Evergreen State College

Location: Olympia, Washington
Website: http://www.evergreen.edu
Type: Public
Federal Circuit: 9th Circuit

Speech Code Rating

Evergreen State 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 here.

At present, FIRE has not been involved in any cases at this school.

Red Light Policies

  • The Social Contract

    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: May 25, 2016

    The Social Contract is an agreement. … Civility is not just a word; it must be present in all our interactions.

    » Read More

Yellow Light Policies

  • Event Security and Safety

    Speech Code Category: Security Fee Policies
    Last updated: May 25, 2016

    Events covered under this policy include but are not limited to:

    • Concerts
    • Lectures/Speeches/Indoor Rallies
    • Public performances or theater productions
    • Sporting events/competitions
    • Outdoor events

    …

    Before submitting an offer or contract, the first step for student organizations and other in-house promoters is to complete a required Event Sponsor Assessment & Planning Worksheet or ESAP Worksheet. The ESAP Worksheet is the preliminary planning and screening tool that can assess the level of risk of an event, the level of security and staffing, and the resources and conditions needed to make the event safe and successful.

    …

    The ESAP Worksheet further indicates the size, topic, invitations to outside groups, history of the performer, number of ticket sales to non-College populations, etc. The ESAP Worksheet will be reviewed by the Director of Student Activities for student groups and by the building manager/performance venue manager for faculty/staff. If the review by the Director of Student Activities or the building manager/performance venue manager highlights elements of potential risk, the Risk Assessment Review Team (RART) will be convened.

    …

    If it is determined by the RART’s assessment that extra security will be needed, this additional cost will be the responsibility of the event sponsor.

     

    » Read More

Green Light Policies

  • The Social Contract

    Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
    Last updated: May 25, 2016

    (a) Evergreen’s members live under a special set of rights and responsibilities, foremost among which is that of enjoying the freedom to explore ideas and to discuss their explorations in both speech and print. Both institutional and individual censorship are at variance with this basic freedom. Research or other intellectual efforts, the results of which must be kept secret or may be used only for the benefit of a special interest group, violate the principle of free inquiry.
    (b) An essential condition for learning is the freedom and right on the part of an individual or group to express minority, unpopular, or controversial points of view. Only if minority and unpopular points of view are listened to, and are given opportunity for expression will Evergreen provide bona fide opportunities for significant learning.

    » Read More

  • Student Conduct Code: Prohibited Conduct

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: May 25, 2016

    Harassment which is defined as conduct against a person on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sex, gender identity or expression, disability, age, military status, or sexual orientation that is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent to create an objectively hostile environment that interferes with or diminishes the ability of an individual to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by the college, or an employee to engage in work duties.

    » Read More

  • Appropriate Use of Information Technology Resources

    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: May 25, 2016

    In light of all the policies outlined above in this document, the following are examples of specifically prohibited activities: … sexual harassment or harassment based on race, color, gender, religion, creed, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.

    » Read More

  • Policies and Procedures: Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: May 25, 2016

    “Sexual harassment” is a form of discrimination based on the recipient’s sex. It can involve persons of the same or differing sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. It is characterized by unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, including sexual assault.  Such conduct violates this policy when: … Conduct (by anyone involved in a College program or activity, e.g., administrators, faculty members, students, contractors, vendor, volunteers and campus visitors) is sufficiently serious (i.e., severe, persistent, or pervasive) and objectively offensive so as to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or learning environment, (i.e., to unreasonably interfere with an individual’s employment, academic status, or deny or limit the individual’s ability to participate in or to receive the educational benefits, services or opportunities of the College).

    » Read More

  • Bias Related Incident Response Protocol: Practices & Procedures

    Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
    Last updated: May 25, 2016

    The College champions free expression. The ways in which we address bias incidents respect that value. Bias incidents often center around speech that many community members find offensive. Those who engage in the speech that offends others and those that respond to the speech may be protected by First Amendment rights. When the speech is protected, neither the student conduct system nor criminal justice system can be applied. It is through the speech of others including, the Bias Incident Team that bias incidents are best addressed. The College aspires to create an environment that is inclusive and safe for all members of the community.

    » Read More

  • Consulting All Sides on “Speech Codes”

    May 1, 2005

    By David T. Beito, Ralph E. Luker, and Robert David Johnson, Organization of American Historians Newsletter Few controversies have polarized higher education more than that of Ward Churchill at the University of Colorado (CU). Many conservatives, including Governor Bill Owens of Colorado and Newt Gingrich, have demanded that Churchill be dismissed for characterizing the victims of 9/11 as “Little Eichmanns.” Professors and students at CU and elsewhere have responded with rallies and petitions to defend Churchill’s academic freedom. They emphasize that the health of the academy rests on the toleration of controversial, even repellant, ideas. Joining in, the faculty of […]

    » Read More

  • Hey, Evergreen State: Let It Go!

    June 6, 2014

    Duquesne University law professor Jacob H. Rooksby reports on the latest failure of common sense on campus over at HigherEducationLaw, and it’s a stunner: Administrators at The Evergreen State College are refusing to let a student theater troupe perform an original work on university property because they’re worried that the production, which includes parodies of Disney songs, might trigger liability for copyright infringement.

    » Read More