(March 29, 2018) -- As campuses across the nation become venues for intense and partisan debate, universities are forming teams to protect students from being targeted for their beliefs or backgrounds while supporting the freedoms of speech, expression and assembly. The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) joined this growing national action in November with the creation of a Campus Climate Team. The team actively addresses bias incidents and their impact on the university community. More than 230 such teams exist at universities around the country.
Bias incidents are events that involve or may involve the targeting of an individual or group based on their protected characteristic(s) such as race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age or religion, or their political views and affiliations.
Although UTSA condemns hate speech, it recognizes that most forms of offensive speech are protected by the First Amendment. Despite these protections, UTSA has zero tolerance for harassment. An individual may not be coerced, intimidated or badgered into viewing, listening to or accepting any communication.
The UTSA Campus Climate Team monitors, reports and assesses response to incidents that occur on campus in violation of the university’s freedom of expression policies. While registered student organizations are permitted to distribute literature expressing various opinions, non-affiliated individuals or organizations are not allowed to place materials on campus.
In recent months, outside groups have come onto UTSA campuses and posted unauthorized stickers, flyers and banners. Last week, the Campus Climate Team identified and removed unauthorized flyers placed on campus by representatives of the Horowitz Freedom Center. Action by the team, in coordination with the UTSA Police Department’s review of camera footage, identified a non-affiliated person responsible for posting the flyers. A criminal trespass warning was subsequently issued and violation of the warning could lead to arrest.
“Our first priority is the safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors,” said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. “While the university recognizes the importance of the freedoms of speech, expression and assembly, it does not tolerate speech that violates freedom of expression policies, attempts to incite illegal action or puts individuals at physical risk.”
Members of the UTSA Campus Climate Team, appointed by Eighmy, include:
As a limited public forum, UTSA students, faculty and staff may peaceably assemble on the university’s three campuses, provided they do not disrupt the university’s educational mission or its ongoing programs or operations. Permitted activities include petitioning, displaying signs, distributing literature, setting up tables and exhibits and/or peacefully demonstrating.
Registered student, faculty and staff organizations, and academic and administrative units, may also invite guest speakers to campus, provided they schedule the guest speaker with the university’s Events Management and Conference Services office. This process includes the reservation of space when a venue is needed.
The UTSA Campus Climate Team will actively notify the campus community of situations that have the potential to pose a concern to campus safety while keeping in mind that outside groups often have a goal of gaining publicity by posting unauthorized materials on a university campus. A public-facing website, where all on-campus incidents are recorded, is being developed to give the university community a single comprehensive source for accurate information. It will include an online form for reporting concerns to the Campus Climate Team, enhancing UTSA’s ability to systematically identify and respond to campus incidents.
The UTSA Campus Climate Team is also coordinating with other campus and student organizations to host forums related to freedom of expression, the exchange of diverse ideas and opinions, and peaceful assembly.
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This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.