Longwood University

Student Handbook: Sexual Misconduct Policy

Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: November 3, 2017

Sexual harassment is unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: (1) submission to such conduct is made a term or condition of employment or the educational relationship; (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as a basis for employment or education decisions affecting the individual; or (3) such conduct has the effect of unreasonably interfering with a student’s or employee’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working, educational, or living environment.

While sexual harassment encompasses a wide range of conduct, some examples of specifically prohibited conduct include: … Engaging in sexually suggestive conversation or physical contact or touching another student or employee. … Displaying pornographic or sexually oriented materials.

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Student Handbook: Code of Conduct Standards and Regulations- Abuse to Persons

Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: November 3, 2017

Students found responsible for violating the following should receive a minimum sanction of disciplinary probation. … Harassment, threats, intimidation, coercion or abuse (e.g., physical, verbal, graphic, or electronic) directed toward any person or group of people.

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Policy 6104: Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources and Systems

Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: November 3, 2017

For use to be acceptable, it must demonstrate respect for: … Individuals’ rights to be free of intimidation, harassment and unwarranted annoyance.

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Student Handbook: Statement of Student Academic Freedom

Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: November 3, 2017

Longwood University endorses the principle of academic freedom, believing it essential to the development of citizen leaders for the common good. Since the search for truth requires the free exchange of ideas, the University protects the right of students to engage in unhampered academic inquiry and exposition.

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Student Handbook: Freedom of Expression Policy

Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: November 3, 2017

No rights are more highly regarded at Longwood University than the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, freedom of expression and the right to assemble peaceably.

…

In order that the persons exercising freedom of expression not interfere with the operation of the University, violate state or federal law or the rights of others, the following shall apply without exception to any form of expression.

1. The University does not permit expression that is not protected by law. Such expression includes defamation, incitement to unlawful conduct, imminent threats of actual violence or harm, obscenity, fighting words, copyright or trademark violation, criminal or civil harassment, sexual harassment and misconduct, trespass, and false advertising.
2. There may be no interference, including sound amplification, with educational and administrative activities inside or outside of buildings on campus and/or University managed property
3. There must be no obstruction of entrances or exits to buildings and/or activities.
4. There may be no attempt to prevent scheduled University ceremonies, activities or events.
5. Malicious or unwarranted damage to or destruction of property owned or operated by the University or by students, faculty, staff, or visitors to the University is prohibited. Persons or organizations causing such damage are financially and legally responsible.
6. All persons must comply with all state and federal laws and University rules, regulations and policy. Violators will be referred for appropriate legal or disciplinary action.
7. Public sidewalks and streets shall not be obstructed, preventing the passage of any vehicle or pedestrian. Illegal obstruction is a violation of Virginia Criminal Law (§ 18.2-404, Riot and Unlawful Assembly), obstructing the free passage of others.

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University shuts down bias reporting system after complaint

November 28, 2017

By Kyle Perisic at Campus Reform Longwood University has temporarily shut down its bias incident reporting system, promising to revise the protocol to assuage concerns that it restricted free speech. … Read more here.

Longwood University: Our Bias Incident Policy Is Limited to Conduct (It’s Not) and No Bias Issues Have Been Reported (They Have)

February 14, 2017

Last week, FIRE published a nationwide survey of Bias Response Teams (PDF) demonstrating that many of these systems call upon students to report fellow students and faculty for protected speech, including political speech. One of the institutions we criticized for a particularly egregious definition of “bias incident” was Longwood University, which expressed its displeasure to the Richmond Times-Dispatch: [Virginia Commonwealth University] and [the University of Virginia] were among the universities criticized by FIRE, as were [Virginia] Tech, George Mason, Mary Washington, the University of Richmond and Longwood University, which was singled out for special scrutiny for including the threat of […]

Student Calls Out Longwood University’s Speech Zones

February 21, 2013

At Virginia’s Longwood University, student Kramer Anderson has a bone to pick with Longwood’s “free speech zone” policy—and with good reason. As Anderson explains in a column for The Rotunda, Longwood’s student paper: The university’s current speech codes state, “The open area designated for speeches and demonstrations is the Lankford Mall … A request for use of this area must be made a minimum of five (5) business days in advance of the event … Groups or individuals may only use those designated areas once per month and for a maximum period of two days.” Longwood’s “Distribution of Written Materials, […]