School Spotlight
Haverford College
Location:
Haverford, Pennsylvania
Type:
Private
Speech Code Rating
Haverford 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.
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Haverford College Honor Code
Speech Code Rating: Red
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: September 1, 2021Our adherence to this written expression of our shared values establishes an open environment of learning and growing through personal and community responsibility. Because we subscribe to these values, we commit as members of the Haverford community to follow the Honor Code. … [T]he Code requires discussion t... Read MoreSexual Misconduct: Other Gender-Based Misconduct,
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: September 1, 2021“Other Gender-Based Misconduct,” defined as acts which do not meet the narrow definition of “Title IX Sexual Harassment,” as defined above, but nevertheless could constitute discrimination on the basis of sex. Other Gender-Based Misconduct includes: … Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, including but not lim... Read MoreExpressive Freedom and Responsibility
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: September 1, 2021Haverford College has consistently and actively affirmed all students’ rights to free inquiry, assembly, and expression in the broad context of its educational mission. These rights include the right to expression of dissent through peaceful protest. The Haverford College Faculty Handbook (Section III, Subsection C)... Read MoreSexual Misconduct: Title IX Sexual Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: September 1, 2021“Title IX Sexual Harassment,” in accordance with the U.S. Department of Education Final Rule, includes any conduct on the basis of sex that is alleged to have occurred in a College education program or activity, and is alleged to have been perpetrated against a person in the United States. The conduct alleged, if tr... Read MoreAcceptable Use of Information Technology Resources Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: September 1, 2021Use of College IT Resources in any of the following manners is expressly prohibited and a violation of this policy. Examples of prohibited practices are provided, but should not be construed as a comprehensive list. a. Unlawful Communications. Use of the College IT Resources for any unlawful communications including... Read More
FIRE surveyed roughly 37,000 students at 154 colleges and universities about the climate for free speech at their institutions. In 2021, FIRE released rankings of those schools, based on a number of factors, including openness, tolerance, self-expression, administrative support for free speech, and campus policies, scoring overall speech climate on a scale from 0-100. See the full report on FIRE’s 2021 College Free Speech Rankings for more information.
Rankings / out of 154 colleges surveyed |
|
| Overall Ranking | 111 |
| Ideological Diversity | 121 |
Overall / out of a top score of 100 |
|
| Overall Score | 58.18 |
| Openness | 9.49 |
| Tolerance (Liberals) | 12.41 |
| Tolerance (Conservatives) | 7 |
| Administrative Support | 5.39 |
| Comfort | 14.4 |
| Disruptive Conduct | 9.49 |
| Speech Code | RED |
Haverford College: Amendments to Social Honor Code Restrict Student Expression
June 30, 2021
On May 3, 2021, Haverford’s student body passed a resolution amending the Social Honor Code to impose new restrictions on speech, including “political beliefs” that “perpetuate discrimination.” The resolution then proceeded to the administration for review. FIRE wrote to Haverford on May 7, calling on the administration to reject the proposed amendments and to revise… Read more
July 2021 Speech Code of the Month: Haverford College
July 1, 2021
At Haverford College, a recent amendment to the school’s Social Honor Code means students could be subject to punishment if other students determine they’ve committed an “act of … microaggression.” The amendment also states that students must be respectful of “community standards” when expressing “political opinions,” and that “political beliefs [that] perpetuate discrimination,” or that… Read more
Preventing the Tyranny of the Minority: Disinvitation and Dissenting Opinions
August 5, 2015
Haverford College, the prestigious and bucolic liberal arts school located in the Philadelphia suburbs, made national news in May 2014 when Robert Birgeneau, former chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, withdrew as commencement speaker following student complaints about his role in the 2011 Berkeley Occupy protests. The students’ letter, as summarized by Philly.com, urged… Read more
Replacement Speakers at Haverford and Smith Urge Graduates to Listen to Other Viewpoints
May 19, 2014
“Disinvitation season” continues, but at least some students are getting a lesson in what the phenomenon means for open discourse on campus.
Former Princeton University president William G. Bowen spoke at Haverford College’s commencement ceremony Sunday and criticized those whose demands ultimately led to former University of California, Berkeley chancellor Robert Birgeneau withdrawing from the event. And at Smith College, former Smith president Ruth J. Simmons replaced International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde as speaker after Lagarde backed down in the face of student protests. In her speech, Simmons emphasized the importance of hearing views with which you disagree, even those that are “deeply offensive.”
Don’t Save the Date: NYT, WSJ, Fox, MSNBC, NPR Cover ‘Disinvitation Season’
May 13, 2014
The Class of 2014 is preparing for graduation by buying their caps and gowns—but let’s hope they weren’t counting on having a speaker for the ceremony. The years-long, snowballing trend of protests against commencement speakers, which FIRE has termed “disinvitation season,” is getting major attention this year from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, MSNBC, and NPR, among many other outlets.
Commencement Invitation Drama Continues; Free Speech Advocates Speak Out
May 9, 2014
This spring, FIRE has already brought you the news of women’s rights activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali being disinvited from speaking at Brandeis University, Condoleezza Rice canceling her commencement speech at Rutgers University after some students objected to her invitation, and Pasadena City College disinviting and then re-inviting Academy Award-winning writer Dustin Lance Black. It’s been a pretty active “disinvitation season” so far, and free speech advocates are speaking up about why this trend is so worrying.
The Problem with Mandating Civility
October 11, 2012
FIRE is often referred to as a "watchdog" organization, and that is indeed an important part of what we do. But those who follow our work know that we also love to reward schools for upholding students’ free speech rights. That is why when a university earns a "green light" rating—a distinction currently awarded to… Read more