Fordham University
Location: Bronx, New York
Website: http://www.fordham.edu
Type: Private
Federal Circuit: 2nd Circuit
Speech Code Rating
Fordham 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. Read more here.
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Fordham University: Prospective Students for Justice in Palestine Chapter Rejected Over Political Beliefs
January 25, 2017
On December 22, Dean of Students Keith Eldredge overruled the USG and said he would not grant SJP official recognition, writing that he “cannot support an organization whose sole purpose is advocating political goals of a specific group, and against a specific country” and that “the Israeli-Palestinian conflict … often leads to polarization rather than dialogue.”
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Red Light Policies
Student Handbook: Information Technology Usage
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: November 21, 2017IT resources and services cannot be assessed or used in the following manner: … Using any IT resource or communication services, including e-mail or other means to intimidate, insult, embarrass and harass others; to interfere unreasonably with an individual’s work, research or educational performance; or to create a hostile or offensive working or learning environment.
Sexual Misconduct Policy & Procedures for the Fordham University Community
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: November 21, 2017“Sexual Harassment” encompasses many of the specific policy definitions listed in this Sexual Misconduct Policy. Sexual Harassment is a form of sex discrimination. It is defined as “unwelcome conduct” of a sexual nature, including but not limited to sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: … such conduct is sufficiently pervasive, offensive, or abusive to have the purpose or reasonable effect of interfering with an individual’s work or educational performance, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment.
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Some examples of sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:
- Unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or propositions of a sexual nature;
- Direct or implied threats that submission to sexual advances is a condition for employment promotion, good grades, recommendations, etc.
- Unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature which an individual regards undesirable or offensive, including, but not necessarily limited to, sexually explicit jokes, statements and questions or remarks about sexual activity or experience.
- Physical assault, including rape
Student Handbook: Bullying
Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
Last updated: November 21, 2017Bullying is defined as the repeated, unreasonable actions of a person (or group of persons) directed towards another person or group of persons, which are intended to hurt, intimidate, degrade, humiliate, and/or undermine. Such actions create a risk to the health or safety of the University community. Bullying can take many forms, including, but not limited to, verbal (teasing, threats, naming-calling), social (spreading rumors, leaving people out on purpose), and physical (hitting, punching, shoving).Bullying can also occur through the Internet, mobile phones, and other digital technologies. Bullying behavior creates feelings of defenselessness, fear, and injustice and undermines a person’s right to dignity. The University strictly prohibits bullying. Anyone found to engage in bullying behavior may be subject to disciplinary action.
Student Handbook: Distribution of Literature
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: November 21, 2017Registered student organizations are free to distribute literature with the approval of the Assistant Dean or Director of Student Leadership and Community Development. The source of the material and the name of the organization must be stated. … Individual students, if sponsored by a University club, office, or department, are similarly free to distribute, with the same responsibilities as student organizations.
Student Handbook: Advertisements in Student Publications
Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
Last updated: November 21, 2017Advertisements must be legal, truthful, and compatible with the values and mission of the University as a Jesuit, Catholic institution (concern for each student, respect for individuals and groups of people, dignity of the human person).
To this end, the University prohibits the publication of ads containing or providing sources for, but not limited to, sexual content (1-900 phone lines, strip clubs, web sites, etc.); alcohol consumption (bars, clubs, bartending schools, etc.); tobacco; reproductive services (abortion, birth control, sperm or egg donation, etc.); the promotion of hate against any group; illegal activities; any other subject matter which, after discussion and review with University officials, is determined to be inconsistent with the values and mission of the University.
Student Handbook: Speakers Policy
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: November 21, 2017[E]xpression that is indecent or is grossly obscene or grossly offensive on matters such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual preference is inconsistent with accepted norms of conduct at the University.
Student Handbook: Demonstration Policy
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: November 21, 2017Organizers and participants must follow these guidelines in planning and conducting pickets and other demonstration events: … A member of the Fordham University community must be designated Organizer/Liaison for the event. The Organizer/Liaison must meet with the Dean of Students to coordinate the planned event and is encouraged to schedule this meeting well in advance. To schedule this meeting, the organizer must appear at the Dean of Students office for his/her campus. The Dean of Students/designate will meet with the organizer within 1 business day. The planned demonstration may be scheduled no less than 2 business days after this meeting.
Student Handbook: The University Code of Conduct
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: November 21, 2017Harassment of another person, whether physical, sexual, or verbal, either oral or written.
Fordham University Mission Statement
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: November 21, 2017Fordham strives for excellence in research and teaching and guarantees the freedom of inquiry required by rigorous thinking and the quest for truth.
Student Handbook: Demonstration Policy
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: November 21, 2017By its very nature, the University is a place where ideas and opinions are formulated and exchanged. Each member of the University has a right to freely express his or her positions and to work for their acceptance whether he/she assents to or dissents from existing situations in the University or society.
Student Handbook: Bias-Related Incidents and/or Hate Crimes
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: November 21, 2017[T]he University values freedom of expression and the open exchange of ideas. The expression of controversial ideas and differing views is a vital part of University discourse. Although the expression of an idea or point of view may be offensive or inflammatory to others, it may not constitute a hate crime or bias-related incident.
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Fordham University’s Ban on Pro-Palestine Student Group Draws Backlash From Justice Groups
January 24, 2017
By Nahema Marchal at Heat Street Fordham University’s refusal to recognize a campus chapter of the pro-Palestine group — Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) — as an official student club has drawn widespread criticism from civil and constitutional rights groups, who claim the decision was politically motivated… Read more here.
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Pro-Palestinian Group Banned on Political Grounds
January 18, 2017
by Elizabeth Redden at Inside Higher Ed Fordham University has denied an application to form a Students for Justice in Palestine chapter on campus, citing as its rationale the group’s political goals — including its support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel — and the potential for polarization… Read more here.
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Viewpoint: In The ‘Ten Worst Colleges For Free Speech,’ Where Is My School?
March 14, 2015
By Canton Winer at USA Today When I read headlines for the “Top 10 Schools for _______,” I usually don’t expect my university to be on the list. In fairness, I love my school and top 10 lists are generally meaningless. When I saw a headline ranking the 10 worst colleges for free speech, however, I did a double take. As a senior at Fordham University, I’ve become used to the university’s particular brand of free speech restriction. At this point, the unfriendly free speech environment has become so entrenched that few students even seem to question the status quo. […]
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UPDATE: After Florida school shooting, ‘Worst Colleges for Free Speech’ promising high schoolers a right to protest
March 14, 2018
Update: FIRE has tallied the number of colleges and universities that have made statements supporting free speech, based on the list compiled by Chris Peterson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology assistant director of undergraduate admissions. Out of the schools in our Spotlight database that made statements on free speech, 61 have a “red light” speech code rating, 93 have a “yellow light” rating, and only 12 have a “green light” rating. Full results can be viewed here. FIRE stands ready to help any university with revising its speech codes. In the wake of the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Florida’s Marjory […]
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The 10 worst colleges for free speech: 2018
February 12, 2018
Every year, FIRE chooses the 10 worst colleges for free speech — and unfortunately, 2017 left us with plenty of options: Campuses were rocked by violent mob censorship, monitored by bias response teams, plagued by free speech zones, and beset by far too many disinvitation attempts. Although the number of colleges with the most restrictive speech codes has continued to decline, 90 percent of schools still maintain codes that either clearly restrict or could too easily be used to restrict free speech. Today, we present our 2018 list of the 10 worst colleges for free speech. As always, our list […]
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FIRE names America’s 10 worst colleges for free speech: 2018
February 12, 2018
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 12, 2018 — Each year, colleges across the country find dubious ways to silence student and faculty expression. In the last year, administrators became embroiled in litigation for telling a student he couldn’t hand out Spanish-language copies of the U.S. Constitution outside a free speech zone, continued a years-long effort to ban a group from campus due to its political viewpoint, and even investigated a professor for a satirical tweet — eventually driving him to resign. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education has identified America’s 10 worst colleges for free speech, published today with detailed descriptions on […]
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Fordham University faces judge, packed courtroom, as it dissembles to defend its refusal of recognition of Students for Justice in Palestine chapter
January 3, 2018
This afternoon, Fordham University asked a New York court to dismiss a lawsuit brought against the university arising from its refusal to recognize a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine — a refusal that landed Fordham on FIRE’s 2017 list of America’s 10 worst schools for free speech. Following a hearing in a courtroom overflowing with supporters of the students, the court took the matter under submission, deferring a decision on the matter for another day. Fordham has barred the students from organizing an SJP chapter since November 2016, overturning the student government’s decision to grant the group recognition. […]
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Fordham University sued over rejection of Students for Justice in Palestine chapter
April 26, 2017
Fordham University is facing a lawsuit in a New York state court over its refusal to recognize a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, which the university rejected because of a fear of “polarization” on campus. Fordham’s conduct, after promising that students would be free to express differing views on campus, was so egregious that it earned the university a spot on FIRE’s 2017 list of America’s 10 worst schools for free speech. It also earned two letters from FIRE and the National Coalition Against Censorship calling on the university to abandon its illiberal path. As we and the […]
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Fordham University Named One of America’s 10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech After Banning Students for Justice in Palestine
February 22, 2017
SJP was banned solely based on the group’s political viewpoint TODAY: Disciplinary hearing for a student who peacefully protested the school’s decision PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 22, 2017—Fordham University’s relentless and ongoing effort to stifle the free speech and association rights of students who want to start a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) has earned the school a spot on the 2017 list of America’s 10 worst schools for free speech. The list—published today with detailed descriptions at The Huffington Post—was released by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) to identify schools that are the “worst of […]
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FIRE Announces America’s 10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech: 2017
February 22, 2017
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 22, 2017—More than 92 percent of American colleges maintain speech codes that either clearly restrict—or could too easily be used to restrict—free speech. Each year, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) takes a closer look at campus censorship to identify America’s 10 worst colleges for free speech. The 2017 list of the 10 worst colleges for free speech—published today with detailed descriptions at The Huffington Post—includes both public and private institutions. Public colleges and universities are bound by the First Amendment. Private colleges on this list are not required by the Constitution to respect student and […]
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Fordham Finds New, Equally Unacceptable Justification for Denying Recognition to Students for Justice in Palestine
January 27, 2017
Yet again, another university seems to have forgotten the first law of holes: When you find yourself in one, stop digging. On Wednesday, FIRE and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) publicly called on Fordham University to reverse its viewpoint discriminatory refusal to recognize a prospective Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter. In our January 25 letter, we explained that refusal to recognize a student organization on the grounds that administrators disagreed with the group’s viewpoints and believed that the group’s expression would be “polarizing” violated the explicit promises of freedom of expression that Fordham makes to students. Unfortunately, […]
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FIRE, NCAC Call on Fordham to Recognize Students for Justice in Palestine
January 25, 2017
NEW YORK, Jan. 25, 2017—Fordham University is refusing to recognize a prospective chapter of the group Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) on the basis of the group’s political beliefs. Today, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) are calling on Fordham University to reverse the university’s rejection of SJP and reaffirm to students that the university will not renege on its free speech promises. On November 17, 2016, the Fordham United Student Government (USG) Senate and Executive Board approved Students for Justice in Palestine’s application for recognition, noting that SJP “fulfills […]
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Tip of the Iceberg: Recent Controversy Reveals More Free Speech Problems at Fordham
December 7, 2012
After Fordham University made waves a few weeks back over President Joseph McShane’s harsh condemnation of the university’s College Republicans for inviting Ann Coulter to speak on campus (an invite which, it turned out, the group had already decided to rescind), FIRE began to hear from students at Fordham who wanted to (anonymously) tell us more about the climate for free speech and dissent on campus. First, it bears explaining why we are talking about the right to free speech at a private, Catholic university like Fordham. The answer is simple: Fordham holds itself out as an institution that is […]
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Fordham University Hits Bottom, Keeps Digging in Ann Coulter Disinvite Kerfuffle
November 15, 2012
Over the past few days, FIRE has highlighted a disappointing situation at Fordham University. In brief: the Fordham College Republicans invited Ann Coulter to speak, public pressure mounted to rescind her invitation, Fordham University President Joseph McShane, S.J., while not cowing to the pressure to ban Coulter from campus, nonetheless denounced her views (and denounced the students for inviting her). Seeing which way the wind was blowing, the College Republicans disinvited Coulter shortly before McShane’s denunciation went out. Here is a good account from one involved student. FIRE’s own Robert Shibley, in his second guest post on the topic at […]
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Robert Shibley on ‘College Insurrection’ on Fordham’s Ann Coulter Controversy
November 14, 2012
FIRE Senior Vice President Robert Shibley has a new piece at College Insurrection about Fordham University’s condemnation of the College Republicans’ now-rescinded speaking invitation to Ann Coulter, which we discussed earlier this week on The Torch. Robert’s column focuses in particular on the Catholic university’s strikingly selective outrage—as you may remember, the university president chose to condemn Coulter while remaining silent on the upcoming appearance of Peter Singer, who has stated that “killing a disabled infant is not morally equivalent to killing a person. Very often it is not wrong at all.” Robert writes: In the end, the only reasonable […]
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At Fordham University, President’s Criticism of Student Group Sparks Controversy
November 12, 2012
On Friday of last week, the Reverend Joseph M. McShane, president of Fordham University, sent an email to Fordham students and their parents strongly criticizing the Fordham College Republicans’ decision to invite conservative commentator Ann Coulter to speak. Apparently unbeknownst to McShane, the College Republicans had already decided to rescind the invitation. The university’s statement read as follows: The College Republicans, a student club at Fordham University, has invited Ann Coulter to speak on campus on November 29. The event is funded through student activity fees and is not open to the public nor the media. Student groups are allowed, […]
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