Yellow Light School

Sonoma State University

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 Rubin Arminana
Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Ave.
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707-664-2880
rubin.arminana@sonoma.edu
Website: http://www.sonoma.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: Systemwide Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Against Students and Systemwide Procedure for Handling Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Complaints by 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, 972 KB).

Yellow light: Campus Housing Policies and Regulations: Threats, Assault, and Harassment 12-13

Behaviors or verbal remarks, including any type of non-verbal communication, that result in harassment,
exploitation or intimidation. The campus housing community is composed of students from a variety of cultures,
backgrounds and lifestyles. It is essential that residents are free from behavioral and verbal abuse based on age,
race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, Vietnam-era veteran’s status, or disabling condition.
View full policy (PDF, 104 KB).

Yellow light: Campus Housing Policies and Regulations: Nondiscrimination 12-13

Sexual harassment may range from sexual innuendoes made at inappropriate times, perhaps in the guise of humor, to
coerced sexual relations. Harassment at its extreme occurs when a person in a position of control or influence, affects
another person’s job, salary, career, or grades uses his or her authority and power to coerce the other person into
sexual relations or to act in a punitive manner should the sexual advance be rejected. It may include one or more of the
following: ... Disparaging comments about women as a group; The use of sexist humor or demeaning sexual allusions ....
View full policy (PDF, 116 KB).

Yellow light: Implementation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Related Sexual Harassment/Violence Legislation for CSU Students - Executive Order 1072 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: 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, 51 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Green light: Electronic Communications Responsible Use Rules 12-13

Users shall not use electronic communications resources for unlawful activities or activities that violate University policy, including fraudulent, libelous, slanderous, harassing, threatening communications.
View full policy (PDF, 140 KB).

Yellow light: Standards for Student Conduct 12-13

Misuse of computer facilities or resources, including: ... Use of computing facilities and resources to send obscene or
intimidating and abusive messages.
View full policy (PDF, 51 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Judicial Affairs: SSU Student Rights and Responsibilities 12-13

As citizens, students enjoy the same freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and right of petition that other citizens enjoy ....
View full policy (PDF, 635 KB).

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