Red Light School

Southwest Minnesota 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: Eighth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Ronald A Wood
Southwest Minnesota State University
Office of the President
Founders Hall 209
1501 State Street
Marshall, MN 56258
507-537-6272
Ron.Wood@SMSU.edu
Website: http://www.smsu.edu

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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)

Red light: Student Handbook: Prohibited Code of Conduct- Racial. Disability, or Cultural Intolerance/Harassment 12-13

Any verbal or physical contact directed at an individual or group such as racial slurs, jokes, or other behaviors that demean or belittle a person’s race, color, gender preference, national origin, culture, history or disability, is prohibited.
View full policy (PDF, 357 KB).

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Prohibited Code of Conduct- Sexual Harassment 12-13

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or any other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when: ... b. Such conduct has the purpose of effect of threatening, or interfering with your work or academic performance.
c. In situations where there is a superior/subordinate relationships between parties such as staff and student, faculty and student, or supervisor and staff.
View full policy (PDF, 357 KB).

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

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Prohibited Code of Conduct- Respect for Persons/Hazing 12-13

You are expected to respect the rights and privileges of other members of the University community. Violating this Code of Civility includes, but is not limited to: physical abuse of any person, engaging in brawling, engaging in any boisterous or noisy conduct reasonable tending to arouse alarm, resentment or anger in others, obscene behavior, hazing (defined below) or any conduct which interferes with the rights of others. Conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person is prohibited.
View full policy (PDF, 357 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities: Acceptable Use of Computers and Information Technology Resources 12-13

Users must not engage in inappropriate uses, including: ... Storage, display, transmission, or intentional or solicited receipt of material that is or may be reasonably regarded as obscene, sexually explicit, or pornographic, including any depiction, photograph, audio recording, video or written word, except as such access relates to the academic pursuits of a system student or professional activities of a system employee; and "Spamming" through widespread dissemination of unsolicited and unauthorized e-mail messages.
View full policy (PDF, 260 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Student Handbook: Student Rights and Responsibilities 12-13

In addition to the basic constitutional rights enjoyed by all citizens, students in colleges and universities have specific rights related to academic freedom and their status as students. ... Individual students and student organizations shall be free to examine and to discuss all questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly and privately.
View full policy (PDF, 244 KB).

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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.