Red Light School

California 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: Private
Federal Circuit: Ninth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Jean-Lou Chameau
California Institute of Technology
1200 East California Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91125
626-395-6811
chameau@caltech.edu
Website: http://www.caltech.edu

« Return to School Overview

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)

Red light: Institute Policy on Unlawful Harassment 12-13

Harassment is the creation of a hostile or intimidating environment in which verbal or physical conduct, because of its severity and/or persistence, is likely to interfere significantly with an individual's work or education, or affect adversely an individual's living conditions.
Some examples of incidents that may constitute illegal harassment follow: ... A student tells a racially offensive joke within a study group session with other students.
Abusive or harassing behavior, verbal or physical, which demeans, intimidates, threatens, or injures another because of his or her personal characteristics or beliefs, is subject to the Institute's disciplinary process.
View full policy (PDF, 542 KB).

Yellow light: Institute Policy on Unlawful Harassment: Sexual Harassment 12-13

Some examples of conduct that may constitute harassment are:
...
* Making sexual gestures, or displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons, posters, calendars or computer screens.
...
* Making or using derogatory comments, epithets, slurs, or jokes of a sexual nature.
* Verbal sexual advances or propositions.
...
* Verbal abuse of a sexual nature, graphic commentaries about an individual's body, sexually degrading words used to describe an individual, suggestive or obscene letters, notes, electronic mail messages, or invitations.
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:
...
Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's
performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.
View full policy (PDF, 542 KB).

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

Yellow light: Honor Code Handbook: Interpersonal Relations 12-13

An action
that places a demonstrably unreasonable emotional burden on another person invariably results
in taking unfair advantage of that person. Actions which harmfully degrade an individual or
group, promulgate damaging rumors, or place someone in a situation where he or she feels
threatened, harassed, or victimized may unfairly disadvantage members of the community.
View full policy (PDF, 49 KB).

Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience (Learn More)

Yellow light: Caltech Statement of Community 12-13

* We acknowledge that a multitude of perspectives is essential to all we do. As a community, we understand that civility and mutual respect for diversity of background, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, and marital and family status, are critical.
* We are dedicated to creating and sustaining an environment in which such diversity will flourish.

...

All who work, live, study, and teach at Caltech are here by choice; implicit is a respect for these principles which are an integral part of our mission.
View full policy (PDF, 190 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Red light: Institute Policy on Acceptable Use of Electronic Information Resources 12-13

Some examples of inappropriate use are:

sending a communication or using electronic information resources, including webpages, to discriminate against or illegally harass, defame, offend, or threaten individuals or organizations, or to engage in other illegal conduct or conduct that violates Institute policy.
View full policy (PDF, 2020 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 March 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.