Red Light School

Marquette 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: Seventh Circuit
Head of Institution: President Rev. Scott R Pilarz
Marquette University
Office of the President
O'Hara Hall 101
Milwaukee, WI 53201
414-288-7223
Website: http://www.marquette.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)

Green light: Student Handbook: Harassment Policy 12-13

Harassment does not include verbal expressions or
written material that is relevant and appropriately related
to course subject matter or curriculum, and this policy
shall not abridge academic freedom.
Sexual harassment is defined, within the workplace for
employees and/or within the academic and/or residential
experience for students, as any unwelcome sexual
advances, demands, requests for sexual favors, innuendoes
or any other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual
nature when: ... Such conduct is sufficiently severe and pervasive so
as to alter the conditions of, or have the purpose or
effect of substantially interfering with, an individual's
work or academic performance by creating an intimidating,
hostile, or offensive working or educational
environment.
View full policy (PDF, 110 KB).

Red light: Student Handbook: Harassment Policy 12-13

Harassment is defined as verbal, written or physical conduct
directed at a person or a group based on color, race, national
origin, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation where the
offensive behavior is intimidating, hostile or demeaning, or
which could or does result in mental, emotional or physical
discomfort, embarrassment, ridicule or harm.
Harassment on the basis of sexual orientation is defined as
any verbal, written or physical conduct directed at a person or
a group based on sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation,
where the offensive behavior is intimidating, hostile or
demeaning or which could or does result in mental, emotional
or physical discomfort, embarrassment, ridicule or harm.
Racial harassment is defined as verbal, written or physical
conduct - either a single incident or a persistent pattern
of behavior - directed at a person or a group based on
one's color, race, national origin or ethnicity, where the
offensive behavior is intimidating, hostile or demeaning, or
which could or does result in mental, emotional or physical
discomfort, embarrassment ridicule or harm.
View full policy (PDF, 110 KB).

Posting Policies

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Residence Hall Policies - Solicitation 12-13

Posters and signs in student rooms and windows are permissible provided they are in good taste.
Solicitation is defined as any activity that seeks to entice or gain support from resident students at Marquette University. Therefore, this policy applies to a wide range of activities, all of which are prohibited unless specifically approved by Residence Life. These activities may include: advertising, selling, petitioning, campaigning for political candidates, distributing flyers in mail boxes, and surveying residence hall students by telephone, mail, or in person.
View full policy (PDF, 32 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Red light: Acceptable Use Policy 12-13

Users may not do the following: ... Engage in activities that harass, degrade, intimidate, demean, slander, defame, interfere with, or threaten others.
View full policy (PDF, 499 KB).

Other Speech Codes

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Policies and Procedures for the Distribution of Literature, the Sponsorship of Visiting Speakers and Public Performances, and the Screening of Films 12-13

Student organization requests for the distribution of literature, the sponsorship
of visiting speakers and public performers and the screening of films will be
considered in light of the educational purposes and the Catholic identity of
Marquette University. Specific attention, therefore, will be paid to the context
and purpose of the proposed material.
The university provides for the distribution of literature by student organizations. The following guidelines apply: ... Only literature deemed appropriate by the student organization and the university may be distributed.
View full policy (PDF, 75 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Student Handbook: Demonstrations Policy 12-13

It is clearly inevitable, and indeed essential, that the
spirit of inquiry and challenge that the university seeks to
encourage will produce many conflicts of ideas, opinions and
proposals for action.
View full policy (PDF, 30 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.