Red Light School

Mount Holyoke 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 Lynn Pasquerella
Mount Holyoke College
Office of the President
50 College Street
South Hadley, MA 01075
413-538-2500
Website: http://www.mtholyoke.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)

Red light: Office of Residential Life Policies and Procedures: Bias-Related Incidents 11-12

Harassment based on race, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender/gender expression, religion, age, or disability is not tolerated in the residence halls. Such behavior includes unwelcome slurs, jokes, graphic or written materials, and all other verbal or physical actions related to an individual's personal background or attributes.
View full policy (PDF, 225 KB).

Green light: Student Handbook: Community Responsibility- Sexual Harassment Policy 11-12

Sexual harassment of students includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: ... such advances, requests or conduct have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's education by creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating or sexually offensive academic or educational environment.
View full policy (PDF, 243 KB).

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

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Community Responsibility 11-12

Our community is committed to maintaining an environment in which diversity is not only
tolerated but celebrated. Therefore, each member of the Mount Holyoke community is expected
to treat all individuals with a common standard of decency.
[I]t is the
community’s responsibility to protect individual rights, and it is the responsibility of every
member of this community to respect the rights, opinions, beliefs, and feelings of others.
View full policy (PDF, 371 KB).

Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience (Learn More)

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Honor Code 11-12

I will honor myself, my fellow students, and Mount Holyoke College by acting responsibly, honestly, and respectfully in both my words and deeds.
View full policy (PDF, 116 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

Red light: Bias Incidents 11-12

The range of outcomes depends on the outcomes of the investigation into the case and which courses of action the target chooses to pursue (i.e. none, informal grievance, formal grievance, Council on Student Affairs, Student Disciplinary Process through the Dean of Students Office, legal remedies). Outcomes may include, but are not limited to: a letter of reprimand, mandatory educational project, social probation, suspension, required withdrawal, and inconclusive findings.
Hostile or hateful speech or other discriminatory behavior may be considered a bias incident, but under certain conditions may also be a hate crime.
A bias incident at Mount Holyoke is an act of bigotry, harassment, or intimidation that occurs on the Mount Holyoke College campus that is directed at a member or group of the Mount Holyoke community because of that individual's or group's actual or perceived age, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity/presentation, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, social class, veteran status, or any combination of these or related factors.
View full policy (PDF, 174 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Student Handbook: Facebook 11-12

Mount Holyoke College is a private not for profit entity, it is not
required to observe the First Amendment on free speech. As a research institution it
prizes free inquiry, and free speech. Thus, for Mount Holyoke College, free speech is a
part of our values as an important center for research, teaching and outreach
internationally.
View full policy (PDF, 306 KB).

Green light policy: Student Handbook: Community Responsibility- The Mt. Holyoke Community 11-12

Mount Holyoke College believes in the right, indeed the necessity, of free inquiry and free expression for every member of the College community.
View full policy (PDF, 371 KB).

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