School Spotlight

Purdue University Northwest

Location: Hammond, Indiana
Type: Public
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Speech Code Rating

Purdue University Northwest has been given the speech code rating Green. Green light institutions are those colleges and universities whose policies nominally protect free speech. Read more
This school has adopted the chicago statement for free speech. This school has adopted the chicago statement for free speech. This school has adopted the chicago statement for free speech.

  • Anti-Harassment (III.C.1)

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 18, 2018

    The University reaffirms its commitment to freedom of speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Accordingly, any form of speech or conduct that is protected by the First Amendment is not subject to this policy. … Harassment Conduct towards another person or identifiable gro... Read More

  • Purdue University Student Code of Conduct Operationalized for Purdue Northwest

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: September 18, 2018

    The following actions constitute conduct for which students may be subject to administrative action or disciplinary penalties. … Lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct on University property or in connection with a University activity. Read More

  • Free Speech & Open Expression on Campus

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: September 18, 2018

    Purdue University Northwest recognizes the protections guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and believes academic progress and freedom flourish when these rights are assured.  Consistent with these protections, and with the powers and duties granted to the Trustees of Purdue Uni... Read More

  • Purdue University Calumet: First Amendment Violations Against Professor Who Criticized Muslims

    January 24, 2012

    After investigating nine complaints of harassment and discrimination against Professor Maurice Eisenstein, Purdue University Calumet dismissed all of them. Among other comments on his personal Facebook page, Eisenstein had criticized “‘moderate’ Muslims” who he believed had not condemned violence after an attack by “a radical Muslim group” killed Christians in Nigeria. Although Eisenstein was cleared of… Read more

  • Purdue Calumet Eliminates All of Its Speech Codes, Earns FIRE’s Highest Free Speech Rating

    September 29, 2015

    HAMMOND, Ind., September 29, 2015—The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) is pleased to announce that Purdue University Calumet has earned FIRE’s highest, “green light” rating for free speech by eliminating all of its restrictive speech policies. With assistance from FIRE, Purdue Calumet joins an elite group of colleges and universities that have reformed… Read more

  • Four Key Points About Free Speech and the Feds’ ‘Blueprint’

    July 15, 2013

    It’s been more than two months since FIRE and the higher ed community were shocked by a letter issued jointly by the Departments of Education and Justice to the University of Montana. FIRE staff have blogged extensively about the Departments’ “blueprint” for campus sexual harassment in the last 10 weeks, but there are four crucial points that I… Read more

  • Controversial Purdue Professor Wins Battle Over Publishing Public Documents

    July 6, 2012

    Professor Maurice Eisenstein, who was ganged up on for months by some of his faculty colleagues due to his protected expression, has won another battle for free speech at Purdue University Calumet. After investigating nine complaints of harassment and discrimination against Eisenstein, Purdue University Calumet dismissed all of them. Among other comments on his personal… Read more

  • Who You Gonna Call?

    May 22, 2012

    FIRE, of course! Professor Maurice Eisenstein, who is suing Purdue University Calumet for violating his free speech rights after he criticized Muslims on Facebook, was interviewed by Frontpage in a piece published today. The interview provides a detailed account of his ordeal. Here is an excerpt about FIRE’s influence in his case:  FP: The University… Read more

  • Free Speech Lawsuit at Purdue-Calumet Hits Fox News, Associated Press

    May 18, 2012

    Yesterday, the media began to pick up the lawsuit filed in Indiana last week by a Purdue University Calumet professor who had generated controversy by criticizing Muslims on Facebook. As his lawsuit points out, Professor Maurice Eisenstein was cleared of nine complaints after a months-long investigation only to be found guilty of "retaliation," when really… Read more

  • Professor Who Criticized Muslims on Facebook Sues Purdue University Calumet

    May 16, 2012

    Here’s today’s press release:  CHICAGO, May 16, 2012—A professor has filed a free speech lawsuit against Purdue University Calumet after the university punished him in the wake of his remarks about Muslims on Facebook. The PUC Muslim Student Association and several students and faculty members had filed harassment complaints against professor Maurice Eisenstein after he… Read more

  • Professor Who Criticized Muslims on Facebook Sues Purdue University Calumet

    May 16, 2012

    CHICAGO, May 16, 2012—A professor has filed a free speech lawsuit against Purdue University Calumet after the university punished him in the wake of his remarks about Muslims on Facebook. The PUC Muslim Student Association and several students and faculty members had filed harassment complaints against professor Maurice Eisenstein after he criticized moderate Muslims who… Read more

  • Purdue University Calumet Declares Professor Guilty of ‘Retaliation’

    April 13, 2012

    As we wrote here a few weeks ago, Purdue University Calumet (PUC) professor Maurice Eisenstein was recently the subject of a months-long harassment investigation based on charged remarks about Islam he made on his personal Facebook page and while teaching. A number of students, calling the remarks offensive, submitted complaints to PUC. But merely causing… Read more

  • Kissel on Free Speech in Purdue University Calumet Student Paper

    April 3, 2012

    Following a talk by FIRE’s Adam Kissel at Purdue University Calumet last week, The Purdue University Calumet Chronicle has published an article reiterating Adam’s points about free speech on campus. The Chronicle highlights Adam’s discussion of the importance on a college campus of allowing a full exchange of ideas to take place: "What are the… Read more

  • Purdue-Calumet Investigates Professor’s Speech for Months, Chilling Expression

    February 20, 2012

    Purdue University Calumet (PUC) has been investigating a professor for months due to what looks like an organized onslaught of complaints about his expression on Facebook and in class about Muslims, even though some of the complainants never took his class and many have left unspecified what speech, exactly, they were complaining about. Professor Maurice… Read more