Rutgers University - New Brunswick

Yellow light colleges and universities are those institutions with at least one ambiguous policy that too easily encourages administrative abuse and arbitrary application. Read more here.

Public or Private: Public
Federal Circuit: Third Circuit
Head of Institution: President Richard L McCormick
Rutgers University - New Brunswick
President's Office
83 Somerset Street
New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
732-932-4636
president@rutgers.edu
Website: http://www.rutgers.edu

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Do you have any information, updates, or changes regarding the policies at this institution? Let us know!

On this page, FIRE has excerpted policies that address speech and expression. You may download the full policy in .pdf form, below.

Restrictions on Expressive Rights

Harassment Policies (Learn More)

Undergraduate Catalog: Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment 11-12

Harassment is a form of discrimination that violates state and federal civil rights laws. It is defined for purposes of those laws and the university's policy as any behavior that:

1. is unwelcome,

2. targets a person because of one or more protected categories,

3. is engaged in by a person employed by or doing business with the university,

4. is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter negatively that person's employment conditions, educational environment, living environment, or participation in a university activity, and

5. creates an intimidating, offensive, or hostile environment for employment, education, or participation in a university activity.
View full policy (PDF, 103 KB).

Policy Against Verbal Assault, Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying, and Defamation 11-12

Any of the following acts, even if communicative in nature, are prohibited "separation offenses" (charges that could lead to suspension or expulsion from the university) under the provisions of the University Code of Student Conduct:
1. Use of force against the person or property of any member of the university community or against the person or property of anyone on university premises, or the threat of such physical abuse. (Verbal assault may be prosecuted as a "threat of...physical abuse.")

...

3. Bullying, intimidation, and harassment: a person acts with the purpose to bully, intimidate, and harass
another by:
* Making, or causing to be made, a communication or communications (including the use of
electronic and/or social media) anonymously or at extremely inconvenient hours, or in
offensively coarse language, or any other manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm; or
* Subjecting another to striking, kicking, shoving, or other offensive touching, or threatening to do
so; or
* Engaging in any other course of alarming conduct or of repeatedly committed acts with purpose
to alarm or seriously annoy such other person,
such that the behavior substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the institution or
the rights of other students to participate in or benefit from the educational program.
View full policy (PDF, 1554 KB).

Free Speech Zones

On-Campus Promotion Resources: Public Forums 11-12

Designated Free Speech Area Locations:

College Avenue Campus - A designated free speech area is located on the steps between the main entrance of Brower Commons Dining Hall and Stonier Hall on College Avenue. The space also extends back to the Records Hall courtyard.

Cook Campus - A designated free speech area is located in the middle of the Newell Apartments.

Livingston Campus - A designated free speech area is located on the patio of the Livingston Student Center.

Douglass Campus - A designated free speech area is the patio and grass area on the Nichol Avenue side of the Douglass Campus Center.
View full policy (PDF, 136 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Acceptable Use Policy for Computing and Information Technology Resources 11-12

Violations include but are not limited to: ... using electronic resources for deceiving, harassing or stalking other individuals.
View full policy (PDF, 1600 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

Office of Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities: Definitions- Multicultural Awareness and Bias 11-12

Bias is an act: verbal, written, physical, psychological that threatens, or harms a person or group on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, atypical heredity or cellular blood trait, military service or veteran status. Bias acts are often disruptive. However, such acts may not always be in violation of civil, criminal or University codes, and therefore will not result in discipline. Acts of bias may warrant discussion or education about how they affect other members of the University community.
View full policy (PDF, 80 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

University Code of Student Conduct: Preamble 11-12

A university in a free society must be devoted to the pursuit of truth and knowledge through reason and open communication among its members.
View full policy (PDF, 441 KB).

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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in July 2011. According to FIRE’s research the substantive policies are current at least until this date. Directory information, including the name of the president of the college or university, may have been updated more recently. If any policy has been revised, or if you believe that we are in error, please contact us.