Yellow Light School

Duke University

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: Private
Federal Circuit: Fourth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Richard H Brodhead
Duke University
207 Allen Building
Box 90001
Durham, NC 27708
919-684-2424
president@duke.edu
Website: http://www.duke.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)

Yellow light: Duke Community Standard in Practice: Harassment 12-13

Examples of conduct that may constitute harassment include:
* Continued unwelcome questioning about intimate or
personal matters outside the scope of work or learning
* Unwelcome touching or physical acts outside the scope of
work or learning
* Unwelcome comments or jokes of a sexual or explicit nature
* Unwelcome comments or conduct regarding an individual’s
race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age,
disability, etc.
* Sending e-mails that contain unwelcome, extreme or
persistent messages, images or language
* Persistently joking about an individual’s age, disability,
country of national origin, color, sexual orientation, religion,
gender identity, etc.
The first form of harassment is verbal or physical conduct--which may or may not be sexual
in nature--that, because of its severity and/or persistence, interferes significantly with an
individual's work or education, or adversely affects an individual's living conditions.
The conduct alleged to constitute harassment under this Policy shall be evaluated from the
perspective of a reasonable person similarly situated to the complainant and in
consideration of the context of the behavior.
View full policy (PDF, 264 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Green light: Duke Community Standard in Practice: Computing and Electronic Communications 12-13

In making acceptable use of resources you must not: ... Use mail or messaging services to harass or intimidate another person, for example, by broadcasting unsolicited messages, by repeatedly sending unwanted mail, or by using someone else's name or userid.
View full policy (PDF, 333 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

Yellow light: Bias Response 12-13

Bias incidents may take the form of, but are not limited to: ... * Graffiti or signs ... * Verbal harassment, slurs or threats ... * Written slurs or threats
A bias incident is an act or behavior motivated by the offender’s bias against the facets of another's identity. Bias occurs whether the act is intentional or unintentional. Bias may be directed toward an individual or group. Bias may contribute to creating an unsafe/unwelcoming environment.
View full policy (PDF, 201 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Duke Community Standard in Practice: Pickets, Protests, and Demonstrations 12-13

Duke University respects the right of all members of the academic community to
explore and to discuss questions which interest them, to express opinions publicly and privately, and to
join together to demonstrate their concern by orderly means. It is the policy of the university to protect
the right of voluntary assembly, to make its facilities available for peaceful assembly, to welcome guest
speakers, to protect the exercise of these rights from disruption or interference.
View full policy (PDF, 357 KB).

Green light policy: Duke Community Standard in Practice: Academic Freedom 12-13

Freedom of inquiry and the free exchange of ideas are essential for the fulfillment of the university's mission. Academic freedom is a right and responsibility of students as well as faculty.
View full policy (PDF, 297 KB).

NOTE: You must have Adobe Acrobat installed to view policies in PDF format.

The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in September 2012. 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.