Yellow Light School

University of 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 Michael F Adams
University of Georgia
The President's Office
The Administration Building
Athens, GA 30602
706-542-1214
presuga@uga.edu
Website: http://www.uga.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)

Yellow light: Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy 12-13

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 may include, but are not limited to the following:
...
3. Sexual advances, physical or implied, or direct propositions of a sexual nature. This activity may include inappropriate/unnecessary touching or rubbing against another, sexually suggestive or degrading jokes or comments, remarks of a sexual nature about one's clothing and/or body, preferential treatment in exchange for sexual activity, and the inappropriate display of sexually explicit pictures, text, printed materials, or objects that do not serve an academic purpose.

4. A pattern of conduct, which can be subtle in nature, that has sexual overtones and is intended to create or has the effect of creating discomfort and/or that humiliates another.

5. Remarks speculating about a person's sexual activities or sexual history, or remarks about one's own sexual activities or sexual history that do not serve a medical or academic purpose.
View full policy (PDF, 294 KB).

Green light: Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy 12-13

Unwelcome verbal or physical conduct which is directed at a person because of their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or disability, when: ... 1. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the individual's work or educational performance;
2. Such conduct creates or has the intention of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working and/or learning environment; or
3. Such conduct unreasonably interferes with one's ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity.
View full policy (PDF, 294 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Yellow light: Policy on Freedom of Expression 12-13

Other areas of the campus and other times are occasionally used for speeches and demonstrations. Such campus gatherings must be approved by the Director of Campus Life at least 48 hours in advance and receive a permit for the gathering.
The areas designated as "Free Expression Areas" for speeches and demonstrations are the Tate Student Center Plaza and the Memorial Hall Plaza, which are generally available for this purpose between 8:00 am and 9:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Use of these areas for speaking, demonstrating and other forms of expression will be scheduled through the Department of Campus Life to best accommodate all interested users.
View full policy (PDF, 186 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: Acceptable Use Policy 12-13

No
one without prior authorization shall use the University's facilities to distribute
the same or substantially the same e-mail message to more than one person
without prior evidence that they wish to receive it ... The University reserves the right to discard incoming mass mailings ("spam")
without notifying the sender or intended recipient.
View full policy (PDF, 201 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Code of Conduct: Conduct Regulations 12-13

The University of Georgia fully supports the
marketplace of ideas and shall enforce its conduct
regulations in accordance with the freedoms of
speech and expression protected by the United
States and Georgia Constitutions.
View full policy (PDF, 96 KB).

Green light policy: Policy on Freedom of Expression 12-13

No rights are more highly regarded at the University of Georgia than the First amendment
guarantees of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and the right to assemble
peaceably.
View full policy (PDF, 186 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.