School Spotlight
Florida Atlantic University
Speech Code Rating
This school has adopted the chicago statement for free speech.
University Policy 1.15: Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: April 30, 2021Hostile environment harassment: Unwelcome verbal and/or physical conduct based on a person’s protected class that: is severe or pervasive and has the purpose or effect of: (a) creating an objectively intimidating, hostile or offensive work or educational environment; (b) unreasonably interfering with an individual’s... Read MoreStudent Organization Manual: Advertising Policies on the Boca Raton Campus
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: April 30, 2021Registered Student Organizations MUST register their program(s) with the Student Union in order to obtain stamp approval for any program advertisements, such as flyers, posters, signs and/or notices. … Registered Student Organizations agree to following requirements when they get flyers, signs, posters and not... Read MoreUniversity Regulation 4.007: Student Code of Conduct- Violations of the Code of Conduct
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
Last updated: April 30, 2021Bullying – Systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress by teasing; social exclusion; threats; intimidation; stalking; physical violence; theft; sexual, religious or racial harassment; public humiliation or destruction of property. Read MoreUniversity Policy 4.2.2: Campus Free Speech
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: April 30, 2021Organizations and persons may organize, conduct, or participate in demonstrations and other exercises of free speech and assembly on University grounds, except: a. Grounds immediately adjacent to residential facilities; b. Grounds associated with the Baldwin House; c. Athletic and recreational fields, including any ... Read MoreOffice of the General Counsel: Handbook of Free Speech Issues
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: September 11, 2020As a state institution, Florida Atlantic University (“FAU” or “University”) must uphold the protections guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, as well as the Constitution of the State of Florida. Free speech, free expression, and peaceable assembly are basic to the exchange of id... Read MoreUniversity Policy 4.2.4: Distribution of Printed Material
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: April 30, 2021The distribution of printed material, including newspapers, handbills, leaflets, pamphlets, magazines, and printed paper(s) shall only be permitted on University property in a manner that does not materially and substantially disrupt University programs, classes, and studies of its faculty, staff, and students, the ... Read MoreUniversity Regulation 4.007: Student Code of Conduct- Violations of the Code of Conduct
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: April 30, 2021Verbal, Written or Physical Abuse – Acts of verbal, written (including electronic communications or internet activity) or physical abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, or other conduct, the foregoing of which threaten the health, safety or welfare of any person. Read MoreUniversity Policy 1.15: Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment- Sexual harassment
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: April 30, 2021Sexual harassment: Conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following: … unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to FAU’s educational program or activity. Read More
Florida Atlantic University: Media Policies Silence University Personnel and Hamper Student Journalism
November 15, 2019
In October 2019, FIRE received reports that Florida Atlantic University policies required university personnel—including faculty and student employees—to receive permission from the university before speaking to the media, including student reporters. This frustrated student journalists’ ability to adequately cover campus events. FIRE wrote to FAU on November 15, and continued to work with the university… Read more
VICTORY: With FIRE’s help, Florida Atlantic University overhauls problematic media policies that inhibited student journalism
June 23, 2021
BOCA RATON, Fla., June 23, 2021 — Florida Atlantic University has implemented a revised set of media policies that will protect the rights of student journalists, faculty, and staff. The policy change came on June 17 and was made possible with the help of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education and a Florida Atlantic… Read more
Student journalist thanks paper-thieves for bringing tons of attention to story they tried to trash
September 17, 2019
The editor-in-chief of a Florida student newspaper has a surprising message for whoever stole stacks of a recent issue with a controversial cover story: “Thank you.” Cameren Boatner, editor-in-chief of Florida Atlantic University’s newspaper, University Press, penned an op-ed for the paper yesterday detailing how she and a colleague discovered the latest issue stolen from… Read more
Florida becomes ninth state to ban restrictive campus free speech zones
March 12, 2018
Florida State, University of West Florida, Florida Atlantic, and other schools must change speech policies TALLAHASSEE, Mar. 12, 2018 — Yesterday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed into law SB 4, a broad higher education bill, which was amended to include free speech protections at the state’s public colleges and universities. The new law prohibits Florida… Read more
Florida Atlantic University Student Newspaper Trashed After Reporting on Alleged Sexual Assault at Party
April 6, 2016
Despite the fact that the Internet exists and that news can be read online, there are still people who believe they can make a story disappear by throwing away copies of the newspaper that printed it. This appears to be the case at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), where 850 copies of the University Press’ March… Read more
Florida Atlantic University (Also) Demands Details of Students’ Sex Lives
November 19, 2014
Back in September, I wrote on The Torch about a Title IX training program for students developed by CampusClarity and adopted by nearly 200 colleges and universities nationwide that included questions about the details of students’ sex lives. Clemson University, where the program was mandatory, suspended its program soon after students and media outlets objected… Read more
Florida Atlantic University Revises ‘Speech Code of the Month’
September 3, 2013
For the third month in a row, the university named as having FIRE’s “Speech Code of the Month” has revised the offending policy within weeks of receiving the dishonorable mention.August’s Speech Code of the Month was a new civility policy at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) that prohibited “racist” or “religiously intolerant” speech. On August 13,… Read more
‘Red Light’ Florida Atlantic University Promises to Promote Free Speech
August 13, 2013
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has been called “quite obviously the worst place in the United States to attend college.” While that is certainly a subject for (free and open) debate, FIRE has rated FAU as a “red light” school for its abysmal speech codes. FAU, however, appears to be ready for a change. FAU, embroiled in controversy… Read more
Speech Code of the Month: Florida Atlantic University
August 2, 2013
FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for August 2013: Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Perhaps in response to some of the recent controversy at the university, FAU—a public university—has adopted a new policy on “Free Speech and Campus Civility” (PDF). That policy states, in relevant part: Here at FAU, we encourage our campus community… Read more
Florida Atlantic U. Students and Faculty Demonstrate in Support of Academic Freedom
April 10, 2013
Yesterday, students and faculty gathered on the campus of Florida Atlantic University (FAU) to demonstrate in support of academic freedom and Professor Deandre Poole, who has been placed on a highly suspect "administrative leave" after conducting an in-class exercise where he asked students to write "Jesus" on a piece of paper and then step on… Read more
Florida Atlantic ‘Jesus Stomp’ Case: A Screwup from Start to Finish
April 1, 2013
I hope I am wrong, but bald-faced institutional self-interest is the only force I can think of that explains the weird series of decisions that Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has made since student Ryan Rotela publicly complained about being made to stomp on the word "Jesus" in his Intercultural Communications class. Let’s take a look… Read more
FIRE Writes Florida Gov. Rick Scott over Speech Codes in ‘Jesus Stomp’ Case
March 29, 2013
FIRE sent a letter to Florida Governor Rick Scott today in response to his call for an investigation into how Florida Atlantic University handled the complaints of a student who refused to stomp on a piece of paper with "Jesus" written on it for a class assignment. FIRE recommends that Governor Scott investigate FAU’s unconstitutional… Read more
FAU College Student Who Didn’t Want To Stomp On ‘Jesus’ Runs Afoul of Speech Code
March 26, 2013
Would you stomp on a piece of paper with the name Jesus written on it as part of a classroom assignment? Ryan Rotela, a devout Mormon student at Florida Atlantic University, had to make this bizarre decision in his Intercultural Communications class. The incident ignited a firestorm of national outrage when Rotela told local news… Read more
Newspaper Thefts at Florida Atlantic Turn Out to Be Honest Mistake
February 22, 2012
The Student Press Law Center (SPLC) reports that an episode of missing newspapers at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has a somewhat benign ending. As it turns out, no one was stealing or destroying copies of the University Press student newspaper because of their disagreement with the paper’s content. Rather, the papers were nabbed by students… Read more
Theft of Student Newspapers Carries Real Consequences at Florida Atlantic University
December 1, 2010
Attention, those of you who still think that stealing collegiate newspapers is in any way legitimate: please take a moment to consider the case of Florida Atlantic University (FAU) student Yona Rabinowitz. As the University Press (UP) first reported November 19: FAU police arrested student Yona Rabinowitz yesterday in connection with the theft of nearly… Read more
FAU President Stands up for Newspaper’s First Amendment Rights
June 22, 2010
Recently I wrote about Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU’s) threats against its student-run newspaper, the University Press, which had continued to accept the voluntary services of its former advisor after he was dismissed by the university from his advisory position. Torch readers may remember that FAU had told UP editor-in-chief Karla Bowsher that she was considered an employee… Read more
Florida Atlantic University Threatens Student Paper Over Advisor’s Voluntary Service
June 11, 2010
Call me crazy, but if I ran a collegiate newspaper and a veteran professional journalist with years of experience in the field were willing to give free advice to my colleagues and me, I would take him or her up on the offer. Such was the situation at the University Press at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), where… Read more
Celebration of Constitution Day Emphasizes First Amendment Rights
September 20, 2006
The Palm Beach Post reported yesterday that the Student Press Law Center, the College Media Advisers, the Society of Professional Journalists and the University Press held an interesting event at Florida Atlantic University to celebrate Constitution Day and teach students about the importance of First Amendment freedoms. Students were given free food and an enlightening… Read more