Boston College
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: | First Circuit | |
| Head of Institution: | President William P Leahy Boston College 18 Old Colony Road Boltolph House Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 617-552-2128 william.leahy.1@bc.edu |
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| Website: | http://www.bc.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)
Policies and Procedures Manual: Discriminatory Harassment 12-13
harassment.
1. Conduct that, by reference to the sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship,
handicap, age, sexual orientation, or status as a Vietnam-era veteran of a member or members
of the University community, intentionally or recklessly abuses, mocks, or disparages a
person or persons so as to affect their educational performance or living or working
environment at Boston College.
2. Offensive sexual behavior whenever toleration of such conduct or submission to or rejection
of it is the basis for a personnel or academic decision affecting an individual; or such conduct
has the purpose or effect of creating a hostile or stressful living, learning, or working
environment.
Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility (Learn More)
Student Guide: Community Standards and Policies- Off-Campus Conduct 12-13
Free Speech Zones
Student Guide: Community Standards and Policies- Student Demonstrations 12-13
The following types of conduct will be treated as disruptive and unacceptable:
1. Physical or verbal abuse of any person on property owned or controlled by the University.
Posting Policies
Posting Policy 12-13
principles and values espoused by Boston College. In addition, the content of the postings must avoid demeaning or discriminatory
portrayals of individuals or groups, cannot be libelous, violate copyright law, or contain any material that is inconsistent with the
community standards of BC, including any references to alcohol, drugs, or sexual innuendos. We reserve the right to make decisions
regarding the approval of what is to be posted.
Internet Usage Policies
Student Guide: Community Standards and Policies- Technology Use 12-13
Policies and Procedures Manual: Use of University Technological and Information Resources 12-13
expectation that accessed material may be considered objectionable by some. Such material is to be
accessed in a private environment and in a manner that will not negatively affect those who may deem
it objectionable or offensive. Public workstations (i.e., those in open offices, laboratories, the libraries,
and other public places) are not to be used to access such material, hard copies are not to be directed to
public printers, and potentially offensive material is not to be forwarded to others without their
consent. The use of potentially offensive language in the text of network messages or to identify
technological resources is prohibited. The use of University technological resources for creating or
sending nuisance, harassing, or obscene materials or messages is also prohibited. Moreover, users of
network resources are prohibited from engaging in any activity that is proscribed by federal and/or
state law.
Communications from members of the University community are to reflect mutual respect, civility,
and other moral standards. The use of obscene or intolerant language, and the use of similarly
offensive graphic or video images, clearly violate these standards and are considered inappropriate for
electronic and all other forms of University discourse. The determination of what is obscene, offensive,
or intolerant is within the sole discretion of the University.
Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Student Guide: Community Standards and Policies- Bias-Motivated Offensive Conduct and Hate Crimes 12-13
Students found responsible for committing bias motivated offensive conduct or a hate crime face sanctions up to and including suspension or dismissal from the University as well as possible arrest and criminal action.
Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Student Guide: Community Standards and Policies- Student Demonstrations 12-13
Student Guide: Community Standards and Policies- Statement of Rights and Responsibilities 12-13
responsibilities to the institution and to its members. These include:
...
The obligation to refrain from interfering with the freedom of expression of others. This
would include such activities as newspaper thefts, attempting to shout down speakers,
and intentional jamming of computer networks.
These include:
...
The right to learn, which includes the right of access to ideas, the right of access to facts and opinions, the right to express ideas, and the right to discuss those ideas with others.
...
The right to express opinion, which includes the right to state agreement or disagreement with the opinions of others and the right to an appropriate forum for the expression of opinion.
The Bylaws of the Trustees of Boston College and the University Statutes: The University Objective 12-13
achieve:
...
2. freedom of inquiry as indispensable for attaining truth.
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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in September 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.
