Skidmore College
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.
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)
Student Handbook: Equal Employment Opportunity, Diversity, and Anti-Harassment Policies and Procedures 12-13
Skidmore College affirms that its community members (faculty, staff, and students) have the right to be free from acts of harassment (based on the protected characteristics of an employee or student) that constitute unlawful, offensive, and hostile behavior. Such acts include (but are not limited to) sexual or racial harassment. In general, such harassment may consist of (but is not limited to) words, signs, jokes, pranks, acts of intimidation, or acts of physical violence that unreasonably interfere with an individual's work or educational pursuits, or that create a hostile, offensive, or intimidating work or educational pursuits or that create a hostile, offensive, or intimidating work or learning environment.
Harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local laws occurs when an individual or group of individuals is targeted with oral, written, visual, or physical insults based on that person's or group's protected status; and such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an employee's or student's work, professional or educational performance, productivity, physical security, living arrangements, extracurricular activities, academic or career opportunities, services or benefits--or of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or learning environment.
When both circumstances identified above are present, examples of conduct constituting harassment may include (but are not limited to) the following:
*Intimidation, hostility, or rudeness
*Oral or written threats, derogatory comments, name-calling, or slurs
*Display of derogatory posters, photographs, cartoons, drawings
*Offensive gestures
*Assault, unwanted touching, or blocking normal movement
The following examples of sexual harassment are intended to be instructive but not inclusive:
Verbal Harassment may take oral or written form and may include profanity, sexual jokes, whistling, teasing, threats, or repeated unwelcome requests for a date.
Nonverbal Harassment may include staring, blowing kisses, winking, or displaying sexually suggestive material in the work area, in the classroom, in lockers, or as screen savers on one's computer.
Physical Harassment may include touching, bumping, grabbing, cornering, or blocking passage. Whether the alleged conduct constitutes harassment will be determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account relevant factors such as the nature of the conduct and the context in which the alleged incidents occurred.
View full policy (PDF, 307 KB).
Student Handbook: Honor Code- Social Policies 12-13
Violations of the Skidmore Honor Code and Code of Conduct include, but are not limited to, the following: ... Any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers mental or physical health. ... Harassment, whether physical or verbal, oral or written, which is beyond the bounds of protected free speech, directed at a specific individual or groups of individuals, or easily construed as "fighting words" and likely to cause an immediate breach of the peace. ... Abusive or disruptive behavior, verbal or physical, directed toward any member of the College community.
View full policy (PDF, 217 KB).
Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Bias Response Group Website 12-13
Skidmore defines a bias incident as an act of bigotry, harassment, or intimidation involving a member of the Skidmore community that a reasonable person would conclude is directed at a member or group within the Skidmore community based on race, color, ethnicity, nationality, economic background, age, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, veteran status, or religious practice. A bias incident can occur whether the act is intentional or unintentional. Speech or expression that is consistent with the principles of academic freedom does not constitute a bias incident.
View full policy (PDF, 65 KB).
Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Student Handbook: Skidmore Students' Bill of Rights 12-13
As members of the Skidmore community, students enjoy freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, the press, and religion, and the right to petition, limited only by protection of property, safety, and mutual respect.
We, the students of Skidmore College, recognize that this academic institution exists for the pursuit of knowledge, truth, and individual development. Free inquiry and free speech are indispensable to the attainment of these goals.
View full policy (PDF, 143 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.
