School Spotlight
Boston University
Location:
Boston, Massachusetts
Type:
Private
Speech Code Rating
Boston University has been given the speech code rating Red. A red light university has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech.
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Boston University Lifebook: University Conditions of Use & Policy on Computing Ethics
Speech Code Rating: Red
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: September 21, 2021You must not use any computing facility irresponsibly or in a way that might needlessly interfere with the work of others. This includes transmitting or making accessible offensive, annoying, or harassing material, or materials such as chain letters, unauthorized mass mailings, or unsolicited advertising … Read MoreBoston University Lifebook: Sexual Misconduct Policy- Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: September 21, 2021Sexual Harassment – Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that has the effect of creating a hostile or stressful living, learning, or working environment, or whenever toleration of such conduct or rejection of it is the basis for an academic or employment decision affecting an individual. Conduct is considered “unwel... Read MoreBoston University Lifebook: Residential Policies- Door Decorations
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: September 21, 2021The posting of materials on the exterior of room and apartment doors is permitted. However, it is expected that student expression will be respectful of others, will be exercised in good taste, and will not be in violation of the right of other persons to be free from invasion of their personal privacy. Read MoreDean of Students: Student Responsibilities
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: September 21, 2021Specific violations of student responsibilities include but are not limited to: … Physical or verbal abuse, or assault or the threat of assault to other persons. Read MoreDean of Students: Student Responsibilities
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: September 21, 2021The general laws of society confer rights and impose obligations on all citizens. When they enter the University, students retain their rights under the laws of society, but student status confers no immunity or sanctuary from federal, state, or municipal laws. Read MoreFaculty Handbook: Academic Freedom
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: September 21, 2021Academic freedom is essential in institutions of higher education if they are to make their proper contribution to the common good. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. It is that which justifies academic freedom, not the interest of the individual faculty member or even th... Read MoreBoston University Lifebook: Sexual Misconduct Policy- Title IX Sexual Misconduct
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: September 21, 2021Sexual Harassment – Unwelcome conduct that a reasonable person would determine to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the University’s education program or activity. Read More
Policies are rated on their inclusion of 10 due process safeguards. Each policy may receive 2 points for fully including that safeguard, 1 point for partial inclusion, and 0 points for no meaningful inclusion. Most, but not all, institutions have separate policies for sexual misconduct and all other misconduct. See FIRE’s Spotlight on Due Process report for more information.
Grades
FIRE surveyed roughly 37,000 students at 154 colleges and universities about the climate for free speech at their institutions. In 2021, FIRE released rankings of those schools, based on a number of factors, including openness, tolerance, self-expression, administrative support for free speech, and campus policies, scoring overall speech climate on a scale from 0-100. See the full report on FIRE’s 2021 College Free Speech Rankings for more information.
Rankings / out of 154 colleges surveyed |
|
| Overall Ranking | 143 |
| Ideological Diversity | 119 |
Overall / out of a top score of 100 |
|
| Overall Score | 53.7 |
| Openness | 9.66 |
| Tolerance (Liberals) | 11.33 |
| Tolerance (Conservatives) | 7.38 |
| Administrative Support | 5.89 |
| Comfort | 15.65 |
| Disruptive Conduct | 9.8 |
| Speech Code | RED |
Boston University: Discrimination and Harassment Training Compels Faculty Speech
December 17, 2021
Boston University’s mandatory training on preventing discrimination and harassment asks faculty members opinion-based questions and requires them to select the university’s preferred answers to complete the training. On December 17, 2021, FIRE wrote to BU explaining that requiring faculty members to affirm viewpoints with which they may disagree amounts to compelled speech in violation of… Read more
Boston University: Compelled Speech Requirements for Theater Faculty
December 8, 2021
In 2020, Boston University’s School of Theatre and the university’s Boston Playwrights’ Theatre producing company adopted statements on diversity and anti-racism that included compulsory speech requirements for faculty, and mandated the teaching of certain materials through an “anti-racist lens.” After the Academic Freedom Committee of BU’s Faculty Council raised concerns about the statements, BU’s administration… Read more
VICTORY: Boston University confirms statements of ideological ‘commitments’ are not binding on theater faculty, revises anti-discrimination training to respect faculty members’ expressive rights
February 23, 2022
Over the past few months, FIRE wrote multiple letters to Boston University raising concerns over mandatory training that required faculty to agree with university-approved views and antiracism initiatives that appeared to compel faculty members’ speech and encroach on their pedagogical decisions. Now, BU has taken steps to ensure these programs and initiatives do not violate… Read more
‘Not quite. Try again.’ Boston University training on discrimination and harassment brooks no dissent from university-approved views
December 17, 2021
Speech is not free when it is compulsory. This basic principle appears to be lost on Boston University. FIRE has twice written to BU, objecting to antiracism initiatives that compel speech from theatre faculty and interfere with their pedagogical autonomy. These initiatives include mandatory diversity statements on syllabi and a requirement that faculty teach material… Read more
To grieve, or not to grieve? That is the wrong question.
December 8, 2021
If you’re a higher education leader confronted with policies that violate your professors’ academic freedom rights, do you proactively work to reform those policies to bring them in line with your institutional promises? Or do you instead advise faculty to bring their own grievances against the policies and see where the chips fall? FIRE has… Read more
Speech Code of the Month: Boston University
August 12, 2015
FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for August 2015: Boston University (BU). While BU is private, and thus not legally bound by the First Amendment’s guarantees of free speech and expression, the university has committed itself to upholding the expressive rights of students and faculty. Among other things, BU’s Student Responsibilities policy explicitly… Read more
Duke Recognizes Prof’s Freedom of Speech on Racial Issues
May 18, 2015
Duke University professor Jerry Hough has faced criticism in recent days following his comment on a New York Times editorial published on May 10 that some readers characterized as racist. FIRE is glad to see that—despite another race-related controversy just last month—Duke has apparently not taken action against Hough. But the university still seems not… Read more
Controversy over Prof’s Racially Charged Tweets Reveals Inconsistency at Boston University
May 12, 2015
Incoming Boston University (BU) professor Saida Grundy came under fire this weekend for several tweets she posted on her personal Twitter account in which she named white males as the central problem of American colleges. Boston University spokesman Colin Riley initially spoke out in defense of Grundy’s freedom of speech, but subsequently condemned her views,… Read more
‘Free Speech Week’ Celebrated on Campuses Nationwide
April 13, 2012
FIRE celebrated Free Speech Week last week by teaming up with Students For Liberty to send FIRE speakers and materials to student groups across the country. We’re pleased to announce it was a great success! To mark the occasion, 72 student groups distributed FIRE materials and pocket-sized Constitutions on campus. More than 20 student… Read more
Boston University’s ‘Daily Free Press’ on BU’s Speech Codes and Will’s Campus Visit
October 6, 2011
As part of our Speakers Bureau program, FIRE Director of Legal and Public Advocacy Will Creeley gave two speeches yesterday at Boston University (BU), one about social media to the Federalist Society and one about BU’s speech codes and FIRE’s work to Liberty at Boston University. Following Will’s talks, BU student newspaper The Daily Free Press has written an article drawing… Read more
Silverglate: Universities Take Over Alumni Magazines
November 17, 2006
Harvey Silverglate, FIRE’s co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors, writes in The Boston Phoenix this week about the alarming trend among major universities towards university-controlled alumni publications. Silverglate points out that just like politicians and major corporations, universities are increasingly concerned about “controlling the message”—a stance that means traditional independent alumni publications become… Read more
Politics vs. Porn
September 30, 2005
Earlier this week, my FIRE colleague Robert Shibley called Torch readers’ attention to a free speech controversy at Vassar College. Students there were outraged by the latest issue of The Imperialist, the publication of Vassar’s Moderate, Independent, and Conservative Alliance (MICA), because it criticized self-segregation on the part of minority students. There were many calls… Read more