Red Light School

Middlebury 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: Second Circuit
Head of Institution: President Ronald D Liebowitz
Middlebury College
Office of the President
Old Chapel
Middlebury, VT 05753
802-443-5400
liebowit@middlebury.edu
Website: http://www.middlebury.edu

« Return to School Overview

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)

Yellow light: Middlebury College Handbook: Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Policy 12-13

Harassment is defined as verbal or physical conduct which on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, place of birth, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, or disability has the purpose or effect, from the point of view of a reasonable person, of objectively and substantially:

i. undermining and detracting from or interfering with an individual's educational or work performance or access to College resources; or

ii. creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational, work, or living environment.
Harassment may include repeated slurs, or taunts in the guise of jokes, or disparaging references to others, use of epithets, stereotypes, comments, gestures, threats, graffiti, display, or circulation of written or visual materials, taunts on manner of speech, and negative reference to customs when such conduct is based on or motivated by one or more of the protected characteristics identified above, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.
View full policy (PDF, 648 KB).

Red light: Middlebury College Handbook: Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Policy 12-13

Examples of sexual harassment include, but are not limited to, the following: ... derogatory or provoking remarks about or relating to a student's or employee's sex or sexual orientation.
View full policy (PDF, 648 KB).

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

Red light: Middlebury College Handbook: General Conduct 12-13

Flagrant disrespect for persons, flouting of common standards of decency, behavior unbecoming of a Middlebury student, or continued behavior that demonstrates contempt for the generally accepted values of the intellectual community may result in disciplinary action.
View full policy (PDF, 63 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Yellow light: Middlebury College Handbook: Demonstrations and Protests 12-13

Anyone who wishes to stage a demonstration or protest at any event on College property should contact and arrange a meeting with Public Safety to discuss College policy, demonstration-specific regulations, and safety issues.
View full policy (PDF, 60 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: Middlebury College Handbook: Responsible Use of Computing and Network Facilities 12-13

All users of our computing and networking facilities bear the responsibility to avoid libel, obscenity, undocumented allegations, attacks on personal integrity, and harassment.
Abusive or threatening messages to others can be prosecuted as harassment.
View full policy (PDF, 84 KB).

Other Speech Codes

Yellow light: Middlebury College Handbook: Student Organization Policies- Freedom of Inquiry and Expression 12-13

Student organizations bear full responsibility for arranging and financing any Department of Public Safety provisions that may be necessary in connection with controversial speakers.
View full policy (PDF, 121 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Middlebury College Handbook: Community Standards and Student Life Policy Overview 12-13

The College recognizes that its students are citizens of larger communities -- local, state, and federal -- and should enjoy the same rights of petition and freedoms of speech and peaceful assembly that other citizens enjoy. Faculty and administrative officials should ensure that College authority is not used to inhibit that intellectual and personal growth of students, fostered by the exercise of the rights of citizenship, both on and off campus.
View full policy (PDF, 59 KB).

Green light policy: Middlebury College Handbook: Faculty Handbook - Rules of Appointment and Tenure for Academic Faculty 12-13

Institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good and not to further the interests of either the individual teacher or the institution as a whole. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition.
View full policy (PDF, 594 KB).

Green light policy: Middlebury College Handbook: Demonstrations and Protests 12-13

Students, student organizations, faculty, and staff at Middlebury College are free to examine and discuss all questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly and privately.
View full policy (PDF, 60 KB).

Green light policy: Middlebury College Handbook: Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Policy 12-13

Middlebury College is a community of learners and as such recognizes and affirms that free, honest intellectual inquiry, debate, and constructive dialogue are vital to the academic mission of the College and must be protected even when the views expressed are unpopular or controversial.
View full policy (PDF, 648 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 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.