
View full policy (PDF, 77 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

University Policy Manual: Student Rights and Reponsibilities 10-11

This University exists to provide an opportunity for education to enable students to live a more perceptive and fulfilling life. Its aim is to inspire them in creative and critical thinking and to encourage them to contribute their ideas for the improvement of the society in which they live.

Basic to the achievement of these purposes is freedom of expression and communication.
View full policy (PDF, 79 KB).

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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in July 2011. 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.