Middlebury College

A red light university has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech. Read more here.

Public or Private: Private
Federal Circuit: Second Circuit
Head of Institution: President Ronald D Liebowitz
Middlebury College
Office of the President
Old Chapel
Middlebury, VT 05753
802-443-5400
liebowit@middlebury.edu
Website: http://www.middlebury.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)

Middlebury College Handbook: Anti-Harassment Policy 10-11

Harassment may include repeated slurs, or taunts in the guise of jokes, or disparaging references to others, use of epithets, stereotypes, comments, gestures, threats, graffiti, display, or circulation of written or visual materials, taunts on manner of speech, and negative reference to customs when such conduct is based on or motivated by one or more of the protected characteristics identified above, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.
Harassment is defined as verbal or physical conduct which on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, place of birth, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, or disability has the purpose or effect, from the point of view of a reasonable person, of objectively and substantially:

i. undermining and detracting from or interfering with an individual's educational or work performance or access to College resources; or

ii. creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational, work, or living environment.
View full policy (PDF, 125 KB).

Middlebury College Handbook: Anti-Harassment Policy 10-11

Examples of sexual harassment include, but are not limited to, the following: ... derogatory or provoking remarks about or relating to a student's or employee's sex or sexual orientation.
View full policy (PDF, 125 KB).

Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility (Learn More)

Middlebury College Handbook: Community Standards and General Policies 10-11

Flagrant disrespect for persons, flouting of common standards of decency, behavior unbecoming of a Middlebury student, or continued behavior that demonstrates contempt for the generally accepted values of the intellectual community may result in disciplinary action.
View full policy (PDF, 93 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Middlebury College Handbook: Responsible Use of Computing and Network Facilities 10-11

Abusive or threatening messages to others can be prosecuted as harassment.
All users of our computing and networking facilities bear the responsibility to avoid libel, obscenity, undocumented allegations, attacks on personal integrity, and harassment.
View full policy (PDF, 79 KB).

Other Speech Codes

Middlebury College Handbook: Student Organization Policies- Freedom of Inquiry and Expression 10-11

Student organizations bear full responsibility for arranging and financing any Department of Public Safety provisions that may be necessary in connection with controversial speakers.
View full policy (PDF, 83 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Middlebury College Handbook: Community Standards and General Policies 10-11

The College recognizes that its students are citizens of larger communities -- local, state, and federal -- and should enjoy the same rights of petition and freedoms of speech and peaceful assembly that other citizens enjoy. Faculty and administrative officials should ensure that College authority is not used to inhibit that intellectual and personal growth of students, fostered by the exercise of the rights of citizenship, both on and off campus.
View full policy (PDF, 93 KB).

Middlebury College Handbook: Faculty Handbook - Rules of Appointment and Tenure for Academic Faculty 10-11

Institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good and not to further the interests of either the individual teacher or the institution as a whole. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition.
View full policy (PDF, 191 KB).

Middlebury College Handbook: Demonstrations and Protests 10-11

Students, student organizations, faculty, and staff at Middlebury College are free to examine and discuss all questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly and privately.
View full policy (PDF, 54 KB).

Middlebury College Handbook: Anti-Harassment Policy 10-11

Middlebury College is a community of learners and as such recognizes and affirms that free, honest intellectual inquiry, debate, and constructive dialogue are vital to the academic mission of the College and must be protected even when the views expressed are unpopular or controversial.
View full policy (PDF, 125 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.