Red Light School

Bucknell 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: Third Circuit
Head of Institution: President John C Bravman
Bucknell University
219 Marts Hall
Lewisburg, PA 17837
570-577-1511
president@bucknell.edu
Website: http://www.bucknell.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: Sexual Harassment 12-13

Sexual harassment, whether between people of different sexes or the same sex, includes
unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: ... such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or
academic performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or educational
environment and has no legitimate relationship to the subject matter of a course or academic
research.
View full policy (PDF, 497 KB).

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Bias-Related Harassment 12-13

When a student, professor or staff member is actively subjected to others’
stereotypes or generalizations about an inherent trait that he or she has -- a
disabling condition, for example -- the climate is no longer "receptive, welcoming
and supportive." And the atmosphere of danger and fear that can result may
interfere with his or her ability to learn or work. That is, harassment may occur.
Bucknell University prohibits and makes subject to sanction bias-related
harassment, which it defines as follows: Physical or verbal conduct by a person or
group targeted at an individual’s or group’s race, color, gender, sexual orientation,
gender identity, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, or disability, which conduct,
in the view of a reasonable person, has the purpose or effect of creating a
significantly intimidating or hostile educational, work, or living environment,
significantly interfering with an individual’s educational or work performance.
View full policy (PDF, 583 KB).

Red light: Student Handbook: Student Code of Conduct- Harassment 12-13

HARASSMENT. Deliberately annoying, alarming, or threatening another person;
following a person in or about a public place or places; or subjecting an individual to
one or more unwanted and abusive phone calls, computer contacts, written
messages, or verbal communications. A charge of harassment can be based on the
quality of the incident(s), on the quantity, or on both; use of an external website that
permits the posting of a disparaging message(s) with/without identification of the sender.
View full policy (PDF, 623 KB).

Yellow light: Dean of Students Publications: Guide About Sexual Harassment 12-13

Some examples of inappropriate behaviors that may be in violation of Bucknell's sexual harassment policy include:

*

disparaging or condescending remarks about a person's gender or sexual orientation
*

verbal abuse including sexist jokes and inappropriate remarks about one's body or clothing
*

sexual innuendoes made at inappropriate times
*

obscene gestures
*

offensive sexual graffiti
*

subtle pressure for unwanted sexual activity
*

requests and demands for sexual favors
*

physical aggression or contact of a lewd type, including unnecessary brushes, touches, hugging, or kissing.
View full policy (PDF, 154 KB).

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Student Code of Conduct- Physical and/or Psychological Assault of Self and/or Others 12-13

Conduct which threatens or endangers the health, safety or well being of self, other
individuals or a group of people on or off campus including but not limited to
Bucknell sponsored events, study abroad programs, community events, etc. This 76
includes anything that could be harmful, physically or psychologically to self,
members of the Bucknell community or the community at large.
View full policy (PDF, 623 KB).

Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility (Learn More)

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Student Code of Conduct- Freedom of Speech 12-13

Freedom of speech here is understood not to be absolute: it must be integrated with
other protections provided for the community in the Code of Conduct (such as the right to
be free from harassment) and it must concord with the principles embodied in the Pledge
of Student Responsibility. For example, the individual who directs epithets or threats at
another cannot claim immunity under a perceived right of absolute free speech.
View full policy (PDF, 623 KB).

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

DISORDERLY CONDUCT. Conduct on University-owned or University-controlled property
or at University-sponsored or University-supervised event, or off campus when the interests of
the University are involved that:
...
i. Uses obscene language or makes an obscene gesture at members of the community who are not in the process of performing their duties.
View full policy (PDF, 623 KB).

Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience (Learn More)

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Pledge of Student Responsibility 12-13

Upon entry to Bucknell, students promise to observe the following points which are contained in the Pledge of Student Responsibility.
...
* As a member of the social community, I will respect individual differences and the rights of all others. I understand that bias on the basis of gender, handicapped status, national origin, race, religious belief, or sexual orientation, whether expressed in word or action, is repugnant, and that Bucknell will not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or violence against any person for any reason.
View full policy (PDF, 416 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: Appropriate Use Policy 12-13

Do not use university resources (including, for example, e-mail, web pages, or newsgroups) to defame, harass, intimidate or threaten any other person(s), or to promote bigotry or discrimination.
Do not send unnecessarily repetitive messages (for example, chain mail.)
View full policy (PDF, 271 KB).

Other Speech Codes

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Sales and Promotions 12-13

Sales and promotions may be conducted on campus by recognized student organizations in order to: ... Promote goods, services, or causes if they do not violate other provisions of the Student Handbook.
Sales and promotions must be registered with and approved by the Events Management Office at least one week prior to the event.
View full policy (PDF, 455 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Student Handbook: Sexual Harassment 12-13

Because Bucknell as an academic community committed to both the elimination of sexual
harassment and the free and open exchange of ideas, this policy is intended to foster an
environment permitting full participation by all of its members, while not inhibiting the robust
and wide-open pursuit of ideas and freedom of speech.
View full policy (PDF, 497 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 January 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.