University of Massachusetts - Amherst

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: First Circuit
Head of Institution: Chancellor Robert C Holub
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
374 Whitmore Administration Building
Amherst, MA 01003
413-545-2211
chancellor@umass.edu
Website: http://www.umass.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)

Equal Opportunity & Diversity Office: Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures 10-11

Unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:

...

3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or sexually offensive working or academic environment.
Examples of sexual harassment include, but are not limited to the following:
* repeated unwanted sexual flirtations, advances or propositions;

* continued or repeated verbal abuse or innuendo of a sexual nature;
...
* verbal comments of a sexual nature about an individual's body or sexual terms used to describe an individual;
* display of pictures, posters or cartoons that a reasonable person would find offensive or sexually suggestive;
* continued or repeated jokes, language, epithets or remarks of a sexual nature;
* prolonged staring or leering;
* making obscene gestures or suggestive or insulting sounds ....
View full policy (PDF, 7777 KB).

Housing and Residence Life: Policies and Guidelines- Harassment Policy 10-11

Harassment is a form of violence that consists of verbal and/or written invasion/violation of another person's rights. It can be racial, sexual, or personal in nature and may be expressed through graffiti, obscene telephone calls, or other means.
View full policy (PDF, 154 KB).

Code of Student Conduct 10-11

Interference with a person in the conduct of his or her customary
or usual affairs, such as the posting of threatening letters directed to
the person, the use of threatening language directed at another,
harassing or threatening telephone calls, or the vandalism of a person's
room (e.g., graffiti).
View full policy (PDF, 113 KB).

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

Code of Student Conduct: University Housing and Dining Hall Regulations- Community Living Standards 10-11

Students are expected to refrain from actions which prevent individuals from having a safe and respectful community living experience. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following: ... incivility to staff and/or other residents.
View full policy (PDF, 65 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Registered Student Organization Handbook: Rallies 10-11

During class hours, rallies can only be held on the Student Union steps (either front entrance or south steps).
Rallies are events where people freely assemble around a common cause(s) and/or point(s) of advocacy. ... Space for rallies can be requested 24 hours in advance, but it is advisable to allow at least 48 hours to make sure that space is registered.
View full policy (PDF, 129 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Code of Student Conduct: Picketing Code 10-11

No student shall intentionally and substantially interfere with the
freedom of expression of another person on University premises or at University
sponsored activities.
All students, undergraduate and graduate, have a right to demonstrate on
University premises provided, however, that no such demonstration shall be
permissible which for any reason of time, place, or type of behavior materially
disrupts class work or other University business, or involves substantial
disorder or invasion of the rights of others.
View full policy (PDF, 56 KB).

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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in February 2011. 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.