Red Light School

Rice University

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: Fifth Circuit
Head of Institution: President David W Leebron
Rice University
440 Allen Center, MS-1
6100 Main Street
Houston, TX 77005
713-348-5050
pres@rice.edu
Website: http://www.rice.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)

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Sexual Harassment 12-13

Unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors, and other unwelcome verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when: ... Such conduct is reasonably regarded as offensive and has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with the educational or work opportunities of students, staff, faculty or colleagues, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational or working environment. If it takes place in the teaching context, it must also be persistent, pervasive, and not germane to the subject matter.
Examples of the kinds of conduct that may constitute sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:
...
1. Unwelcome sexual propositions, invitations, solicitations, and flirtations. ... 3. Unwelcome verbal or written expressions of a sexual nature, including graphic sexual commentaries about a person's body, dress, appearance, or sexual activities; the unwelcome use of sexually degrading language, jokes or innuendoes; unwelcome suggestive or insulting sounds or whistles; obscene phone calls.
4. Sexually suggestive objects, pictures, videotapes, audio recordings or literature, placed in the work or study area, that may offend individuals. Such material if used in an educational setting should be related to educational purposes.
View full policy (PDF, 163 KB).

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Code of Student Conduct- Proscribed Conduct 12-13

Intentionally inflicting or attempting to inflict mental or bodily harm on any person, including the charged student; taking any reckless action, or showing reckless disregard, from which mental or bodily harm could result to any person, including the charged student. This includes, but is not limited to, actual or attempted behavior that includes physical abuse of all types, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, sexual harassment... and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the physical or mental health or safety of any person.
View full policy (PDF, 437 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Code of Student Conduct- Proscribed Conduct 12-13

[U]se of computational facilities to send obscene, abusive, harassing or threatening messages or to engage in stalking behavior or to repeatedly send unwanted email to individuals.
View full policy (PDF, 437 KB).

Red light: Vice Provost for Information Technology: Appropriate Use of Computer Resources 12-13

[U]nauthorized use includes, but is not limited to the following types of activities.

Harassment or threats to specific individuals, or a class of individuals:

* Transmitting unsolicited information that contains obscene, indecent, lewd or lascivious material or other material which explicitly or implicitly refers to sexual conduct.
* Using e-mail or newsgroups to threaten or stalk someone.
* Transmitting unsolicited information that contains profane language or panders to bigotry, sexism, or other forms of prohibited discrimination.
View full policy (PDF, 449 KB).

Other Speech Codes

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Using University Facilities 12-13

Outdoor events initiated by all other student organizations require the approval of the Office of Student Activities. After the required paperwork has been completed, Student Activities will forward details of the event to the office of the Vice President for Administration, which will in turn brief representatives of various campus constituencies on the event. ... request for the use of a University facility will be approved provided that: (a) the facility requested is available, adequate and appropriate for the proposed use at the time requested; (b) the proposed use excludes fund solicitation or commercial solicitation other than the sale of official University items unless otherwise approved; (c) the campus organization making the request is able to meet the financial obligations to be incurred by the proposed use; (d) the proposed use will not constitute any danger to the peace and security of the University, its members or participants in the use; (e) the proposed use does not violate any federal, state or local law.
View full policy (PDF, 191 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Student Handbook: Privileges and Responsibilities 12-13

Members of the Rice community are entitled to the following privileges: ... Freedom of speech and action
Rice students may express their beliefs, feelings and opinions so long as the manner of expression does not violate another community member's rights.
View full policy (PDF, 124 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.