Yellow Light School

George Mason University

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.

Public or Private: Public
Federal Circuit: Fourth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Angel Cabrera
George Mason University
4400 University Dr.
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-993-8700
president@gmu.edu
Website: http://www.gmu.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)

Yellow light: Code of Student Conduct: Acts of Misconduct 12-13

Any unwelcome sexual behavior and/or all forms of sexual misconduct including but not limited to: ... Conduct of a sexual nature that expressly or implicitly imposes conditions upon, threatens, interferes
with, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or demeaning environment for an individual’s participation in
any aspect of university life.
View full policy (PDF, 181 KB).

Yellow light: Code of Student Conduct: Acts of Misconduct 12-13

Communicating verbally either directly or indirectly through
another party, by telephone, regular or electronic mail, voice mail or any verbal, mechanical, electronic or written communication in a manner likely to cause causes injury, distress, or emotional or physical
discomfort is also prohibited ....
View full policy (PDF, 181 KB).

Green light: Residential Student Handbook: Harassment 12-13

OHRL will not tolerate a hostile environment created by conduct so severe, pervasive, and
objectively offensive that it effectively bars the victim’s access to educational opportunity or benefit.
View full policy (PDF, 147 KB).

Green light: University Policies: Sexual Harassment Policy 12-13

Sexual harassment is defined by law as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, physical, or other form of expressive communication of a sexual nature, when submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as a basis for employment or academic decisions, or such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or sexually offensive work or academic environment.
Examples of behavior that may be considered sexual harassment include, but are not limited to, the following:
... Repetitive sexual comments, questions, jokes, gestures or other forms of sexually explicit expression.
View full policy (PDF, 103 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Yellow light: Vending Sales and Solicitation Procedures 12-13

Commercial and Non-Commercial leafleting is only permitted in designated areas and requires a
leafleting permit, which can be acquired at Student Centers (JC, Room 324, Monday - Friday,
8:30am-5pm). A copy of any materials to be distributed must be tendered to Student Centers
during regular operating hours at least 24 hours prior to the leafleting activity and must bear the
name of the sponsoring organization or individual(s). All leafleting participants must carry a
copy of the permit on their person and be able to present the permit if requested by a University
official.
View full policy (PDF, 119 KB).

Posting Policies

Yellow light: University Policies: Poster Posting Policy 12-13

No information or advertising will be posted that is inconsistent with the educational mission of the University or that has not received prior authorization in accordance with this policy.
View full policy (PDF, 85 KB).

Yellow light: Residential Student Handbook: Posting Policies 12-13

Materials which meet the following criteria may be posted in the residence halls: ... The signage may not include content so severe and pervasive and objectionably offensive that it
effectively creates a hostile environment.
In order to ensure that materials meet the established criteria for posting, they must be submitted to
the Assistant Director of Residence Life in a particular neighborhood, or the Office of Housing and
Residence Life (703) 993-2720.
View full policy (PDF, 125 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Code of Student Conduct: Statement on Freedom of Expression 12-13

[A]ll members of the George Mason University community
enjoy the right to freedom of speech and expression.
View full policy (PDF, 107 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 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.