School Spotlight

Furman University
Speech Code Rating
Sexual Misconduct Policy
Speech Code Rating: Red
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: August 26, 2020The University may address conduct that, although it does not rise to the level of constituting Sexual Misconduct as defined by this Policy, is nevertheless offensive and/or unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. Addressing such conduct may not result in the imposition of discipline, but will be addressed through resp... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Student Conduct Code- Bullying and/or Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies, Harassment Policies
Last updated: August 26, 2020Bullying and/or harassment is defined as an electronic, physical, verbal, or graphic conduct(s) that is so severe, pervasive, or persistent that it either causes actual harm to a person’s physical/mental well-being, property, or educational experience or causes a person to reasonably fear that imminent harm to her/h... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Non-Academic Administrative Policies- Use of University Space, Solicitation
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: August 26, 2020Whether internal or external, solicitation is not allowed on campus without prior written approval. Solicitation includes, but is not limited to, approaching someone with a request or plea, as well as setting up a table or other temporary structure for the same purpose. Read MoreStudent Handbook: Student Organization Conduct Expectations- Demeaning Behavior
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: August 26, 2020In addition to Student Conduct Code violations, the organizations may be charged with the following: i. Demeaning Behavior. Any actions, activities, events or themes, whether on or off campus, which are demeaning and/or discriminatory based on a person’s race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physi... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Non-Academic Administrative Policies- Posting of Signs and Banners
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: August 26, 2020All items to be posted must have the name of the individual student or registered student organization and/or department clearly identified as the sponsor or the words “sponsored by (name of organization)” on each item. … The University retains the right to deny posting of any materials on campus. Read MoreStudent Handbook: Non-Academic Administrative Policies- Use of University Space
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: August 26, 2020[T]he University reserves the absolute right as a private landowner to refuse any request for the use of its space that–in the University’s sole discretion–is either inconsistent with the mission, character, and values of the University, or that may present potential or actual adverse logistic or administrative cond... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Student Conduct Code – Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: August 26, 2020c. Discriminatory Harassment includes electronic, verbal, physical, or graphic conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward a targeted student on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, religion, veteran status, or any other characteristi... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Non-Academic Administrative Policies- Bias Incident Response & Support
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Last updated: August 26, 2020Acts that are an affront to this core value of the institution will not be tolerated. Accordingly, Furman has implemented a Bias Incident Response & Support (BIRS) plan. … BIRS is not a disciplinary procedure and does not investigate, arbitrate, or replace other Furman procedures or services nor does it ov... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Student Conduct Code- Act of Intolerance
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Last updated: August 26, 2020a. An act of intolerance is defined as any conduct that serves no scholarly purpose appropriate to the educational experience and demonstrates bias against others because of, but not limited to, their actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, religio... Read MoreSexual Misconduct Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: August 26, 2020“Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment” means unwelcome conduct on the basis of sex determined by a reasonable person 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 MoreStudent Handbook: Non-Academic Administrative Policies- Bias Incident Response & Support
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: August 26, 2020As a community of liberal learning, Furman University maintains its commitment to freedom of inquiry and excellence in the quest for truth. Read More
Investigating Halloween costumes is ‘an issue of free speech’ — even if universities say otherwise (UPDATED)
October 30, 2019
Colleges and universities across the country are once again investigating students for their choice of Halloween costumes or are implementing problematic policies that threaten consequences for choosing an “offensive” costume. FIRE has tracked the trend of policing Halloween costumes since the mid-2000s. “Halloween hysteria” appears to have died down since its spike in 2015 with… Read more
October 2019 Speech Code of the Month: Furman University
October 10, 2019
Halloween is just a few weeks away — do you have your costume picked out yet? For most college students, the possibilities are endless, but if you’re a student at Furman University, you might want to exercise caution. Furman’s student handbook states that “[t]heme parties that encourage people to wear costumes or act in… Read more
Problems with University Bias Policies and Attempts to Improve Campus Climate
November 19, 2012
This fall, FIRE is writing a blog series about how schools can reform their problematic speech codes and earn a “green light” rating from us—a distinction currently awarded to just 15 of the more than 400 schools in our Spotlight database, but one we hope to be able to award to many more in the… Read more
Posting Policies Frequently Restrict Student Expression
October 30, 2012
This fall, FIRE is writing a blog series about how schools can reform their problematic speech codes and earn a "green light" rating from FIRE—a distinction currently awarded to just 16 of the more than 400 schools in our Spotlight database, but one we hope to be able to award to many more in the… Read more
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