Sam Houston State University
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: | Fifth Circuit | |
| Head of Institution: | President Dana L Gibson Sam Houston State University Office of the President Box 2026 Huntsville, TX 77341 936-294-1012 president@shsu.edu |
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| Website: | http://www.shsu.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)
Student Guidelines: Code of Student Conduct and Discipline 11-12
in person, by telephone, electronically, in writing, or by other
means, to take unlawful action
against any person and by this action intentionally, knowingly, or
recklessly annoys or alarms the
recipient or intends to annoy or
alarm the recipient.
Student Guidelines: Racial Harassment Policy 11-12
that are intended to harass, intimidate, or humiliate students, faculty, staff, or visitors on
account of race, color, or national origin and
that reasonably cause them to suffer severe
emotional distress.
Student Guidelines: Sexual Harassment Policy 11-12
occurs when sexually harassing conduct (as
stated above) by an employee, by another
student, or by a third party is sufficiently
severe, persistent, or pervasive to limit a
student’s ability to participate in or benefit
from an education program or activity, or
creates an intimidating, hostile, offensive or
demeaning education or work environment.
harassment occurs when any person, regardless of gender, is the recipient of unwelcome
sexual advances, unwelcome requests of
sexual favors, or other unwelcome verbal,
visual or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
Residence Hall Handbook: Harassment/Bullying 12-13
include loss of university housing. "Harassment" is defined as verbal threats, intimidation, or
conduct which tend to cause or incite a breach of the peace or are severe or pervasive enough to
substantially interfere with a reasonable student’s educational performance, opportunities or
benefits, or mental emotional or physical well-being and which actually do so interfere.
Behaviors and actions exhibited via electronic media including email, text messaging or social
networking websites (e.g. Facebook or Twitter) may be in violation of the harassment policy.
Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility (Learn More)
Student Guidelines: Code of Student Conduct and Discipline 11-12
disorderly conduct on component-owned or controlled property
or at a component-sponsored or
supervised function that inhibit
or interfere with the educational
responsibility of the component
community or the component’s
social-educational activities shall
include but not be limited to: using abusive, indecent, profane or
vulgar language; making offensive gestures or displays that tend
to incite a breach of the peace; perpetrating fights, assaults, acts of
sexual violence, abuse, or threats;
or evincing some obviously offensive manner or committing an act
that causes a person to feel threatened.
Posting Policies
Student Guidelines: Parades, Publications, Demonstrations and Rallies 11-12
or not a student or employee, shall
publicly display, distribute, or disseminate on the component campus any petition, handbill, or piece
of literature, work, or material that
is obscene, vulgar, or libelous,
or that advocates the deliberate
violation of any federal, state, or
local law.
Residence Hall Handbook: Offensive/Obscene Materials 12-13
in public view (windows, doors, bathrooms etc.) that the University determines to be offensive
and/or obscene will be asked to remove the items immediately and may be subject to disciplinary
action. The University reserves the right to enter a student's room to remove items that are found
offensive and/or obscene if the student is not present during the discovery.
Internet Usage Policies
Acceptable Use Policy 12-13
resources. Direct violations include the following: ... Intentionally accessing, creating, storing or transmitting material which SHSU may
deem to be offensive, indecent or obscene (other than in the course of
academic research or authorized administrative duties where this aspect of the research or work has the explicit approval of the SHSU official processes for
dealing with academic ethical issues).
Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Student Guidelines: Publications of Student Groups 11-12
freedom of expression, as well as inquiry, is
essential to a student’s educational development. Vigorous intellectual explorations by
students may sometimes result in questioning
of popular conceptions, and this in turn, may
elicit the concern of society at large. One of
the axioms upon which our nation was built,
however, is that truth needs no protection,
but is vital by vigorous debate in a market Student 54 Guidelines
place where all ideas can be presented and
then tested by the reason of free people.
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.
