Red Light School

Northern Kentucky 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: Public
Federal Circuit: Sixth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Geoffrey S Mearns
Northern Kentucky University
800 Lucas AC
Nunn Drive
Newport, KY 41099
859-572-5123
Website: http://www.nku.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 and Responsibilities: Sexual Misconduct 12-13

Examples include: an attempt to coerce an unwilling person into a sexual relationship; to repeatedly subject a person to egregious, unwelcome sexual attention; using language that creates a hostile environment for another person; to punish a refusal to comply with a sexual based request; to condition a benefit on submitting to sexual advances; sexual violence; intimate partner violence, stalking; gender-based bullying.
Sexual Harassment is

* unwelcome, gender-based verbal or physical conduct that is,

* sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it,

* has the effect of unreasonably interfering with, denying or limiting someone's ability to participate in or benefit from the university's educational program and/or activities, and is
* based on power differentials (quid pro quo), the creation of a hostile environment, or retaliation.
View full policy (PDF, 1494 KB).

Yellow light: Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities: Offenses Against Persons 12-13

Intentionally or recklessly causing physical or emotional harm to any person, including self, on
University property or at University-sponsored activities off campus, and includes intentionally or
recklessly causing reasonable apprehension of such harm.
View full policy (PDF, 1494 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Red light: Acceptable Use Policy 12-13

Users may NOT do the following: ... Engage in activities that harass, degrade, intimidate, demean, slander, defame, interfere with, or threaten others.
View full policy (PDF, 378 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Free Expression Policy 12-13

As an educational community, NKU adheres to the belief that the freedoms of speech, thought, conscience, inquiry, and assembly hold central positions among the principles defended by an institution of higher learning.
View full policy (PDF, 269 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 January 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.