Southern supports the public expressions of personal values and opinions as long as those expressions do not promote a lifestyle that is contrary to the mission, vision, and values of this institution and the beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. However, in all communication, Southern has the expectation that employees work, individually and together, to create an atmosphere that is safe, valuing of one another, and open to diverse perspectives.
Employees are expected to show courtesy, civility, and respect for others. Comments that degrade or ridicule another, whether based on individual or cultural differences, are unacceptable. Any conduct involving actions, images, words or data that are indecent, abusive, demeaning, profane, or harassing, whether via clothing, telephone, cell phone, e-mail, audio, film, video, printed materials, web pages, or online social networks, is considered activity that violates the community standards of Southern’s campus (examples of such conduct include displaying the Confederate flag, wearing clothing with profane language, making a social media post that denigrates a racial or ethnic group, or promoting sexual immorality).
Other conduct that is a violation of this policy includes voyeuristic activities, such as the unauthorized use of cell phones, laptops, other portable devises, and drones to film others secretly; sexual exploitation; public nudity; and indecent exposure (these latter activities may also be violations of Southern’s Title IX policy).
Because this list is not exhaustive, Southern uses its mission, vision, and values as guidelines to determine whether a group or an individual’s expression is appropriate.
Occasionally, a class may present content that contains material contrary to Southern’s community values. These episodes are rare and done so only after judicious discussion between professors and their school’s or department’s administration about the content’s value to the academic goals of the class and Southern’s policies.
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