Red Light School

Georgia Institute of Technology

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

Public or Private: Public
Federal Circuit: Eleventh Circuit
Head of Institution: President G.P. "Bud" Peterson
Georgia Institute of Technology
Carnegie Building
225 North Avenue NW
Atlanta, GA 30332
404-894-2000
bud.peterson@gatech.edu
Website: http://www.gatech.edu

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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)

Red light: Policy on Student Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Harassment, Stalking, and Intimate Partner Violence 12-13

Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment. Unwelcome sexual conduct that is sufficiently severe or pervasive that it alters the conditions of education or employment and creates an environment that a reasonable person would find intimidating, hostile, or offensive. The determination of whether an environment is "hostile" must be based on all of the circumstances. These circumstances could include the frequency of the conduct, its severity, and whether it is threatening or humiliating. Simple teasing, off hand comments and isolated incidents (unless extremely serious) will not amount to hostile environment harassment.
Examples of verbal sexual harassment include but are not limited to the following unwelcome actions: ... Asking about someone else’s personal social or sexual life or about their sexual fantasies, preferences, or history. ... Suggestive comments and sexually explicit jokes, or turning discussions at work or in academic or living settings to sexual topics. ... Sexually offensive or degrading language used to describe an individual or remarks of a sexual nature to describe a person’s body or clothing may constitute sexual harassment if the person being so described is offended by such terms or if others hearing the references are offended.
View full policy (PDF, 364 KB).

Green light: Student Code of Conduct: Prohibited Non-Academic Conduct 12-13

Harassing another person including, but not limited to:
a. Placing another person in reasonable fear of his/her personal safety through words or actions directed at that person,
or substantially interfering with the working, learning, or living environment of the person.
View full policy (PDF, 1401 KB).

Red light: Student Code of Conduct: Prohibited Non-Academic Conduct 12-13

Harassing another person including, but not limited to: ... b. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other written, verbal or
physical conduct of a sexual nature.
View full policy (PDF, 1401 KB).

Yellow light: Residence Life Community Guide: Harm to Persons and Harassment 12-13

Violations include:
...
Verbally abusing another person involving
an expressed or implied threat to interfere
with an individual's personal safety,
academic efforts, or participation in Institute
activities and/or causes the person to have a
reasonable apprehension that harm is about
to occur.
View full policy (PDF, 128 KB).

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

Yellow light: Residence Life Community Guide: Commitment to Diversity 12-13

The following are Acts of Intolerance and are
considered unacceptable: ... C. Posting, painting, engraving or otherwise
displaying any sign, slogan or symbol on
State property. Official announcements or
other informational material distributed by
Georgia Tech are excluded.
D. Public displays of cross burning, swastikas,
or other hate-based conduct on personal or
State property.
E. Sexual harassment and/or sexual assault of
an individual, as defined in the GT Student
Handbook.
View full policy (PDF, 130 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: Computer & Network Usage and Security Policy 12-13

In general, use of Georgia Tech IT resources should not be used to transmit personal or commercial advertisements, solicitations, promotions, or political messages.
Use of Georgia Tech IT resources to send,
view, or download inappropriate material is
prohibited. ... Inappropriate material includes fraudulent, harassing, obscene, threatening, or other messages or material that are in violation of applicable law or Institute policy ....
View full policy (PDF, 601 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

Red light: Catalog: Human Relations Statement 12-13

The Institute is committed to maintaining academic and working environments free of objectionable conduct and communication that would be construed as sexual harassment. The determination of what constitutes sexual harassment will vary with particular circumstances, but it can be described as unwanted sexual behavior, such as physical contact or verbal comments that adversely affect the environment of an individual.
Each member of our community must be committed to the creation of a harmonious climate because one cannot be neutral to this challenge. Those who are committed to it strengthen Georgia Tech and themselves. Individuals who choose not to commit to the challenge, via acts of intolerance, jeopardize their continued affiliation with the Institute. Those acts may be defined as attempts to injure, harm, malign, or harass a person because of race, religious belief, color, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or gender.
View full policy (PDF, 54 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Policy on Freedom of Expression 12-13

Students, faculty, staff, and Institute affiliates are supported in their right to assemble. They can publicly assemble on campus in any place where, at the time of the assembly, the persons assembling are permitted to be.
Georgia Tech holds the first amendment guarantees of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and the right to assemble peaceably as an essential cornerstone to the advancement of knowledge and the right of a free people.
View full policy (PDF, 199 KB).

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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in February 2013. 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.