Bryn Mawr College

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: Third Circuit
Head of Institution: President Jane Dammen McAuliffe
Bryn Mawr College
Office of the President
Taylor Hall, 101 N. Merion Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
610-526-5156
N/A
Website: http://www.brynmawr.edu

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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: Equal Opportunity, Non-Discrimination, and Discriminatory Harassment Policies 09-10

Sexual harassment can include verbal behavior
such as unwanted comments, suggestions, jokes
or pressure for sexual favors; nonverbal behavior
such as suggestive looks or leering; and physical
behavior such as pats. Some specific examples of
behavior that are inappropriate include: * Negative or offensive comments, jokes or suggestions
about another employee's gender or
sexuality, ethnicity or religion.
* Obscene or lewd sexual comments, jokes, suggestions
or innuendoes.
* Slang names, or labels that others could find
offensive.
* Talking about or calling attention to an
employee's or student's body or sexual characteristics.
Unwelcome
sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and
other verbal or physical conduct constitute sexual
harassment when: ... Such conduct has the purpose or effect of
interfering with an individual's work performance
or academic performance or creating
an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.

The College also prohibits this type of behavior
when it is based on race, color, age, national origin
and religion or on any other basis prohibited
by law.
It is the policy of Bryn Mawr College to maintain
a work and academic environment free from discrimination
and offensive or degrading remarks
or conduct.
View full policy (PDF, 71 KB).

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

Student Handbook: Equal Opportunity, Non-Discrimination, and Discriminatory Harassment Policies 09-10

The College is firmly committed to academic
and professional excellence and to freedom of
inquiry and expression for all members of the
College community. In order to preserve an
atmosphere in which these goals can be pursued,
certain norms of civility, based on mutual respect
and appreciation of differences, recognition of
the rights of others and sensitivity to their feelings,
must govern the interactions of all members
of the community.
View full policy (PDF, 71 KB).

Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience (Learn More)

Bryn Mawr College Honor Code 09-10

We recognize that acts of discrimination and harassment, including, but not limited to, acts of racism, homophobia, classism, ableism, and discrimination against religious and political minorities are devoid of respect and therefore, by definition, violate this Code.
View full policy (PDF, 88 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Computing Services: Acceptable Use Policy 09-10

Prohibited practices include, but are not limited to:
...
Sending forged, threatening or harassing communications.
Transmitting unauthorized bulk communications (spam).
View full policy (PDF, 55 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Student Handbook: Freedom of Speech and the Limits of Dissent 09-10

Bryn
Mawr’s commitment to the free expression of ideas extends to the expression of dissenting ideas;
the College recognizes that the free representation of dissenting points of view is necessary to
the climate of open and vigorous debate essential to its educational mission.
As an educational institution Bryn Mawr is committed
to the free expression of ideas.
View full policy (PDF, 71 KB).

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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in May 2010. 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.