Red Light School

Colorado 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: Tenth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Jill Tiefenthaler
Colorado College
Office of the President, Armstrong Hall
14 East Cache La Poudre
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
719-389-6748
president@coloradocollege.edu
Website: http://www.coloradocollege.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: Pathfinder: Anti-Discrimination Policy 12-13

Harassment is a special form of discrimination. It may be based on a person's race, color, national
origin, gender, sex, age, religion, disability, or sexual
orientation. It includes a wide range of abusive
and humiliating verbal or physical behaviors which
are directed against a particular person or persons.
In some cases, the conduct may be such that it is
clear that it is directed against a particular person
or persons, even though the person(s) may not be
explicitly identified. While the college considers all
discriminatory slurs and conduct to be reprehensible,
the creation of a hostile climate for the person(s)
against whom the behavior is directed requires more
than a casual comment or incidental behavior. The
conduct must be sufficiently severe or pervasive to
alter the conditions of the person's employment or
educational experience at the college.
View full policy (PDF, 398 KB).

Green light: Pathfinder: Sexual Harassment 12-13

Behavior that may constitute
sexual harassment under this policy includes
unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual
favors, and other unwelcome verbal or physical
conduct of a sexual nature where ... such
conduct has the effect or purpose of substantially
interfering with a student's work or academic
performance or of creating an intimidating, hostile or
demeaning employment or learning environment.
View full policy (PDF, 128 KB).

Red light: Pathfinder: Student Code of Conduct- Respect 12-13

The college forbids abusive behavior, understood as any act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student or group, or which destroys or removes public or private property, or which produces ridicule, embarrassment, harassment, intimidation or other such result. These behaviors are not conducive to maintaining a mutual learning environment. Angry outbursts or disagreements do not in themselves constitute abuse. While we hope spectators at athletic events will choose to convey enthusiasm and team support, demeaning, disrespectful or vulgar behavior may be found to be in violation of this policy.
View full policy (PDF, 437 KB).

Red light: Pathfinder: Student Code of Conduct- Respect 12-13

Sexual misconduct also includes unwelcome sexual conduct that does not include physical contact. Examples of this conduct include, but are not limited to: crude, obscene or sexually offensive gestures or unwelcome sexual comments.
View full policy (PDF, 437 KB).

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

Yellow light: Pathfinder: Protest and Dissent 12-13

Uncensored speech-- which does not include a right to harass, injure, or silence others--is essential in an academic community and will be vigorously defended. Members of the college community should understand that standards of civility, consideration, and tolerance must shape our interactions with each other.
View full policy (PDF, 128 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Yellow light: Pathfinder: Protest and Dissent 12-13

The scheduling of a speaker or event known or considered to provoke public controversy requires adequate advance notice -- usually four weeks.
View full policy (PDF, 128 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Green light: Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources 12-13

Computing resources may not be used to store, print, or send obscene materials or slanderous, harassing, or
threatening messages.
View full policy (PDF, 227 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Pathfinder: Rights and Responsibilities 12-13

Academic institutions exist for the transmission of knowledge, the quest for truth, the development of students, and the general well-being of society. In the pursuit of these ends, all members of the college community have such basic rights as freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, freedom of personal beliefs, and freedom from personal force and violence, threats of violence and personal abuse. The exercise of such rights is subject to the college-- obligation to maintain an atmosphere consistent with the purposes of academic freedom, social responsibility, and civil order.
View full policy (PDF, 76 KB).

Green light policy: Pathfinder: Anti-Discrimination Policy 12-13

While strongly condemning discrimination, Colorado
College also affirms the principle that an academic
environment is necessarily an arena in which
controversial points of view may be freely expressed.
Freedom of thought and expression is essential to any institution of higher education. Such institutions
exist not only to transmit existing knowledge but
also to expand that knowledge by testing the old
and proposing the new. This mission often inspires
vigorous debate on social, religious, economic, and
political issues that arouse the strongest passions.
On a campus that is free and open, no idea can be
banned or forbidden. No viewpoint or message may
be deemed so hateful that it may not be expressed. Nothing in this Anti-Discrimination Policy should be construed to interfere with the academic freedom of all persons at the college to express and debate diverse ideas. Persons who object to the expression of certain ideas should generally counter with refutation, not demands for sanctions or disciplinary action against the person who has expressed the controversial ideas.
View full policy (PDF, 398 KB).

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