Red Light School

Georgia 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: Eleventh Circuit
Head of Institution: President Mark P Becker
Georgia State University
President's Office
33 Gilmer Street SE
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-651-2560
mbecker@gsu.edu
Website: http://www.gsu.edu

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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: Student Code of Conduct: Prohibited General Conduct 12-13

Verbally threatening, physically abusing, or threatening physical abuse, intimidation, coercion and/or
conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of self, other students, other members of
the University community or campus visitors.
Harassing a person through unwanted conduct directed at him/her that causes reasonable fear for
safety (e.g., stalking) or is sufficiently severe, pervasive and persistent that it interferes with the
person’s University employment or ability to participate in or benefit from University programs.
View full policy (PDF, 103 KB).

Green light: Student Code of Conduct: Sexual Misconduct Policy 12-13

Sexual Harassment
means unwelcome conduct, based on sex or on gender stereotypes, which is so severe or pervasive
that it unreasonably interferes with a person's University employment, academic performance or
participation in University programs or activities and creates a working, learning, program or activity
environment that a reasonable person would find intimidating, hostile or offensive. Sexual
Harassment may include, for example, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and
acts of sexual violence. In evaluating any complaint of Sexual Harassment, the perceived
offensiveness of a particular expression, standing alone, is not sufficient by itself to constitute Sexual
Harassment. The conduct in question must be objectively intimidating, hostile or offensive and
interfere with a person's right to equally participate in programs and activities of the University.
View full policy (PDF, 579 KB).

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

Red light: Panther's Guide to Community Living: Community Living Standards- Activities Resulting in Disturbance, Distress or Damage 12-13

In order to maintain a comfortable environment that both respects and
celebrates this diversity, harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. Any form of activity, whether covert or
overt, that creates a significantly uncomfortable, threatening or harassing environment for any resident or
guest will be handled judicially. Such activities would include, but are not limited to, physical actions, verbal
remarks, ethnic slurs, threatening or harassing notes or postings (including electronic communications and
voicemail systems), publicly telling offensive jokes, and repetitively making unwanted advances/conversation
toward any person whether sexual or otherwise. Such behaviors or actions may result in immediate interim
suspension from Housing and/or Housing Contract cancellation.
View full policy (PDF, 50 KB).

Yellow light: Student Code of Conduct: Introduction- Guarantees of Student Expression 12-13

This right of expression does not protect disruptive, threatening, lewd, indecent or obscene conduct or expression.
View full policy (PDF, 90 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Green light: Student Code of Conduct: Campus Speech, Distribution, and Posting Policy 12-13

Persons or organizations may engage in speech activities in the following locations: the city streets adjacent to campus buildings, Library Plaza, Unity Plaza, the Urban Life Center Plaza and the area beneath the Courtland Street viaduct. University sites (non-city streets) are available for speaking or other forms of expression between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday except when the areas have been reserved by a University-Affiliated department or student organization.
Plans for speaking activities in other campus areas and times must be approved by the Student/University Center Reservations Office at least 72 hours in advance of the event. Such plans will be considered in a content-neutral manner.
View full policy (PDF, 221 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Green light: Information System Ethics Policy 12-13

Users shall not use information systems to transmit communications that are fraudulent, defamatory, harassing, obscene, threatening, that unlawfully discriminate or that are prohibited by law
i) Users must comply with the regulations and policies of newsgroups, mailing lists and other public forums through which they disseminate their messages and comments
View full policy (PDF, 202 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

Yellow light: Bias Incident Response Protocol 12-13

Definition of Bias Incident: An act of bigotry, harassment, intimidation, or other related offense by known or unknown perpetrators that occurs on the Georgia State University campus or within an area that impacts the Georgia State University community, and that one could reasonably conclude is directed at a member or group of the Georgia State University community because of that individual’s or group’s actual or perceived age, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, ex-offender status, gender, gender identity/presentation, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any combination of these or other related factors.
View full policy (PDF, 268 KB).

Other Speech Codes

Yellow light: Student Code of Conduct: Special Event/Late Night Event Policy 12-13

The sponsoring organization will be responsible for all costs related to security for the event.
The sponsoring organization will develop a security plan with a representative of the Georgia
State University Police, in conjunction with the event venue representative and in advance of
the event. The police will make decisions on the number of police officers required, the
number of hours necessary and the estimated cost.
For purposes of this policy ... "special events" shall
mean events that 300 or more guests are reasonably expected to attend or that pose a security
concern for some other reason, as determined in the sole discretion of the University.
View full policy (PDF, 226 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Student Code of Conduct: Rights and Obligations- General 12-13

Membership in the community of scholars known as Georgia State University is a privilege and carries with it obligations to participate in and contribute to the educational mission of the institution. Concurrent with these obligations are rights and freedoms for each individual as guaranteed by the United States Constitution including, but not limited to, the right to inquire, to learn, to communicate by speech and action, to assemble peaceably and the right to due process.
View full policy (PDF, 96 KB).

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