Northwestern 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: | Seventh Circuit | |
| Head of Institution: | President Morton Schapiro Northwestern University Office of the President 633 Clark Street Evanston, IL 60208 847-491-8413 nu-president@northwestern.edu |
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| Website: | http://www.northwestern.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)
Student Handbook: Discrimination and Harassment 10-11
Jokes or epithets about a person's
protected status; Teasing or practical
jokes directed at a person based on his or
her protected status; ... Verbal
abuse or insults about, directed at, or made
in the presence of an individual or group
of individuals in a protected group.
or visual -- that is based on any of these
characteristics is a form of discrimination.
This includes harassing conduct affecting
tangible job benefits, interfering unreasonably with an individual's academic or work
performance, or creating what a reasonable
person would sense is an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.
Student Handbook: Sexual Harassment 10-11
...
* Unnecessary and unwelcome references to various parts of the body
* Belittling remarks about a person's gender or sexual orientation
* Inappropriate sexual innuendoes or humor
* Obscene gestures
* Offensive sexual graffiti, pictures, or posters
* e-mail and Internet use that violates this policy.
sexual favors, and other verbal or physical
conduct of a sexual nature constitute
harassment when ...
* Such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's academic or professional performance or creating what a reasonable person would sense as an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment, educational,
or living environment.
Student Handbook: Prohibited Conduct 10-11
action that threatens or endangers the emotional well-being, health, or safety of
any person (including oneself).
Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility (Learn More)
Student Handbook: Statement of Community Principles and Values 10-11
Student Handbook: Civility, Mutual Respect, and Unacceptability of Violence on Campus 10-11
member is expected to treat other
community members with civility and
respect, recognizing that disagreement
and informed debate are valued in an
academic community.
intimidating, threatening, or violent
behaviors that affect the ability to
learn, work, or live in the University environment depart from the standard
for civility and respect. These behaviors
have no place in the academic
community.
Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Student Handbook: Hate Crimes and Bias Incidents 10-11
(regardless of whether the act is criminal).
...
Sanctions will be imposed for students found to have committed bias incidents or hate crimes.
Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Student Handbook: Student Rights 10-11
and peaceably demonstrate;
4. Freedom to join organizations, to speak
freely, and to exercise the civil rights to
which any citizen of the United States
is entitled, as long as the student does
not claim to represent the institution.
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 May 2011. 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.
