Yellow Light School

Ball 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: Seventh Circuit
Head of Institution: President Jo Ann M Gora
Ball State University
Administration Building 101
Muncie, IN 47306
765-285-5555
president@bsu.edu
Website: http://www.bsu.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: Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities: University Anti-Harassment Policy 12-13

Harassment of students or employees at Ball State University on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, gender*, sexual orientation, age, or physical or mental disability is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. ... The term "harassment," as used in Paragraph 1 of the policy refers to verbal, physical, graphic, or written conduct that has the purpose or effect of creating a hostile or intimidating environment; i.e., conduct which is sufficiently severe,
pervasive, or persistent that it interferes significantly with an individual's employment, education, or living conditions. The conduct alleged to constitute harassment under this policy will be evaluated from the perspective of a reasonable person similarly situated to the complainant and considering all of the facts and circumstances.
View full policy (PDF, 78 KB).

Yellow light: Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities: Sexual Harassment Policy 12-13

Examples of conduct which may constitute sexual harassment include but are not limited to:

1. Requests for sexual favors;

2. Unwelcome physical contact such as hugging, rubbing, touching, patting, pinching or brushing another's body

3. Veiled suggestions of sexual activities;

4. Requests for private meetings outside of class or business hours for other than legitimate academic or business-related purposes;

5. Use in the classroom of sexual jokes, stories or images in no way germane to the subject of the class;

6. Use in the workplace of sexual jokes, stories or images in no way germane to the subject of the work environment;

7. Remarks about a person's body or sexual relationships, activities or experience that are in no way germane to the subject of the work or academic environment;

8. Use of inappropriate body images to advertise events.
The university has adapted the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) definition of sexual harassment for our academic community: Sexual harassment is defined as any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favor or other unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, whether committed on or off campus, when: ... Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or educational environment. Such conduct will typically be directed against a particular individual or individuals and will either be abusive or severely humiliating or will persist despite the objection of the person targeted by the speech or conduct.
View full policy (PDF, 99 KB).

Yellow light: Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities: Code of Conduct 12-13

Conduct towards another person or identifiable group of persons that has the purpose or effect of (a) creating an intimidating or hostile educational environment, work environment, or environment for participation in a University activity; (b) unreasonably interfering with a person’s educational environment, living environment, work environment, or environment for participation in a University activity; or unreasonably affecting a person’s educational or work opportunities or participation in a University activity.
View full policy (PDF, 69 KB).

Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience (Learn More)

Yellow light: Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities: Introduction- Beneficence Pledge 12-13

Members of the Ball State University Community... pledge to act in a socially responsible way
To treat each person in the Ball State community with civility, courtesy, compassion, and dignity; to respect the property and environment of the campus.
View full policy (PDF, 43 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Yellow light: Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities: Use of Property for Expressive Activities Policy- Demonstrations 12-13

If a demonstration is expected to involve fifty (50) or more people:
a) The demonstration must be scheduled with the Student Center Reservation Office (SCRO) at least three (3) business days prior to the demonstration ... The demonstration must be held in either the Quad area or LaFollette Field.
View full policy (PDF, 121 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities: Information Technology Users' Privileges and Responsibilities 12-13

Harassing communications are
prohibited and include repeated contacts with a person who has requested to be left
alone absent some legitimate institutional purpose for such communication.
Harassment may also involve malicious public disclosure of private facts, threats,
defamation, and vulgar or repulsive content posted about an individual or group.
Content found to be inconsistent with institutional purposes is subject to immediate suspension or removal by the administrator of the relevant system or their designee. Conduct and related content does not meet the institutional purposes of the university when it is found to be:

a. In possible violation of federal, state, or local laws.
b. May violate the copyright or other intellectual property rights of others.
c. Harassing or threatening, or otherwise disruptive to the learning or working environment.
d. In violation of other university policies, procedures, or contractual obligations.
e. Inappropriate for the stated purpose of the system, service, or environment.
f. A security risk affecting the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of services.
g. Otherwise inconsistent with the mission of the university.
View full policy (PDF, 193 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

Yellow light: Student Affairs: Bias Incident Reporting Form 12-13

The incident was (mark all that apply): ... verbal comment
View full policy (PDF, 197 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities: Bill of Rights and Responsibilities 12-13

As citizens, students of Ball State University enjoy the same basic rights and are bound
by the same responsibilities to respect the rights of others as all other citizens.

Among the basic rights are freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of peaceful
assembly and association, freedom of political beliefs, and freedom from personal force
and violence, threats of violence, and personal abuse.
View full policy (PDF, 43 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 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.