Red Light School

Cornell 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: Second Circuit
Head of Institution: President David J Skorton
Cornell University
Office of the President
300 Day Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
607-255-5201
president@cornell.edu
Website: http://www.cornell.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: Campus Code of Conduct: Regulations for the Maintenance of the Educational Environment 12-13

To intentionally harass another person by ... by acting toward that person in a manner that is by objective measure threatening, abusive, or severely annoying and that is beyond the scope of free speech.
View full policy (PDF, 1979 KB).

Yellow light: Prohibited Discrimination, Protected Status (Including Sexual) Harassment and Bias Activity 12-13

Examples of sexual harassment may include, but are not limited to, the following
types of behavior: ... Using sexually explicit language or writing, lewd pictures or notes, and other
forms of sexually offensive conduct.
Sexual Harassment: ... Unwelcome sexual behavior toward another employee or student that is (1) persistent, pervasive, or severe, and (2) has the purpose or effect of interfering with the work or educational environment in a way that a reasonable person would find hostile or offensive.
View full policy (PDF, 4367 KB).

Red light: Prohibited Discrimination, Protected Status (Including Sexual) Harassment and Bias Activity 12-13

Harassment may take many forms and includes, but is not limited to, the following
conduct when it is direct and based upon a person's EEO-protected class status: ... Making bias-motivated jokes or statements.
Protected Status Harassment: ... Legal term describing when an individual is targeted with verbal,
written, visual, or physical conduct based on that person's EEO-
protected class status that unreasonably interferes with the
individual's work or academic performance, or creates an intimidating,
hostile, or offensive working or learning environment.
View full policy (PDF, 4367 KB).

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

Yellow light: House Rules 12-13

Any behavior that disturbs
another member(s) of the community can result in judicial action.
Behavior in common areas should conform to the standards of the community as a whole. Loud,
offensive, or lewd behavior or language directed at anyone (including staff) is not acceptable.
Residents should exercise good judgment and demonstrate consideration of others when using
common areas.
View full policy (PDF, 110 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Green light: Responsible Use of Electronic Communications 12-13

Federal, state, and local laws apply to the Internet and "cyberspace" just as they do to
physical space. Using the university’s IT resources in a way that violates the law
constitutes a violation of university policy.
View full policy (PDF, 1956 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

Yellow light: Prohibited Discrimination, Protected Status (Including Sexual) Harassment and Bias Activity 12-13

Bias Incident: Act of bigotry, harassment, or intimidation by unknown perpetrator(s)
that occurs on the Cornell campus or within an area that impacts the
Cornell community, and that one reasonably could conclude targets a
member or group of the Cornell community because of that
individual's or group's actual or perceived age, color, creed, disability,
ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status,
national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or
any combination of these factors.
View full policy (PDF, 4367 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Campus Code of Conduct: Responsible Speech and Expression 12-13

Because it is a special kind of community, whose purpose is the discovery of truth through the practice of free inquiry, a university has an essential dependence on a commitment to the values of unintimidated speech. To curb speech on the grounds that an invited speaker is noxious, that a cause is evil, or that such ideas will offend some listeners is therefore inconsistent with a university's purpose. One may argue against inviting a speaker on the grounds that the speaker has nothing of importance to say. But once members of the university community extend an invitation, others may not disrupt the speech on the grounds that they find it stupid, immoral, or dangerous.
View full policy (PDF, 1979 KB).

Green light policy: Campus Code of Conduct: Regulations for the Maintenance of Public Order 12-13

It shall be a violation of this Title: ... to interfere with or attempt to interfere with the lawful exercise of freedom of speech, freedom of movement, freedom of peaceable assembly, or other right of an individual....
View full policy (PDF, 1979 KB).

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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in December 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.