Red Light School

Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge

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: Fifth Circuit
Head of Institution: Chancellor William Jenkins
Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge
Office of the Chancellor
156 Thomas Boyd Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
225-578-6977
chancellor@lsu.edu
Website: http://www.lsu.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: Code of Student Conduct: Non-Academic Misconduct 12-13

Sexual harassment -- Conduct of a sexual nature that creates an intimidating,
hostile, or offensive campus, educational, or working environment for
another person. This includes, but is not limited to unwanted, unwelcome, or
inappropriate, sexual or gender based activities, comments, or gestures.
Unwelcome contact or communication, written verbal or non verbal, and/or
conduct of a sexually explicit nature to include any uninvited touching,
fondling, kissing, and/or hugging, which would be so offensive to a
reasonable person as to create a hostile environment. Sexual harassment may
involve a situation where unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual
favors, and other explicit or implicit conduct of a sexual nature. Examples
include unwelcome touching; persistent, unwanted sexual/romantic attention,
or display of sexually oriented material; deliberate, repeated gender based
humiliation or intimidation, and similar sexually oriented behavior of an
intimidating or demeaning nature.
View full policy (PDF, 269 KB).

Red light: Living On Campus Handbook: Harassment 12-13

Activity (verbal, written, graphic, and/or physical) that
is threatening in nature or any form of harassment is prohibited. This can include, but is not limited to: posting or distributing material and/or behaving in a manner that is offensive and may contribute to a hostile environment; putting offensive posters/pictures in areas available to public views, including windows or common areas; using e-mail or other electronic messaging, voice mail, message boards, mail, computer networks or other mediums to convey obscene or otherwise objectionable messages
or materials; writing graffiti in residence buildings or encouraging or engaging in offensive acts or behavior; and repeatedly following or attempting to make unwanted contact with another person.
View full policy (PDF, 108 KB).

Red light: Code of Student Conduct: Non-Academic Misconduct 12-13

Intolerance, discrimination, or bias related behavior, whereby an individual or group has been targeted based upon race, creed, color, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, or veteran’s status.
View full policy (PDF, 269 KB).

Green light: Code of Student Conduct: Non-Academic Misconduct 12-13

Students may be charged with misconduct for any of the following:
...
Extreme, outrageous, or persistent acts, or communication that is unwanted and what a reasonable person would conclude would harass, harm, or distress another thereby causing substantial and material disruption. This would include, but is not limited to, acts carried out by a third party at the bequest of the individual, whereby, among other things, the alleged perpetrator has hampered the ability of the alleged victim to learn and participate in the academic environment.
View full policy (PDF, 269 KB).

Red light: Sexual Harassment of Students 12-13

Hostile environment sexual harassment: is unwelcome verbal
or physical conduct of a sexual nature or gender-based
conduct in which the conduct has the purpose or effect of
unreasonably interfering with an individual's academic, work,
team or organization performance or creating an intimidating,
hostile or offensive working environment.
Sexual harassment: is a form of unlawful sexual
discrimination. It is defined as unwelcome verbal, visual, or
physical behavior of a sexual nature.
Examples include unwelcome touching or suggestive
comments, offensive language or display of sexually oriented
materials, obscene gestures, and similar sexually oriented
behavior of an intimidating or demeaning nature.
View full policy (PDF, 105 KB).

Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience (Learn More)

Yellow light: Code of Student Conduct: Commitment to Community 12-13

To demonstrate my pride in LSU, as a member of its community, I will:

...

hold myself and others to the highest standards of academic, personal, and social integrity;
practice justice, equality, and compassion in human relations;
respect the dignity of all persons and accept individual differences;
respect the environment and the rights and property of others and the University;
contribute positively to the life of the campus and surrounding community; and
use my LSU experience to be an active citizen in an international and interdependent world.
View full policy (PDF, 31 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Green light: Student Organization Policy Manual: Peaceful Assembly 12-13

Peaceful assemblies by students are not required to be scheduled or registered with the Office of the Dean of Students unless the event meets one or more of the following criteria:
1. The event will be held in a building on campus.
2. The event will utilize a designated area, site or location on campus reasonably adjacent to
facilities that are regularly scheduled for use by the University.
3. The event will utilize a designated area, site or location on campus at which events are
typically scheduled.
4. The event may reasonably require involvement of a service department of the University,
e.g., the directing of traffic and/or parking, managing a crowd, the turning on of electricity or the providing of electricity to the site, marking of playing fields, blocking of streets, setting up stages or platforms, placing special trash receptacles in the area, providing tables and/or chairs and inspection and/or cleanup after the event.
5. Any event involving a table, display or any other structure.
6. Any event involving amplified sound or sound that is otherwise sufficiently loud to cause a
disturbance.
7. Any event involving the distribution of food or beverages. (See PS-78 for events involving
alcohol.)
8. Any event that poses reasonable safety concerns.
9. Any event that will involve out-of-pocket costs to the University. (Any such costs must be
reimbursed by the user).
View full policy (PDF, 84 KB).

Posting Policies

Yellow light: Living On Campus Handbook: Decorations 12-13

Exterior doors are public space and if decorations do not comply with the Office of Residential Life’s mission or values they may be removed at the discretion of the University.
It is not permissible to hang or place anything in windows that may be viewed from outside the building other than blinds or curtains. flags, signs, pictures, advertisements, aluminum foil, writing, etc. are not permitted.
View full policy (PDF, 58 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Red light: Computer Users' Responsibilities 12-13

Specifically, each user of computing resources shall NOT: ... Utilize computing resources, including the Internet and/or e-mail, to access, create,
transmit, print, or download material that is defamatory, obscene, fraudulent, harassing
(including uninvited amorous or sexual messages), threatening, incites violence, or
contains slurs, epithets, or anything that may be reasonably construed as harassment or
disparagement based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age,
disability, or religion or to access, send, receive, or solicit sexually oriented messages or
images or any other communication prohibited by law or other University directive.
View full policy (PDF, 329 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.