Red Light School

Virginia Commonwealth 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: Public
Federal Circuit: Fourth Circuit
Head of Institution: Michael Rao
Virginia Commonwealth University
910 West Franklin St.
Box 842512
Richmond, VA 23284-2512
804-828-1200
president@vcu.edu
Website: http://www.vcu.edu/

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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: Student Sexual Misconduct Policy 12-13

Student sexual misconduct may include, but is not limited to: ... unwelcome sexual remarks about clothing, body, or sexual activities;
and humor and jokes about sex that denigrate women or men in general.
Student sexual misconduct is defined as unwelcome acts of a sexual nature committed by a student
against another student without consent including, sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and/or
other verbal or physical conduct, including written communications of an intimidating, hostile or
offensive nature, or action taken in retaliation for the reporting of such behavior.
View full policy (PDF, 297 KB).

Green light: Virginia Commonwealth University Rules & Procedures: Rights and Prohibited Conduct 12-13

[N]o person, either singly or in
concert with others, shall willfully: ... Harass or intimidate any person.
View full policy (PDF, 934 KB).

Yellow light: Office for Institutional Equity: Sexual Harassment Policy- Definition and Guidelines 12-13

Verbal sexual harassment may include, but is not limited to: (1) sexual innuendo, comments and sexual remarks about clothing, body, or sexual activities; (2) humor and jokes about sex that denigrate women or men in general; (3) sexual propositions, invitations, or other pressure for sex; (4) implied or overt threats of a sexual nature; and, (5) making gestures of a sexual nature.
Other types of sexual harassment may include displaying sexually suggestive photographs or literature in the workplace or academic environment and making degrading insults about men or women in general.
Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome acts of a sexual nature including sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and/or other verbal or physical conduct, including written communications, of an intimidating, hostile or offensive nature, or action taken in retaliation for the reporting of such behavior, when: ... Such conduct has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or educational environment or substantially interferes with an employee's work performance or a student's academic performance.
View full policy (PDF, 97 KB).

Yellow light: Residence Hall Policies: Harassment, Intimidation, Threats or Use of Force 12-13

Residential Life & Housing prohibits any person,
either singly or in concert with others, from willfully
causing injury to another, willfully threatening the
well-being of another, verbally abusing others and/or
intimidating others (including university officials and
student staff acting in accordance with their duties)
regardless of who initiates these actions. This includes
all threats in person, nuisance and/or prank calls, via
white boards, via third party, via telephone, letters, emails, instant messages, text, Twitter, Facebook,
tumblr, Instagram or any other means.
View full policy (PDF, 859 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Yellow light: Demonstrations on the Campuses of VCU 12-13

Inconvenience -- There is some inconvenience caused
to normal university operations and classes as a result
of the presence of the demonstration on the campus;
however, operations and classes are able to continue.
If the demonstration causes inconvenience,
the demonstration leader will be informed by
the Assigned University Official that the VCU
Police will be called to end the demonstration
if the behavior causing the inconvenience
does not cease.
View full policy (PDF, 229 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: Computer and Network Resources Use Policy 12-13

Actions that harass, threaten, or otherwise cause harm to individuals are prohibited.
View full policy (PDF, 132 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Virginia Commonwealth University Rules & Procedures: Rights and Prohibited Conduct 12-13

Free inquiry and free expression are indispensable to the objectives of an institution of higher
education.
View full policy (PDF, 934 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 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.