Albertson College of Idaho: Speech Code Repeal

Category: Free Speech
Schools: The College of Idaho

Albertson College of Idaho was FIRE’s Speech Code of the Month for July, 2005. The university’s harassment policy prohibited comments that “fail to respect dignity and feelings,” and stated that students could be punished for undefined behaviors that the school considered “inconsistent with the standards and expectations.” After FIRE brought attention to the school’s policy it was changed, resulting in a victory for free speech on campus.

There is currently no media coverage for this case.

  • New Speech Code of the Month Website Feature

    April 13, 2007

    FIRE’s Speech Code of the Month program has been an important vehicle for change. Since June 2005, five universities—Albertson College of Idaho, the University of Nevada at Reno, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Jacksonville State University, and the University of Mississippi—have changed their policies after being named Speech Code of the Month. In addition, the president of Western Michigan University has stated that his institution will revise a policy that was named FIRE’s Speech Code of the Month for March 2007. Thanks to a new feature, visitors to FIRE’s website can now see our Speech Codes of the Month together […]

    » Read More

  • Speech Code of the Month: Albertson College of Idaho

    July 5, 2005

    FIRE is proud to announce the Speech Code of the Month for July 2005: Albertson College of Idaho. The Albertson College Student Handbook’s harassment policy states that “[a]ny comments or conduct relating to a person’s race, gender, religion, disability, age or ethnic background that fail to respect the dignity and feelings of the individual are unacceptable.” The Handbook also provides that “[a]ll inappropriate behaviors may not be specifically covered in the misconduct definitions, and students will be held accountable for behaviors considered inconsistent with the standards and expectations described in this handbook.” These provisions are wholly inconsistent with freedom. First, […]

    » Read More