Ohio Administrative Code › Title 3337 - Ohio University › Chapter 3337-1 - Policies In General › Section 3337-1-41 - Campus freedom of expression

Current through all regulations passed and filed through July 1, 2024
(A)
								Basis for
			 policy
Section 3345.0215 of the Revised Code
				requires that each state institution of higher education adopt a policy that
				affirms the principles stated in paragraph (B) of this policy and establish a
				process under which a student, student group, or faculty member may submit a
				complaint about an alleged violation of this policy by any employee of the
				institution. Further, section
				3345.0212
				of the Revised Code requires each state institution of higher education to
				adopt a policy on harassment that is consistent with and adheres strictly to
				the definition of harassment in section
				3345.0211
				of the Revised Code. University policy 01.040 also communicates Ohio
				university's commitment to freedom of expression.
(B)
								Rationale for
			 policy
Ohio university is committed to
				maintaining the campus as a marketplace of ideas for all students and all
				faculty in which the free exchange of ideas is not suppressed because the ideas
				put forth are thought by some or even by most members of the institution's
				community to be offensive, unwise, immoral, indecent, disagreeable,
				conservative, liberal, traditional, radical, or wrong-headed.
To support this commitment and ensure
				compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, Ohio university has
				developed this policy and related processes that inform members of the
				university community about prohibited behavior and provide a prompt, fair, and
				impartial process to address alleged violations of this policy.
Further, Ohio university affirms the
				following principles set forth in the Revised Code:
(1)
									"Students have a
			 fundamental constitutional right to free speech."
(2)
									Ohio university
			 is "committed to giving students broad latitude to speak, write, listen,
			 challenge, learn, and discuss any issue," subject to paragraph (E) of this
			 policy.
(3)
									It is for "individual students and faculty to make
			 judgments about ideas for themselves and to act on those judgments not by
			 seeking to suppress free speech but by openly and vigorously contesting the
			 ideas they oppose."
(4)
									It is not the proper role of Ohio university "to
			 attempt to shield individuals from free speech, including ideas and opinions
			 they find offensive, unwise, immoral, indecent, disagreeable, conservative,
			 liberal, traditional, radical, or wrong-headed."
(5)
									Although Ohio
			 university greatly values civility and mutual respect, "concerns about civility
			 and respect will not be used" by Ohio university "as a justification for
			 closing off the discussion of ideas, however offensive, unwise, immoral,
			 indecent, disagreeable, conservative, liberal, traditional, radical, or
			 wrongheaded those ideas may be to some students or faculty."
(6)
									"Although all
			 students and all faculty are free to state their views about and contest the
			 views expressed on campus, and to state their views about and contest speakers
			 who are invited to express their views on campus, they may not substantially
			 obstruct or otherwise substantially interfere with the freedom of others to
			 express views they reject or even loathe." To that end, Ohio university "has a
			 responsibility to promote lively and fearless freedom of debate and
			 deliberation and protect that freedom."
(7)
									Ohio university
			 is "committed to providing an atmosphere that is most conducive to speculation,
			 experimentation, and creation by all students and all faculty, who shall always
			 remain free to inquire, to study, and to evaluate, and to gain new
			 understanding."
(8)
									"The primary responsibility of faculty is to engage an
			 honest, courageous, and persistent effort to search out and communicate the
			 truth that lies in areas of their competence."