School Spotlight

Davidson College

Location: Davidson, North Carolina
Type: Private
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Speech Code Rating

Davidson College 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. Read more

  • Student Handbook: Policy, Procedures, and Information on Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Abuse and Violence, and Stalking

    Speech Code Rating: Red
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 5, 2019

    “Sexual Harassment” is defined as conduct that has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with a person’s work or educational opportunity; creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment; or otherwise negatively affects a person’s work or educational opportunities. Sexua... Read More

  • Student Life: Diversity and Inclusion- Difference Between a Hate Crime and a Bias Incident

    Speech Code Rating: Red
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
    Last updated: September 5, 2019

    A bias incident is also an offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by the offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or gender identity BUT may not rise to the level of a crime. Bias incidents include hostile environments and harassing beh... Read More

  • Student Handbook: The Code of Responsibility- Social Responsibility

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: September 5, 2019

    Students are expected to develop social skills and relations which are mutually beneficial and which lead to personal maturity. Social conduct is therefore to be based upon concern for others. For example, students have the obligation to avoid any action which might impair the well-being or reputation of guests. Res... Read More

  • Student Handbook: The Code of Responsibility- Harassment

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 5, 2019

    Harassment is unwanted behavior that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a person’s or a group of persons’ educational, work, social or living activities. As such, it violates this Code and, in some cases, federal or state law. Harassment can take many forms. Types of harassment... Read More

  • About Davidson: Statement of Purpose

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
    Last updated: August 30, 2019

    Davidson prepares many of its students for graduate and professional study, it intends to teach all students to think clearly, to make relevant and valid judgments, to discriminate among values, and to communicate freely with others in the realm of ideas. Read More
At present, FIRE has not been publicly involved in any cases at this school.

  • March 2019 Speech Code of the Month: Davidson College

    March 4, 2019

    At Davidson College, students are told they can be punished for hosting a theme party with stereotypical costumes, however that may be subjectively determined. Because of the broad scope of this policy and its potential to have a chilling effect on expression, Davidson College’s Bias Education and Response policy is our Speech Code of the… Read more

  • REPORT: North Carolina is home to some of America’s best colleges for free speech

    September 24, 2018

    Eight colleges in North Carolina earn FIRE’s highest rating for free speech — more than in any other state — but 17 still maintain policies that substantially restrict student expression. PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 24, 2018 — A new report finds that North Carolina’s colleges and universities lead the way nationally for protecting student free speech. The… Read more

  • Davidson Student Told to Remove Rainbow Flag from Window Per Unwritten Policy

    December 19, 2013

    In Davidson College student newspaper The Davidsonian, student Max Feinstein recounts how, earlier this fall, he was asked by a college administrator to remove a rainbow flag hanging from his dorm room window, citing a new college policy. After some questions, Feinstein discovered that the policy was unwritten: When I asked about this new policy, I… Read more

  • Speech Code of the Month: Davidson College

    March 1, 2006

    FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for March 2006: Davidson College. Attention, theater majors at Davidson: you’d better think twice before putting on a production of Guys and Dolls or Funny Girl. That’s because Davidson’s Sexual Harassment Policy prohibits the use of “patronizing remarks” such as “referring to an adult as ‘girl,’ ‘boy,’… Read more