Yellow Light School

University of West Georgia

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: Eleventh Circuit
Head of Institution: President Beheruz N Sethna
University of West Georgia
Sanford Hall
1601 Maple St.
Carrollton, GA 30118
678-839-6442
bsethna@westga.edu
Website: http://www.westga.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: Student Handbook: Code of Conduct- Disorderly Conduct 12-13

Harassment or threat of harm, whether physical, verbal,
oral or written, which is beyond the bounds of protected
free speech, directed at a specific individual(s), easily construed as "fighting words" and likely to cause an immediate
breach of peace.
View full policy (PDF, 533 KB).

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Sexual Harassment 12-13

Pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, "sexual harassment" is defined as
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, when: ... such conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with the individual's work or educational performance; of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working and/or learning environment; or of interfering with one's ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity.
Examples of Sexual Harassment ... 7. Sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, sexual comments and questions, and other sexually oriented conduct that is directed against a specific individual and persists despite its rejection.

8. Conduct, even that not specifically directed at the complainant, which is sufficiently pervasive, severe or persistent to alter the conditions of the complainant's employment or status as a student and create a hostile working or learning environment, when viewed from the perspective of a reasonable person of the complainant's gender.
View full policy (PDF, 188 KB).

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

Green light: Residence Life Handbook: Residence Hall Policies- Disorderly Conduct 12-13

Vulgar or abusive language that is unwelcome may also result in disciplinary action if it is so severe,
pervasive, and objectively offensive that it denies or limits an individual’s ability to work, or to participate
in or benefit from an educational program or activity.
View full policy (PDF, 326 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Advertising, Solicitation, and Selling 12-13

Non-commercial selling by college related organizations and
distribution of non-commercial information such as pamphlets,
handbills and other materials protected by the first amendment,
is allowed in public areas when approved by the Center for Student Involvement in the Campus Center.
View full policy (PDF, 306 KB).

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Policy Governing Outdoor Speeches, Demonstrations, Distribution of Written Material and Marches 12-13

Marches may take place on streets and sidewalks of the campus and community between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday, when school is in session. Plans for an event of this nature must be approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, City of Carrollton, and the University Police Office forty-eight hours in advance.
The open areas designated for speeches and demonstrations are the Quad and outside the University Community Center, Library and Food Service Building. Use of these areas will be approved through the Student Activities Office acting on behalf of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. Individuals and groups may use these areas between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Monday - Friday, when school is in session for speaking, demonstrating and other forms of expression. A request for use of these areas must be made forty-eight hours in advance of the event. All structures, signs and litter resulting from the activity must be removed from the area by the end of the event. Groups or individuals may only use those designated areas once per month and for a maximum period of two days.
View full policy (PDF, 69 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: Acceptable Use Policy 12-13

The following acts constitute computer harassment if the actions are sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent so as to interfere with or limit the recipient’s ability to work or to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by UWG: (1) Deliberately using a computer to harass, annoy, terrify, intimidate, threaten, or offend another person by transmitting obscene language, photographs, pictures, or other materials or threats of bodily harm to the recipient or the recipient's immediate family; (2) Repeatedly attempting to communicate with a recipient after the recipient has given reasonable notice that he or she does not desire such communication.
The following behaviors are considered a direct violation of this policy: harass, threaten or otherwise cause harm to a specific individual(s), whether by direct or indirect reference; impede, interfere with, impair or otherwise cause harm to the activities of others, to include the introduction of virus(s) onto the network or a computer; download or post to university computers, or transport across university networks, material that is illegal, proprietary, in violation of university contractual agreements or is otherwise damaging to the institution or individuals.
View full policy (PDF, 300 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

Yellow light: University Police: Hate Crime Policy 12-13

Hate Incident: Any malicious or offensive act directed against an individual or group based upon the individual's or group's perceived race, religion, culture, disability, ethnic background, and/or sexual orientation. These are non-criminal acts include, but are not limited to, activity that would cause an individual or members of a group to feel threatened or intimidated.
View full policy (PDF, 444 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Student Handbook: Rights and Regulations- Freedom of Expression 12-13

Recognizing the rights of free speech and peaceful assembly as fundamental to the democratic process, the university supports the right of students to express their views or to peacefully protest and peacefully dissent against actions and opinions with which they disagree.
View full policy (PDF, 306 KB).

Green light policy: Student Handbook: Policy Governing Outdoor Speeches, Demonstrations, Distribution of Written Material and Marches 12-13

No rights are more highly regarded at the University of West Georgia than the First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech, freedom of expression and the right to assemble peaceably.
View full policy (PDF, 69 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 February 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.