Red Light School

University of Northern Iowa

A red light university has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech. Read more here.

Public or Private: Public
Federal Circuit: Eighth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Benjamin Allen
University of Northern Iowa
20 Seerley Hall
1227 West 27th Street
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0705
319-273-2311
president@uni.edu
Website: http://www.uni.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: Student Handbook: Discrimination and Harassment Policy 12-13

Harassment occurs when unwelcome conduct based on an individual's membership in a protected group unreasonably interferes with the individual's work or academic environment.
View full policy (PDF, 227 KB).

Green light: Student Handbook: Discrimination and Harassment Policy 12-13

Sexual harassment occurs when an individual is subjected to unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors, or other unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: ... 3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working, academic, or social environment.
View full policy (PDF, 103 KB).

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Student Conduct Code 12-13

Violations of respect include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Physical or verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, stalking, coercion, and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person (this rule also applies to the use of electronic resources, such as online communities, email, web logs, etc).
View full policy (PDF, 540 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Red light: Student Handbook: Use of Computer Resources 12-13

The following are a sample, but not exhaustive list of behaviors with respect to the electronic environment which are expressly prohibited.
...
Sending anonymous, deceptive, fraudulent, or unwelcome electronic communications, such as chain letters.
View full policy (PDF, 57 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

Yellow light: Bias Response Team 12-13

The University will not seek to discipline or prosecute individuals for expression of views in a manner that is protected by their rights under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, but may challenge protected speech that conflicts with institutional values by speaking out against it, by providing educational opportunities, by supporting those negatively affected by such speech, or by other legal means.
A bias-related incident is any word or action directed toward an individual or group based upon actual or perceived identity characteristics or background of a group or person that is harmful or hurtful. Some bias-related incidents may be contrary to law or policy, while some may be speech protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.



Examples of identity characteristics or background include age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or other bases protected by federal or state law or university policy. A bias incident is an action taken by an individual or group that may involve, but is not limited to, verbal abuse, assault, damage to property, sending threatening mail or e-mail, writing racial slurs or graffiti, stalking, verbal harassment and other bias-motivated behavior that contributes to or enables an unsafe and hostile campus environment.
View full policy (PDF, 55 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Student Handbook: Statement of Student Rights 12-13

The basic purposes of the University of Northern Iowa are the enlargement, dissemination, and application of knowledge. A basic necessity for the achievement of these purposes is freedom of expression and communication.
The fact that a person is a student of this academic community may not in any way diminish that individual's full rights as a citizen nor alter his/her responsibility to comply with the statutes of the national and state governments and the ordinances of the city in which the student is located.
View full policy (PDF, 227 KB).

Green light policy: Policies and Procedures: Freedom of Expression 12-13

Providing a forum for the free expression of ideas is a cherished and time-honored feature of university life.
View full policy (PDF, 45 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 May 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.