College of the Holy Cross
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: | First Circuit | |
| Head of Institution: | President Philip Boroughs, S.J. College of the Holy Cross Fennwick 119 Worcester, MA 01610 508-793-2525 |
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| Website: | http://www.holycross.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: Code of Student Conduct- Emotional Abuse 12-13
through careless or reckless behavior. Emotional abuse also includes willful damage to the reputation or psychological
wellbeing of another. This covers all forms of communication including, but not limited to, written or electronic media.
Student Handbook: Harassment Policy 12-13
to protecting the community from any form of harassment that
serves to degrade the status of another human being. Most often,
harassment objectifies a personal attribute, singling it out for
ridicule, attack, or disparagement. Examples include, but are not
limited to: race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry,
sexual orientation, physical or mental handicap, veteran or other
protected status. It may include physical contact such as touching
or patting, written or verbal comments or suggestions, obscene
or offensive jokes or pictures, hostile or threatening gestures, or
other forms of degradation. Though harassment is often malicious
in intent, even thoughtless or unpremeditated behavior
can have the effect of harassment.
Student Handbook: Harassment Policy 12-13
or not, that is unwelcome and has the purpose or effect of creating a work environment that is hostile, offensive or
coercive to a reasonable woman or man, as the case may be. The following are examples of conduct that, depending on
the circumstances may constitute sexual harassment:
a) unwelcome and unwanted sexual jokes, language, epithets, advances or propositions;
b) written or oral abuse of a sexual nature, sexually degrading or vulgar words to describe an individual;
c) the display of sexually suggestive objects, pictures, posters, or cartoons;
d) unwelcome and unwanted comments about an individual's body, sexual prowess or sexual deficiencies;
e) asking questions about sexual conduct;
f) unwelcome touching, leering, whistling, brushing against the body, or suggestive insulting or obscene comments or gestures;
g) demanding sexual favors in exchange for favorable reviews, assignments, promotions, or continued employment, or
promises of the same.
favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: ... such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonable interfering with an individual's work performance or creating
an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment."
Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility (Learn More)
Student Handbook: Community Standards and Disciplinary Procedures for Students 12-13
Free Speech Zones
Student Handbook: Protest and Demonstration Guidelines 12-13
demonstrators.
Internet Usage Policies
Use of Information Technology Resources 12-13
are to reflect mutual respect and civility. Obscene or intolerant
language, as well as offensive images, clearly violate these
standards and are considered inappropriate for electronic and
all other forms of discourse among members of the College
community. The determination of what is obscene, offensive
or intolerant is within the sole discretion of the College.
following uses are also proscribed:
...
Viewing offensive or objectionable material at publicly
accessible stations; Posting offensive or objectionable material on the College
Web site.
Other Speech Codes
Student Handbook: Inclusive Language at Holy Cross 12-13
sex-inclusive language. Students are asked to speak and write
inclusively when preparing assignments, in classroom presentations,
in their contribution to campus publications, and as representatives
of the College at public events. For example, where
appropriate, generic use of the pronoun "he" should be replaced
with either "he or she" or an alternate sex-blind construction;
neutral terms such as chair should replace chairman; the use
of titles should be standardized. Any questions regarding the
inclusive language usage can be addressed to the Affirmative
Action Officer.
Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Student Handbook: Protest and Demonstration Guidelines 12-13
committed to an environment in which a variety of ideas can
be reasonably proposed and critically examined. The College
recognizes that the free exchange of ideas and expression may
produce conflicts in beliefs and proposals for action. This exchange is an important element in the pursuit of knowledge.
All members of the College community have a responsibility
to maintain channels of communication which foster a climate
favorable to maintaining this exchange.
Student Handbook: Community Standards and Disciplinary Procedures for Students 12-13
have certain rights. These include:
...
The right to express opinion, which includes the right to state
agreement or disagreement with the opinions of others and
the right to an appropriate forum for the expression of opinion.
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 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.
