Emory University

Undergraduate Non-Branch Campus

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
Special Status: None
Federal Circuit: Eleventh Circuit
Head of Institution: President James W. Wagner
Emory University
Office of the President
Administrative Building 408
201 Dowman Drive
Atlanta, GA 30322
404-727-6013
james.wagner@emory.edu
Website: http://www.emory.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.

Policies on Diversity and Multiculturalism (Learn More)

No policies found.

Protected Group Harassment Policies (Learn More)

Office of Equal Opportunity Programs: Discriminatory Harassment Policy 08-09
Emory also adopts these principles with regard to discrimination or discriminatory harassment on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Prohibited behavior may, for example, include conduct or material (physical, oral, written, or graphic, including e-mail messages posted or circulated in the community) involving epithets, slurs, negative stereotyping, or threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts, that serves no scholarly purpose appropriate to the academic context and gratuitously denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group because of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran’s status, or any factor protected by applicable law.
Emory’s policy prohibits discriminatory harassment of a non-sexual nature, which includes verbal, physical, or graphic conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, age, disability, veteran’s status, or other status protected by applicable law and that

· Has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment, educational, or living environment; or

· Has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or a student’s academic performance.
View full policy (PDF, 60 KB).
Residence Life Policies: Discrimination and Harassment/Acts of Intolerance 08-09
An [Act of Intolerance] is defined as any act directed against any person or group as a result of their personage including but not limited to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, ability, or veteran's status and that has the effect of creating an offensive, demeaning, intimidating, or hostile environment for that person in particular or others who may see, hear, or otherwise witness the act. Furthermore, students' use of epithets or names in a derogatory manner will be constituted as an [Act of Intolerance]. The Office of Residence Life and Student Conduct have the sole right to determine what is considered an AOI.
Discriminatory harassment includes conduct (oral, written, graphic, or physical) directed against any person because of their race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, handicap, or veteran's status and that has the purpose or reasonably foreseeable effect of creating an offensive, demeaning, intimidating, or hostile environment for that person or group of persons. Such conduct includes but is not limited to, objectionable epithets, demeaning depiction or treatment, and threatening or actual abuse or harm.
View full policy (PDF, 353 KB).

Sexual Harassment Policies (Learn More)

Office of Equal Opportunity Programs: Discriminatory Harassment Policy 08-09
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when: [...] Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance (or a student’s academic performance) or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work (or academic) environment.
This can include but is not limited to any of the following activities that are unwelcome by the recipient: physical or verbal advances; sexual flirtations; propositions; verbal abuse of a sexual nature; vulgar talk or jokes; degrading graphic materials or verbal comments of a sexual nature about an individual or his or her appearance; the display of sexually suggestive objects outside a scholarly context and purpose; and physical contact of a sexual or particularly personal nature. Cartoons, pictures, or other graphic materials that create a hostile or offensive working environment may also be considered as harassment.
View full policy (PDF, 60 KB).

General Harassment Policies (Learn More)

Undergraduate Code of Conduct: Expectations of Conduct 08-09
Threatening harm to any person, or behaving in a manner that a reasonable person would consider alarming or intimidating.
Intentionally or unintentionally causing harassment, ridicule, physical discomfort, or harm for another student for the purpose of initiation into or affiliation with any organization, team, or group, regardless of whether that student consents to such treatment.
View full policy (PDF, 102 KB).

Policies on Tolerance, Respect, Sensitivity, Hate, and Hate Speech (Learn More)

No policies found.

Loyalty Oaths and Honor Codes (Learn More)

No policies found.

Mission Statements (Learn More)

No policies found.

Advertised Commitments to Freedom of Speech (Learn More)

Office of Equal Opportunity Programs: Discriminatory Harassment Policy 08-09
Emory University is an inquiry-driven, ethically engaged, and diverse community dedicated to the ideals of free academic discourse in teaching, scholarship, and community service. Emory University abides by the values of academic freedom and is built on the assumption that contention among different views is positive and necessary for the expansion of knowledge, both for the University itself and as a training ground for society at large. Emory is committed to the widest possible scope for the free circulation of ideas.
View full policy (PDF, 60 KB).

Other Speech Codes (Learn More)

Information Technology Conditions of Use 08-09
ES usage or Information that is perceived by its recipient as sexual or discriminatory harassment as defined by University policy may be considered a violation. [...] The display of offensive material in any publicly accessible area is likely to violate University harassment policy. There are materials available on the Internet and elsewhere that some members of the University community will find offensive. The University can not restrict the availability of such material, but it considers its display in a publicly accessible area to be unethical. Public display includes, but is not limited to, publicly accessible computer screens and printers.
View full policy (PDF, 57 KB).

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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in December 2008. 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.

Below, FIRE has excerpted policies affecting freedom of association and materials related to mandatory student orientations. Please note that the materials below this line do not affect a college or university's Speech Code Rating.

Mandatory Student Orientation Materials

No policies found.

Student Fee Policies Affecting Freedom of Association

No policies found.

Other Policies Restricting Freedom of Association

No policies found.