School Spotlight

Indiana University South Bend

Location: South Bend, Indiana
Type: Public
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Speech Code Rating

Indiana University South Bend has been given the speech code rating Yellow. Yellow light colleges and universities are those institutions with at least one ambiguous policy that too easily encourages administrative abuse and arbitrary application. Read more

  • Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct: Purpose of the Code

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: March 18, 2020

    A student who accepts admission to Indiana University agrees to: … behave in a manner that is respectful of the dignity of others, treating others with civility and understanding … Read More

  • Student Incident Reporting: Incident Types

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
    Last updated: March 18, 2020

    Understand what incidents to report Trust your best judgment. If you believe a student’s safety, body, beliefs, or rights have been violated, report it. Read the following definitions to know how to identify incidents. … Harassment A form of discriminatory behavior consisting of physical or verbal conduct ... Read More

  • Policy UA-03: Sexual Misconduct

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: March 18, 2020

    1. Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct or behavior of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment includes sexual violence. Both violent and non-violent sexual harassment is prohibited. Sexual harassment can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal, nonverbal, written, electronic (e.g... Read More

  • Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct: Responsibilities

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: March 18, 2020

    Verbal abuse of another person, including the following: a. An express or implied threat to: 1. Interfere with an individual’s personal safety, academic efforts, employment, or participation in university-sponsored activities and that under the circumstances causes the person to have a reasonable apprehension that s... Read More

  • Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct: Right to Freedom from Harassment

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: March 18, 2020

    Discriminatory harassment is defined as conduct that targets an individual based upon age, color, religion, disability, race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or veteran’s status and that adversely affects a term or condition of an individual’s education, ... Read More

  • Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct: Freedom of Association, Expression, Advocacy and Publication

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
    Last updated: March 18, 2020

    In accordance with the state and federal Constitution and university policy, the university recognizes the rights of all students to engage in discussion, to express thoughts and opinions, and to assemble, speak, write, publish or invite speakers on any subject without university interference or fear of university d... Read More

  • Indiana University South Bend: Student Sanctioned for ‘Vagina Monologues’ Interview

    April 2, 2007

    Indiana University-South Bend reversed its punishment of a student reporter who was found guilty of “conduct that is lewd, indecent or obscene” for interviewing members of a campus group about their production of the play “The Vagina Monologues.” Student Robert Francis appealed to FIRE, which successfully pressured the university to overturn its unjust decision.

  • This Month in FIRE History: Florida College Bans ‘The Passion of the Christ’

    January 29, 2009

    In ten years, FIRE has seen astounding double standards at work on campuses across the country. However, even we were shocked by our case at Indian River Community College (IRCC) in January 2005, one of the worst cases of hypocrisy FIRE has ever seen. The case began when IRCC prevented the Christian Student Fellowship (CSF)… Read more

  • This Month in FIRE History: IUSB and Double Standards for Student Speech

    September 18, 2008

    In our nearly ten-year history, FIRE has seen many absurd cases in which students have been punished for exercising their First Amendment rights. One of our more interesting cases was finally resolved last September, when Indiana University–South Bend overturned its punishment of student reporter Robert Francis, whose only offense was asking questions of an actress… Read more

  • IUSB Vindicates Student in ‘Vagina Monologues’ Case; Concerns Remain

    September 20, 2007

    Today FIRE announced that Indiana University–South Bend (IUSB) has made a significant step in reversing its series of unjust actions against student journalist Robert Francis. Francis was covering a production of “The Vagina Monologues” for the campus newspaper back in February when he interviewed students and professors appearing in the play about their roles. Being… Read more

  • Victory for Freedom of Speech at Indiana University–South Bend

    September 20, 2007

    SOUTH BEND, Ind., September 20, 2007—Indiana University–South Bend (IUSB) has reversed its punishment of a student reporter who was found guilty of “conduct that is lewd, indecent or obscene” for interviewing members of a campus group about their production of the play “The Vagina Monologues.” Student Robert Francis appealed to the Foundation for Individual Rights… Read more