Yellow Light School

Indiana University South Bend

Yellow light colleges and universities are those institutions with at least one ambiguous policy that too easily encourages administrative abuse and arbitrary application. Read more here.

Public or Private: Public
Federal Circuit: Seventh Circuit
Head of Institution: Chancellor Una Mae Reck
Indiana University South Bend
Administration Building 250
1700 Mishawaka Ave.
P.O. Box 7111
South Bend, IN 46634
574-237-4220
maereck@iusb.edu
Website: http://www.iusb.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)

Yellow light: Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct: Personal Misconduct- On Campus 12-13

Verbal abuse of another person, including the following:

An express or implied threat to:

Interfere with an individual's personal safety, academic efforts, employment, or participation in university sponsored activities; or

Injure that person or damage his or her property; and under the circumstances causes the person to have a reasonable apprehension that such harm is about to occur; or

"Fighting words" that are spoken face-to-face as a personal insult to the listener or listeners in personally abusive language inherently likely to provoke a violent reaction by the listener or listeners to the speaker.
View full policy (PDF, 177 KB).

Green light: Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct: Right to Freedom from Harassment 12-13

Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, including requests for sexual favors and other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, when ... the conduct has the effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive learning environment.
Discriminatory harassment is defined as conduct that targets an individual based upon age, color, religion, disability, race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or veteran’s status and that ... has the purpose or effect of unreasonably creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for academic pursuits, housing, or participation in university activities.
View full policy (PDF, 77 KB).

Yellow light: Affirmative Action Office: Understanding Sexual Harassment 12-13

Hostile environment harassment is a pattern of behaviors which is
sexual in nature and creates a workplace or academic climate that "unreasonably
interferes" with performance.
...
If you aren't sure if certain behavior creates a hostile work environment, ask yourself
whether a "reasonable person" would be offended. The "reasonable person" is the
standard used at Indiana University to determine hostile work environment.
Sexual harassment can be a one time occurrence (for example, sex for grades) or a
continuing pattern of behavior (for example, sexually explicit jokes). The context, severity,
and frequency of the behavior must be considered when determining sexual harassment.
Listed below are some of the behaviors which may be considered sexual harassment:

Verbal Harassment:
-suggestive or insulting sounds
-sexist jokes or humor
-gender specific insults or comments
-unwanted sexual invitations, propositions, or pressure
Non-Verbal Harassment:
-leering, ogling, and obscene gestures
-circulating sexually explicit materials
-blocking someone's path
View full policy (PDF, 2607 KB).

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

Yellow light: Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct: Preamble 12-13

A student who accepts admission to Indiana University agrees to: ... behave in a manner that is respectful of the dignity of others, treating others with civility and understanding.
View full policy (PDF, 63 KB).

Posting Policies

Yellow light: Campus Posting Policy 12-13

Materials to be posted on campus must be submitted to the Student Life Office (SAC 130) to be
stamped for posting by Student Life personnel. Director of Student Life may withhold approval
for any poster in violation of this policy. Exceptions and variances to this policy may be
granted from the Director of Student Life.
View full policy (PDF, 143 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct: Freedom of Association, Expression, Advocacy and Publication 12-13

In accordance with the state and federal Constitution and university policy, the university recognizes the rights of all students to engage in discussion, to express thoughts and opinions, and to assemble, speak, write, publish or invite speakers on any subject without university interference or fear of university disciplinary action.
View full policy (PDF, 73 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 February 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.