CSU Free Speech Policy

Cleveland State University supports the rights of its students, faculty, staff and visitors to exercise their First Amendment freedom of speech rights on campus in accordance with state and federal laws, and with University policies and procedures. 

It is not the proper role of the University to attempt to shield individuals from free speech, including ideas and opinions that campus community members may find offensive, immoral, indecent or disagreeable. It is for individual campus community members to make their own judgments about ideas for themselves and to respond to those ideas as they deem appropriate (in accordance with Codes of Conduct). However, campus community members may not substantially obstruct or otherwise substantially interfere with the freedom of others to express views they reject or even loathe.
 

Please refer to the resources below regarding free speech on campus.     

• Campus Free Speech Policy
• Joint Statement on Free Speech - Cleveland State University Joint Faculty Senate
• Ohio Revised Code / Section 3345.0215 | Campus free speech policy.

Members of the CSU community may submit an anonymous or public complaint about an alleged policy violation via Concerned Vikes. Learn more about our Free Speech Complaint Procedures here.

Courageous Conversations: "Free Speech...What Is It and Why Does It Matter?"

Hosted on October 4, 2023, this conversation among CSU subject matter experts focused on defining free speech and hate speech, as well as learning what types of free speech are protected under the First Amendment. Learn more about CSU's Courageous Conversations series.