Case Western Reserve University
A red light university has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech. 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: Standards of Conduct 12-13
Any actual or threatened physical harm or mental abuse of any person on University premises or at functions sponsored or supervised by the University.
View full policy (PDF, 63 KB).
Sexual Conduct at Case: Sexual Harassment on Campus 12-13
Harassment in general is a kind of bullying. It runs the gamut from annoying to abusive and it is intended to threaten or to endanger the safety and security of another person, or group of people. Harassment can cause physical, emotional, and financial harm. Harassing behavior includes, but is not limited to "prank" phone calls and emails, insulting language, and intimidating behavior.
View full policy (PDF, 129 KB).
Sexual Conduct at Case: Sexual Harassment on Campus 12-13
Sexual Harassment is bullying with a sexual edge, intimidation rooted in gender hostility. Sexual harassment is defined as any unwelcome sexual advance, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature directed at someone because of their gender or motivated by animus based on gender. Conduct that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a person's work or education or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment is harassment. By this definition, sexual harassment could include (but is not limited to) foul language and lewd remarks; offensive posters; unwelcome touching, hugging, and kissing; and obscene phone calls, e-mails, and text messages.
View full policy (PDF, 129 KB).
Sexual Conduct at Case: Sexual Harassment - Definition 12-13
Sexual harassment can be defined as any unwelcome sexual advance, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, or verbal or physical conduct directed at an individual because of his or her gender or motivated by animosity based on gender when: ... Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance or educational experience, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work and/or educational environment--that is, hostile environment.
View full policy (PDF, 275 KB).
Sexual Conduct at Case: Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures 12-13
Sexual Harassment can be defined as any unwelcome verbal or non-verbal sexual advance, requests for sexual favors, other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, and/or conduct directed at an individual(s) because of gender when: ... Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance or educational experience or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work and/or educational environment. Such conduct generally involves more than one incident and must be severe or pervasive.
Acts that constitute sexual harassment take a variety of forms and may include but are not limited to the following unwelcome actions: ... Verbal expressions of a sexual nature, including sexual communications about a person's body, dress, appearance or sexual activities; the use of sexually degrading language, name calling, sexually suggestive jokes, or innuendoes; suggestive or insulting gestures, sounds or whistles; sexually suggestive phone calls. ... Sexually suggestive objects or written materials, such as e-mail or internet communications, pictures, photographs, cartoons, text messages, videos, or DVDs. ... Stereotyping or generalizing about a group based on gender. These types of comments typically constitute sexual harassment when associated with other sexual behavior or comments.
View full policy (PDF, 188 KB).
Student Handbook: University Policies- Abuse 12-13
Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.
View full policy (PDF, 53 KB).
Student Handbook: University Policies- Harassment 12-13
Members of the University Community are expected
to respect the rights of others by refraining from any
inappropriate behaviors that may negatively impact a
student's experience. Harassment includes, but is not
limited to, the following:
1. Conduct which intimidates, threatens, or
endangers the health or safety of any person;
2. Behavior that intentionally or negligently causes
physical, financial, or emotional harm to any
person; and
3. Behavior that is construed as a nuisance,
including, but not limited to, prank phone calls or
abusing or harassing another user through
electronic means.
View full policy (PDF, 55 KB).
Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility (Learn More)
Student Handbook: Undergraduate Policies- Disorderly Conduct 12-13
University community members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not create disruptions or that does not involve unacceptable actions in regards to community, behavioral, and/or moral standards. Such conduct may include, but is not limited to the following: ... * Obnoxious and anti-social behavior; * Lewd, lascivious, and vulgar behavior ....
View full policy (PDF, 58 KB).
Posting Policies
Student Handbook: University Policies- Posting 12-13
Posting of any derogatory, obscene, or offensive message, either explicitly or implicitly, is strictly prohibited.
View full policy (PDF, 79 KB).
Other Speech Codes
Student Handbook: Campus and Resources: Facility Use 12-13
University facilities and services may not be used for political fund-raising or to advocate a partisan position, and requests for their use will not be granted for activities which may cause the university to appear to be taking a position with regard to a public issue or a candidate for public office. This restriction also applies to the use of campus mail services, university mailing lists and labels, duplicating and printing equipment, and telephones belonging to the university.
View full policy (PDF, 67 KB).
Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Case Western Reserve University Statement of Ethics 12-13
Universities seek to preserve, disseminate, and advance knowledge. At Case, as elsewhere, we recognize that to fulfill these purposes requires ... the right to hold and express opinions different from our own.
View full policy (PDF, 94 KB).
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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in October 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.
