Westfield 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: | First Circuit | |
| Head of Institution: | President Evan S Dobelle Westfield State University President's Office, Westfield State University PO Box 1630 Westfield, MA 01086 413-572-5200 edobelle@wsc.ma.edu |
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| Website: | http://www.wsc.ma.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
Policies on Diversity and Multiculturalism (Learn More)
Racism 12-13
This policy proscribes all conditions and all actions or omissions, including all
acts of verbal harassment or abuse, which deny or have the effect of denying
to anyone his/her rights to equity, dignity, and security on the basis of his/her
race or color. This policy reaffirms the doctrine of civility, appreciation for
cultural/racial pluralism and the pre-eminence of individual human dignity as
preconditions to the achievement of an academic community which
recognizes and utilizes the resources of all persons.
Harassment Policies (Learn More)
Student Handbook: Student Life Policies- Sexual Misconduct Policy 12-13
Student Handbook: Student Life Policies- Diversity/Affirmative Action 12-13
Is intended to insult or stigmatize an individual or a small number of individuals on the basis of their gender, race, color, disability, religion, creed, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, marital or veteran status; and
Is addressed directly to the individual or individuals whom it insults or stigmatizes; and
Makes use of insulting or "fighting" words or non-verbal symbols. In the context of discriminatory harassment by personal vilification, insulting or "fighting" words or non-verbal symbols are those that, by their very utterance, tend to incite to an immediate breach of peace, and that commonly understood to convey direct and visceral hatred or contempt for human beings on the basis of their gender, race, national origin, color, disability, religion, creed, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital or veteran status.
Has the purpose or effect of creating an objectively intimidating, hostile or offensive work or educational environment; or
Has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or learning performance; or
Otherwise unreasonably adversely affects an individual’s employment or educational opportunities.
Sexual Harassment Policy 12-13
and/or physical behavior of a sexual nature which has the effect
of interfering with a person’s academic, employment or other
status, or of creating a sexually intimidating, hostile or offensive
environment.
... such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's academic or professional performance or creating a sexually intimidating, hostile or offensive employment, educational or living environment.
sexual harassment under this Policy include, but are not limited
to the following: ... f. sexual slurs, sexual innuendos, and other comments about an
individual or group’s clothing, body, weight, body shape, size or
figure;
g. continuous idle chatter of a sexual nature and graphic sexual
descriptions;
h. discussing one’s sexual activities, practices or experiences;
i. asking another person about their sexual activities, practices or
experiences;
j. offensive and persistent jokes or jesting and kidding about
sex or gender-specific traits;
k. suggestive or insulting sounds such as whistling, wolf-calls, or
kissing sounds;
l. sexually provocative compliments about a person’s clothes or the
way their clothes fit;
m. comments or questions about the sensuality, sexuality, gender
identity or sexual orientation of a person, or his or her spouse or
significant other;
n. pseudo-medical advice such as "you might be feeling bad because
you didn’t get enough";
o. telephone calls of a sexual nature;
p. "staged whispers" or mimicking of a sexual nature about the way a
person walks, talks, sits, etc.; q. distribution or display of objects, written or graphic materials that
are of a sexual nature, such as cartoons, pictorial erotica, nude
photographs or posters (such as a nude magazine centerfolds) for
no legitimate academic purpose;
r. invading another’s "personal space";
s. sexual looks such as leering and ogling with suggestive overtones;
t. lewd gestures, such as hand or sign language to denote sexual
activity, licking lips or teeth, or holding or eating food provocatively;
u. continuous "pet" name calling, such as "baby," "sweetie" or"honey";
v. referring to men in general as "dogs" or "swine" or to women as
"bitches" or "chicks" ....
Student Handbook: Rights and Responsibilities- Student Conduct Regulations 12-13
...
Physical abuse, verbal abuse, intimidation or threats to any member of the university community, visitor or guest. �
...
Harassing, intimidating, or stalking any member of the College community, visitor or guest. This includes repeated verbal or physical annoyances, or threats committed by any means such as orally, electronically, or in writing.
...
Acts of bullying which consists of abusive conduct that a reasonable person would find hostile based on the severity, nature and frequency of the conduct and without regard to the method of delivery. This conduct may include, but not be limited to, repeated infliction of verbal abuse, such as the use of derogatory remarks, insults and epithets; or verbal or physical conduct of a threatening, intimidating or humiliating nature.
Posting Policies
Student Handbook: Student Life Policies- Residence Hall Policy 12-13
Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Student Handbook: Student Conduct Regulations and Procedures 12-13
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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in May 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.



