The State University of New York at Brockport has the following speech code (emphasis added):
Also expressly prohibited by this policy is verbal or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of his/her race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, national origin or any other characteristic protected by law or that of his/her relatives, friends or associates and that:
1. Has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or learning environment. . . .
Examples of Inappropriate Behavior
in an Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Environment
* Derogatory comments about an individual’s membership in a protected group, for example, calling someone an “old bag.”
* Visual messages that are degrading to or reflect negatively upon protected groups, for example, cartoons that depict religious figures in compromising situations or displaying sexually suggestive pictures.
* Jokes that have the purpose or effect of stereotyping, demeaning or making fun of any protected group. An example might be jokes about persons with AIDS or an ethnic joke. . . .
* Sex-oriented and/or lewd verbal kidding, joking, remarks, questions or gestures.
* Discussing sexual activities.
* Comments and/or questions regarding an individual’s physical attributes.
* Accessing and/or displaying materials on or from the Internet that relate to or reflect negatively upon any protected group, for example, displaying sexually suggestive materials from the Internet on your computer screen.
Breathtaking. Fortunately, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education is suing to overturn this speech code. Should be an easy lawsuit to win, given how patently unconstitutional this policy is.
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