School Spotlight
Lehigh University
Location:
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Type:
Private
Speech Code Rating
Lehigh 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.
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Library and Technology Services: Acceptable Use of Computer Systems and Facilities Policy
Speech Code Rating: Red
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: February 3, 2021Examples of prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, the following: … Placing the following types of information or software on any Computer System or Facility or on any system connected directly to the Computer Systems and Facilities: … That which is abusive, profane, or sexually offensive to th... Read MorePolicy on Harassment and Non-Discrimination
Speech Code Rating: Red
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: February 3, 20212.2. Harassment. Harassment constitutes a form of discrimination that is prohibited by this Policy. It is unwelcome conduct by any member or group of the University community on the basis of one or more protected characteristics set forth in Section 1.1 above. Harassment can rise to the level of creating a hostile e... Read MoreLehigh University Social Policy
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: February 3, 2021Party themes and behavior should not be sexually, racially, religiously or otherwise offensive, and should not promote the irresponsible use of alcohol. … Reference to drinking or to alcoholic beverages may not be made in any advertising or promotion of social events. Prohibited are words, pictures, or drawing... Read MoreDiversity and Inclusion: The Principles of Our Equitable Community
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience
Last updated: February 3, 2021Every member of our community has a personal responsibility to acknowledge and practice the following basic principles: … We confront and reject discrimination in all its forms, including that based on age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national or ethnic origin, poli... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Code of Conduct- Expectations of Conduct
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: February 3, 2021Lehigh University expects that all students will act in a civil manner that reflects maturity, social responsibility, and respect towards others and the Lehigh Community. Read MoreStudent Organization, Group and Activity Policies: Political Activity
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: February 3, 2021Lehigh University, as an institution of higher education, is committed to freedom of inquiry, the open exchange of ideas, and the open pursuit of knowledge. Read MorePolicy on Harassment and Non-Discrimination: Sexual Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: February 3, 20212.3. Sexual Harassment. Sexual Harassment is a specific form of harassment that includes the offenses of sexual harassment, sexual assaut [sic], domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, and is defined as: … b. Sexual Harassment: 1) unwelcome conduct, 2) determined by a reasonable person, 3) to be so s... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Policy on Freedom of Thought, Inquiry and Expression, and Dissent by Students
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: February 3, 2021Free inquiry and free speech and expression, including the right to open dissent, are indispensable in achieving the goals of an academic community. Lehigh University students and student organizations are free to discuss all topics and questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly and privately. ... Read MorePolicy on Harassment and Non-Discrimination
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: February 3, 2021Lehigh University upholds the principles of academic freedom and free speech … Read More
Policies are rated on their inclusion of 10 due process safeguards. Each policy may receive 2 points for fully including that safeguard, 1 point for partial inclusion, and 0 points for no meaningful inclusion. Most, but not all, institutions have separate policies for sexual misconduct and all other misconduct. See FIRE’s Spotlight on Due Process report for more information.
Grades
Lehigh University: Refusal to Permit Patriotic Displays
October 24, 2001
A scary policy could bring a chilling end to Lehigh students’ Halloween fun
October 21, 2021
Halloween parties can be a fun way to express yourself in college, but at Lehigh University, students had better watch out, as the university maintains a policy that says “party themes and behavior” shouldn’t be “sexually, racially, religiously or otherwise offensive.” Because the policy could be applied to restrict just about anything administrators find distasteful,… Read more
Ninth Circuit: School, Employer Terms of Use Are Not the Law
April 12, 2012
On Tuesday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an en banc decision (.PDF) in United States v. Nosal, affirming a federal district court’s dismissal of several counts of violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). At The Volokh Conspiracy, law professor Orin Kerr has been following this case closely… Read more
FIRE’s Free Speech Victory at Duke Highlighted in ‘Morning Call’
April 8, 2010
The Morning Call (Allentown, PA) ran an op-ed last Saturday highlighting FIRE’s successful work defending freedom of expression against censorship by the Women’s Center at Duke University and in other cases. Charles D. Snelling writes: I belong to an organization called FIRE — Foundation for Individual Rights in Education — that is a vitally needed defender… Read more
Lehigh Student Paper Gets FIRE Wrong
March 2, 2010
Samantha Harris, FIRE’s Director of Speech Code Research, has an excellent letter-to-the-editor in today’s edition of The Brown and White, Lehigh University’s student newspaper. Sam’s letter responds to student reporter Dani Todd’s article published last Friday about Lehigh’s red-light rating in FIRE’s speech code database, Spotlight: The Campus Freedom Resource. Sam responds to comments by… Read more
Bucknell Alumnus Prefers Rival Lehigh on Free Speech
October 20, 2009
Bucknell University alumnus Charles Mitchell has a strong piece in today’s Morning Call (Allentown, PA) regarding the administration’s wrongheaded censorship of political activity by the Bucknell University Conservatives Club (BUCC). Because of Bucknell’s actions, the school is on FIRE’s Red Alert list, which warns students to think twice before applying for admission to Bucknell if… Read more
FIRE Remembers September 11
September 11, 2007
Today, FIRE joins individuals across America and around the world in reflecting upon the tragic events of September 11, 2001. As university students and professors from Maine to California host commemorations today to remember those who suffered and died six years ago, we take a moment to look back at how those events played out… Read more
What 9/11 Taught Us About Academia
September 11, 2006
Today, FIRE joins the rest of the nation in remembering the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Five years ago, the events of 9/11 highlighted—in a very ugly way—just how out of touch many universities are with the American public. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, when much of America was still in mourning, a… Read more
Flags-on-Buses Flap is Glimpse into Academia’s Values
September 22, 2001
Smeaton Calls Removal of Flag a Mistake
September 17, 2001