Red Light School

Chicago 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: Seventh Circuit
Head of Institution: President Wayne D Watson
Chicago State University
Cook Administration Building, Suite 313
9501 South M. L. King Drive
Chicago, IL 60628
773-995-2400
Website: http://www.csu.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: Sexual Harassment Policy 12-13

[U]nwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when ... such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.
The second category, "hostile environment," refers to patterns of behavior or incidents (including verbal, non verbal, physical, or other) which may seem harmless as individual events, but which may be considered intimidating, hostile, or offensive when taken together.
View full policy (PDF, 155 KB).

Policy 1.1: Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement

Sexual Harassment Policy

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

Red light: Residence Life Student Handbook: Improper Behavior 12-13

Conduct and/or expressions that are obscene, inappropriate, acts of intimidation, or
blatantly offensive to the prevailing standards of the living-learning community are prohibited, and subject
to disciplinary actions and/or contract termination.
View full policy (PDF, 74 KB).

Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience (Learn More)

Red light: Student Handbook: Code of Excellence 12-13

To ensure that a collegial and cooperative
educational environment is maintained, Chicago State University
has the right to investigate allegations, conduct hearings and levy
sanctions against any student found responsible for violating the
University’s Code of Excellence ....
As a member of the Chicago State University Community, I pledge the following: ... I will respect the dignity of all persons. Behaviors which compromise or demean the dignity of individuals or groups, including hazing, intimidating, taunting, teasing, baiting, ridiculing, insulting, harassing, and discriminating are not acceptable. ... I will strive to abide by the principles of this code and will encourage others to do the same.
View full policy (PDF, 57 KB).

Posting Policies

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Posting Policy 12-13

The Student Activities Center staff must review all posters, flyers
and other announcements. Approval for posting will be granted
only after the Office of Marketing and Communications, located
in Cook Administration 129, has reviewed and edited all
documents.
View full policy (PDF, 44 KB).

Yellow light: Residence Life Student Handbook: Posting, Distribution and Solicitation 12-13

[A]ll advertisements must be approved by Housing & Residence Life.
Housing & Residence Life’s approach is to educate students
and their organizations relative to the appropriateness of promoting activities, events and functions in the
Residence Hall. Advertisements promoting alcohol, offensive language, photos, graphics or drawings,
the degradation of one’s cultural, gender or sexual identity are not consistent with the philosophy of
residential living.
View full policy (PDF, 243 KB).

Yellow light: Residence Life Student Handbook: Decorations 12-13

Window and door decorations may not contain obscenities, references to alcohol, illegal substances
or nudity. Writings and drawings that are deemed racist, sexist and oppressive are considered
inappropriate. Residents will be asked to remove displays. In the case of noncompliance, judicial
actions and/or contract termination may result.
View full policy (PDF, 85 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Red light: Computer Usage Policy 12-13

Electronic mail and all other electronic communication (including websites and
blog posts) should adhere to the University standards of conduct which
prohibits any communication which tends to embarrass, humiliate or shed a
negative light on any member of the community. Respect others you contact
electronically by avoiding distasteful, inflammatory, harassing or otherwise
unacceptable comments.
View full policy (PDF, 361 KB).

Other Speech Codes

Computer and Information Code of Conduct Policy for Chicago State University Employees

Non-Academic Misconduct

Non-academic misconduct is an act that violates the University’s rules, policies, and regulations while on campus as well as during off-campus functions sponsored or supervised by the University. Violations of this type include but are not limited to:

10. Lewd, obscene, or disruptive conduct, or racial/ethnic or other legally prohibited harassment;

[...]

17. Behavior which causes or threatens to cause harm to the student, other persons, or property, or creates a pattern of extreme disruption, or indicates an extreme inability of a student to cope with her/his own needs, and also suggests the possibility of a mental disorder.

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Student Code of Conduct 12-13

Chicago State University is a community where the means of seeking
truth are open discussion, free discourse, spirited debate and
peaceful dissent. Free inquiry is indispensable to the purposes of the
University and should be protected as a matter of academic freedom
within the institution. Accordingly, conditions must exist
which allow and encourage this freedom for all students.
View full policy (PDF, 454 KB).

ARTICLE X: STUDENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Section 2. Policy on Student Conduct Policy 2.1: Grievance Procedures

Chicago State University Vision Statement

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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.