Albertson College of Idaho: Speech Code Repeal
Albertson College of Idaho was FIRE's Speech Code of the Month for July, 2005. The university's harassment policy prohibited comments that "fail to respect dignity and feelings," and stated that students could be punished for undefined behaviors that the school considered "inconsistent with the standards and expectations." After FIRE brought attention to the school's policy it was changed, resulting in a victory for free speech on campus.
- "Albertson College of Idaho’s 2004-2005 Standards of Conduct," June 15, 2005
- "Albertson College of Idaho’s 2004-2005 Harassment Policy," June 15, 2005
Case Materials
- "‘Speech Code of the Month’ in ‘The FIRE Quarterly’," by Emily Guidry, May 25, 2007
- "New Speech Code of the Month Website Feature," by Samantha Harris, April 13, 2007
- "Speech Code of the Month: Albertson College of Idaho," by Samantha Harris, July 5, 2005: The Albertson College Student Handbook’s harassment policy states that “[a]ny comments or conduct relating to a person’s race, gender, religion, disability, age or ethnic background that fail to respect the dignity and feelings of the individual are unacceptable.” The Handbook also provides that “[a]ll inappropriate behaviors may not be specifically covered in the misconduct definitions, and students will be held accountable for behaviors considered inconsistent with the standards and expectations described in this handbook.” These provisions are wholly inconsistent with freedom.
