Green Light School

The College of William and Mary

Green light institutions are those colleges and universities whose policies nominally protect free speech. Read more here.

Public or Private: Public
Federal Circuit: Fourth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Taylor Reveley
The College of William and Mary
Office of the President
P.O. Box 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187
757-221-1693
taylor@wm.edu
Website: http://www.wm.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)

Green light: Student Handbook: Student Code of Conduct - Conduct Affecting Persons 12-13

Causing physical harm, threatening harm to any person, or behaving in a manner that a reasonable person would find alarming or intimidating. Negligent conduct that results in injury to others violates the Student Code.
View full policy (PDF, 753 KB).

Green light: Office of Equal Opportunity: Protections Against Discrimination 12-13

Regardless of whether or not it is motivated by discrimination, harassment violates William and Mary policy. The College defines harassment to include abusive conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive to threaten an individual or limit the ability of the individual to work, study or participate in College activities. Often, harassment takes the form of hostile words and actions that create an abusive living, learning or work environment.
[S]exual harassment may consist of unwelcome sexual advances, requests or behaviors toward an individual that interfere with the individual's activities at the College. ... # Sexual innuendo renders a classroom discussion so pervasively hostile that students reasonably and legitimately are unable to focus on the discussion. ... Residents of a dormitory repeat sexual taunts and repeatedly leer at members of the opposite sex, rendering the workplace dormitory hostile and intolerable.
View full policy (PDF, 731 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Green light: Acceptable Use Policy for Students 12-13

The following activities are prohibited: Transmitting unsolicited messages which constitute obscenity, harassment or threats ....
View full policy (PDF, 721 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Student Handbook: Rights and Responsibilities- Rights, Privileges and Immunities 12-13

Among the basic rights are freedom of expression and belief, freedom of association and peaceful assembly ....
The members of the College community, as individuals, shall enjoy all rights, privileges, and immunities guaranteed every citizen of the United States and the commonwealth of Virginia.
View full policy (PDF, 688 KB).

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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.