Red Light School

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

« Return to School Overview

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)

Red light: Guide to Residential Life Handbook: Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying 11-12

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, 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, 72 KB).

Red light: University Policy Manual: Student Sexual Misconduct Policy 12-13

An individual's conduct constitutes sexual harassment when it is sexual in nature and unwanted by the person toward whom it is directed.
View full policy (PDF, 187 KB).

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, 1119 KB).

Green light: University Policy Manual: Student Conduct Code 12-13

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, 227 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, 475 KB).

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

Red light: Guide to Residential Life Handbook: Community Expectations 11-12

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, 30 KB).

Yellow light: University Catalog: Appendices- 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, 194 KB).

Yellow light: University Policy Manual: Student Rights and Responsibilities 12-13

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, 273 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Yellow light: University Policy Manual: Amended Rules Regulating the Time, Place and Manner of Individual Expression and Conduct on Campus 12-13

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, 169 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: University Policy Manual: Student Conduct Code 12-13

Use of computing facilities and resources to send obscene, intimidating, or abusive
messages.
View full policy (PDF, 227 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: University Policy Manual: Student Rights and Responsibilities 12-13

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, 273 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 September 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.