School Spotlight
James Madison University
Speech Code Rating
Student Handbook: Standards & Policies- Sexual Misconduct
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: September 29, 2021Sexual Harassment: Conduct consisting of unwelcome or offensive sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other conduct of a sexual nature that can be verbal (e.g., specific demands for sexual favors, sexually suggestive comments, sexual propositions, or sexual threats); non-verbal (e.g., sexually suggestive e... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Standards & Policies- Soliciting, Petitioning, Selling, Surveying, and Publicizing
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: September 29, 2021Posters, notices, announcements or other materials may only be displayed on general-purpose bulletin boards inside authorized university-operated buildings or on authorized university property. The Director of the University Unions will define the authorized areas of display for such material. The exterior of academ... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Standards & Policies- Harassment, Bullying, and/or Stalking
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: September 29, 2021A hostile environment may be created by unwelcome or offensive oral, written, graphic or physical conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive and objectively offensive in a manner that it interferes with, limits or denies the person the ability to participate in or benefit from the institution’s ed... Read MoreAppropriate Use of Information Technology Resources
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: September 29, 2021As a user of JMU information technology resources, each user shall: … respect the privacy and personal rights of others including, but not limited to, the right to be free from intimidation or harassment … not use university information technology resources for personal/financial gain, political activ... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Standards & Policies- Title IX Sexual Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: September 29, 2021Title IX Sexual 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 the university’s education program or activ... Read MoreNOT @ JMU – Discrimination/Harassment Reporting Form
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: September 29, 2021Use this online form to report an alleged instance of discrimination or harassment by a JMU student or employee on the basis of protected characteristics (such as age, disability, gender identity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or other protected status as defined in JMU’s Equal Opportunity Policy). Read MorePolicy 1121: Public Expression on Campus
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: September 29, 2021As public citizens, all members of the campus community have rights guaranteed them under the United States Constitution, including the rights of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. … For the purposes of this policy, speech and other forms of expression that are protected under federal and state law. As... Read MorePolicy 1121: Public Expression on Campus
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: September 29, 2021In outdoor areas on campus other than controlled spaces, university community members and members of the public are encouraged to exercise their constitutionally protected rights of free expression and freedom of assembly, subject only to reasonable, content-neutral time, place and manner regulations. … The un... Read More
James Madison University: Proposed Restriction on Campus Spirit Rock
September 11, 2020
Students painted dueling messages on the “Spirit Rock” in August 2020 after protests over the homicide of George Floyd, and some of the messages offended members of the university community. In response, the university announced that it would install security cameras on the rock, and that it was considering removing the rock, among other restrictions…. Read more
James Madison University: Photographs Seized from Student Newspaper
January 2, 2002
In April 2010, the Rockingham County, Virginia, prosecutor Marsha Garst sent a large group of police officers to the offices of James Madison University (JMU) student newspaper The Breeze with an improper warrant to seize photographs of the annual Springfest party near campus. The party had drawn about 8,000 people—students and non-students—and caused substantial public… Read more
It’s not just a rock: Universities must preserve landmarks for student expression
September 24, 2020
Repainted and papered over, sometimes for decades, free speech rocks, fences, walls, and myriad similar landmarks have long served as outlets for student expression on campuses across the nation. And for an equally long time, students with dueling viewpoints have attempted to make sure their messages on these objects come out on top — including… Read more
James Madison University reportedly orders alleged sexual assault victim not to go public
April 17, 2018
FIRE has repeatedly made the point that the current broken state of sexual misconduct and other Title IX procedures on today’s campuses is poorly serving both accusers and the accused. Last week I wrote about a situation that’s unfair to the accused. This week, it’s an accuser’s turn to face injustice. James Madison University, a… Read more
Former FIRE Intern on James Madison U.’s Step Backward
September 23, 2014
Former James Madison University student and 2012 FIRE summer intern Luke Wachob wrote to JMU student newspaper The Breeze on Sunday, urging JMU to bring its policies back in line with the First Amendment. As my colleague Samantha Harris reported last week, JMU has lost its “green light” rating in our Spotlight database because it… Read more
James Madison University Loses Its ‘Green Light’ Rating
September 19, 2014
After failing to heed several warnings from FIRE about new speech codes, James Madison University—which FIRE at one point named one of the seven best colleges for free speech—has lost its “green light” rating. This is particularly disappointing news given how hard a dedicated group of JMU students worked to bring about speech code reform… Read more
How One JMU Student Worked to Eliminate Restrictive Speech Codes
September 25, 2013
James Madison University is one of the few schools to have FIRE’s “green light” rating, but JMU wasn’t always a green light school. In October 2009, FIRE began working with James Madison University students to reform the school’s restrictive speech codes. In this video interview, JMU alumnus and former FIRE intern Luke Wachob explains how,… Read more
On Working with Administrators: Five Principles for Student Activists
August 2, 2013
by David Hicks David Hicks is a FIRE summer intern. At FIRE’s sixth annual CFN Conference, past-FIRE intern Luke Wachob talked about his student group’s work at James Madison University to bring his school from a FIRE “red light” to a “green light” rating by changing unconstitutional speech codes on the campus. He highlighted the… Read more
JMU Celebrates Its Spot in FIRE’s Top 7
September 20, 2012
It is certainly an honor to join the exclusive group of schools that earn FIRE’s "green light" rating in our Spotlight database. But James Madison University (JMU) took it one step further and made FIRE’s 2012 list of the seven best colleges for free speech. Check out this article in JMU’s student newspaper, The Breeze,… Read more
James Madison Student Praises ‘Vibrant’ Free Speech Wall
May 11, 2012
Last month, I wrote a Torch post highlighting student activism that took place on campuses across the country during Free Speech Week, April 1-8. For one of the most popular demonstrations, many student groups built free speech walls to provide an open forum for student expression. Students constructed temporary walls out of cardboard or wood,… Read more
JMU ‘Breeze’ Brings Further Recognition to ‘Green Light’ Rating
September 22, 2011
We’re glad that James Madison University’s (JMU’s) student newspaper, The Breeze, is bringing awareness to the university’s recently earned spot on FIRE’s "green light" list, with articles published today and Monday. As we reported last week, JMU eliminated the last of its unconstitutional speech codes, upgrading the school to a "green light," the best rating… Read more
Praise for New ‘Green Light’ Rating in James Madison University Student Newspaper
September 19, 2011
Last week, we reported that James Madison University (JMU) is the 15th university in the nation to earn FIRE’s best, "green light" rating by eliminating the last of its speech codes. An article in today’s edition of JMU’s student newspaper The Breeze praises the university for this victory for students’ rights and extolls the virtues of… Read more
Kelly Jemison on JMU’s New Green Light Rating
September 14, 2011
When James Madison University (JMU) became our newest green light school this week, perhaps no one was more thrilled about this important development than Kelly Jemison. Kelly, a recent JMU graduate, contacted FIRE in 2009 because she wanted to reform her school’s policies. She worked with administrators to make the necessary changes, but when she graduated… Read more
FIRE Congratulates James Madison University for Abolishing Speech Codes
September 14, 2011
FIRE is proud to announce that James Madison University (JMU) has eliminated the last of its speech codes, earning our highest, “green light” rating for free speech. While two-thirds of the nation’s colleges maintain policies that clearly and substantially restrict freedom of speech, JMU is now a proud exception, having fully reformed four speech codes…. Read more
Should Adjuncts Keep Their Mouths Shut?
March 17, 2011
James Madison University adjunct (now former adjunct) professor Isaac Sweeney suggests that they should, if they want to keep their jobs.
Virginia Newspaper Touts Growing Number of ‘Green Light’ Schools
February 8, 2011
With only 14 “green light” colleges and universities in the entire country, the state of Virginia should be proud to be home to two of them. Writing in the Daily Press (Hampton Roads, Va.), Michael F. Cochrane commends the University of Virginia (UVa) and The College of William & Mary for preserving free speech on… Read more
More Praise for UVA’s New ‘Green-Light’ Rating
January 17, 2011
In a column for Townhall.com, Mike Adams praises the University of Virginia (UVA) for going from a red-light to a green-light school by eliminating the last of its unconstitutional speech codes back in October. Adams describes how FIRE staff encouraged Dean Allen Groves to implement the essential policy reforms: FIRE began working with UVA administrator… Read more
‘Volokh Conspiracy’ and Local Media Decry Virginia Speech Codes
November 3, 2010
Ever since the University of Virginia (UVa) eliminated all four of its speech codes to earn FIRE’s coveted “green light” rating, local and national media have put the spotlight on the speech codes remaining at other public universities in Virginia. When FIRE announced the news, we noted that UVa joins The College of William & Mary… Read more
James Madison University Newspaper Reacts to UVa’s New Green Light Rating
November 1, 2010
This past Thursday, we praised the University of Virginia (UVa) for eliminating the last of its unconstitutional speech code policies, earning it a coveted spot on our list of 13 “green light” schools. We noted that UVa joins its fellow Virginia public institution The College of William & Mary on this list—and that we’re now… Read more
Out of 1,000 James Madison University Student Newspaper Photos Seized Improperly by Virginia Prosecutor, She Gets 20
June 2, 2010
In April, I reported that Rockingham County, Virginia, prosecutor Marsha Garst had sent a large group of police officers to the offices of James Madison University (JMU) student newspaper The Breeze with an improper warrant to seize photographs of the annual Springfest party near campus. The party had drawn about 8,000 people—students and non-students—and caused… Read more
SPLC Rounds Up Media Reactions to Raid of JMU Newspaper
April 21, 2010
The Student Press Law Center has done a great job rounding up media reactions across Virginia to the recent seizure of pictures from the James Madison University student newspaper, The Breeze, upon which FIRE reported yesterday. Suffice it to say that the media is not amused. For instance, The Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote: The First Amendment… Read more
1,000 James Madison University Student Newspaper Photos Seized Improperly by Virginia Prosecutor
April 20, 2010
She’s no Mike Nifong, but Rockingham County, Virginia, prosecutor Marsha Garst has something to answer for. Ten days ago, the annual Springfest party near James Madison University (JMU) drew about 8,000 people—students and non-students—and quite a bit of public disorder. There was violence. There also were dozens of arrests, such as for “failure to disperse”… Read more
How Students Made a Difference for Liberty in 2009
January 6, 2010
For the past few days FIRE has been looking back over our list of accomplishments in 2009. That list would not be complete without mentioning the students who have worked so hard to make their campuses more free. At the College of William & Mary, former FIRE intern and Campus Freedom Network member Braum Katz… Read more
JMU Upholds Trespassing Charge Against Student Reporter; Investigative Journalism Results in Year of Probation
November 11, 2009
A couple of weeks ago, FIRE reported on an incident at James Madison University in which two reporters for the JMU newspaper The Breeze received disciplinary charges from the university after entering a residence hall to interview JMU students about a recent “peeping Tom” incident. Unfortunately, as the Breeze and the Student Press Law Center… Read more
James Madison University Revises Speech Code of the Month After FIRE, Students Challenge Unconstitutionality
October 29, 2009
We have good news from the front in the fight to eradicate speech codes from our nation’s campuses. James Madison University has revised its policy on Obscene Conduct, no longer banning “lewd, indecent or obscene…expression.” Yet the university’s strained relationship with First Amendment principles has recently manifested itself in another way, with students charged with offenses for… Read more
Student Reporters at James Madison University Threatened with Disciplinary Action for Attempting to Report On-Campus Incident
October 28, 2009
For attempting to report on a recent trespassing incident in a James Madison University residence hall, two reporters for the JMU newspaper The Breeze have themselves been charged with trespassing. As The Breeze reported on October 23: On Sunday, [Breeze contributor Katie] Hibson, a sophomore media arts and design major, was investigating the Oct. 14… Read more
Rights in the News: With FIRE’s Help, Students Standing Up to Their Speech Codes
October 16, 2009
FIRE was elated to begin the week with the announcement that The College of William & Mary had reformed the last of its troublesome speech codes and become one of just eleven colleges to earn a "green light" rating in FIRE’s Spotlight database. Perhaps the fever has spread to neighboring James Madison University, where the… Read more
Student Op-Ed Calls on James Madison University to Revise Policy
October 5, 2009
A couple of weeks ago, Samantha wrote about a disturbing change in the policy on “Obscene Conduct” at James Madison University (JMU). The original policy stated, No student shall engage in lewd, indecent or obscene conduct or expression on university property or in university-owned or operated buildings. (Emphasis added.) The policy was changed to: No… Read more
Speech Code of the Month: James Madison University
October 1, 2009
FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for October 2009: James Madison University. JMU’s policy on “Obscene Conduct” provides that “[n]o student shall engage in lewd, indecent or obscene conduct or expression, regardless of proximity to campus.” (Emphasis added.) Torch readers may already be familiar with this policy, because we blogged about it several weeks ago. Our post caught the attention… Read more
A Disturbing Policy Change at James Madison University
September 14, 2009
James Madison University (JMU) has made a seemingly small change to one of its policies that actually has significant implications for student expression. Last year, JMU’s policy on “Obscene Conduct” stated that No student shall engage in lewd, indecent or obscene conduct or expression on university property or in university-owned or operated buildings. (Emphasis added.)… Read more