Tulane University

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Website: http://www.tulane.edu
Type: Private
Federal Circuit: 5th Circuit

Speech Code Rating

Tulane 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. Read more here.

At present, FIRE has not been involved in any cases at this school.

Red Light Policies

  • Student Guide: Computer and Information Dissemination Policies and Procedures

    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: September 19, 2016

    Respectful Communication. You agree to communicate only in ways that are kind and respectful. You agree to not intentionally access, transmit, copy, or create material that violates applicable laws or the University’s code of conduct (such as messages that are pornographic, threatening, rude, discriminatory, or meant to harass).

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    The use of university email for following is prohibited:

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    Creating or disseminating inappropriate or offensive messages, including racial or sexist slurs, pornography, harassing communication and threats of violence. …

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  • Student Guide: Code of Student Conduct

    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: September 19, 2016

    All individuals and/or groups of the Tulane University community are expected to speak and act with scrupulous respect for the human dignity of others, both within the classroom and outside it, in social and recreational as well as academic activities.

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Yellow Light Policies

  • Student Guide: Tulane University Posting, Advertising & Solicitation Policies- Housing and Residence Life Posting Policies

    Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
    Last updated: September 19, 2016

    Students are free to post signs, artwork, advertisements, etc. in good taste on the exterior side of the door to their individual room. Resident Advisors may ask students with inappropriate postings on their doors to remove them.

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  • Student Guide: Student Organizations Policies and Procedures- Campus Demonstrations Guidelines

    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: September 19, 2016

    Tulane affiliates must notify the Vice President of Student Affairs/Office of Student Programs of plans to demonstrate on campus as soon as possible but at least two days prior to the demonstration. Only Tulane affiliates in good standing may file a request. For the purpose of these Guidelines, “demonstration” or “protest” means an event requiring the presence of one or more persons in a University location with the intent to express a particular point of view in a manner that attracts attention, as in rallies, sit-ins, vigils, or similar forms of expression and include, but are not limited to, all campus events which may give rise to safety concerns, and/or any other behavior or conduct which possibly disrupts the University learning environment or Tulane’s business operations.

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  • Student Guide: Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Anti-Discrimination Policy and Procedure

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 19, 2016

    Sexual harassment is unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature by faculty, administrators, staff, students, and individuals affiliated with Tulane University by contract (including non-employees, such as vendors and independent contractors) or by anyone with whom one interacts in order to pursue educational or employment activities at the University. For the purposes of this policy, sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome advances, requests for special favors, and any other verbal, written, physical or other conduct of a sexual nature when:

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    Such conduct would be objectively regarded by a reasonable person as having the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual’s ability to learn or work or participate in University programs or activities by creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment even if the person engaging in the conduct does not intend to interfere, intimidate, or be hostile or offensive.

    Examples of Sexual Harassment – Sexual harassment may include, but is not limited to, the following:

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    Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for a romantic or sexual relationship to an individual who indicates or has indicated in any way that such conduct is unwelcome, propositions or other sexual comments, such as sexually-oriented gestures, noises, remarks, jokes, questions, or comments about a person’s sexuality or sexual experience.

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    Harassment, other than sexual harassment, is verbal, physical, written, or other conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion to an individual on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, citizenship, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, or any basis prohibited by law. Harassment based on any of the above categories is strictly prohibited by this policy.

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  • Student Guide: Tulane University Posting, Advertising & Solicitation Policies- Distribution/Solicitation

    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: September 19, 2016

    Tulane University has a No Solicitation policy. Solicitations and promotions are not permitted on campus grounds or in campus buildings, including residence halls. The distribution (handing out to passers-by) of noncommercial, informational materials is allowed outside campus buildings only by recognized student organizations, university departments, and Tulane affiliates, all of whom must receive prior approval by the Office of University Services (106 Reily). The distribution of materials in the LBC is only permitted through the use of reserved booths which are sponsored by a university department or recognized student organization.

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  • Student Guide: Tulane University Posting, Advertising & Solicitation Policies: General Posting Guidelines

    Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
    Last updated: September 19, 2016

    Publicity must not degrade groups or individuals.
    The Office of University Services reserves the right to reject publicity material if it is deemed inappropriate or if it fails to comply with the university guidelines.

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  • Compelling ‘Civility’

    June 1, 2012

    Earlier this week, an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required) discussed the growing popularity on college campuses of programs aimed at promoting civility. While one might reasonably ask whether there is a connection between exorbitant tuition rates, administrative bloat, and programs such as the “transformational, saturation approach” civility projects discussed in the article, there is no problem from an individual rights standpoint with colleges promoting civility. The individual rights problem, which the article barely even hints at, is that a large number of colleges and universities actually compel civility rather than simply encouraging it.  The article focuses […]

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  • ‘Tulane Hullabaloo’ on Tulane’s Speech Codes

    February 3, 2012

    Today, the editorial board of The Tulane Hullabaloo, the student paper at Tulane University, has written an editorial in support of FIRE’s analysis of Tulane’s “red light” policies. The piece quotes FIRE Senior Vice President Robert Shibley and calls for the university to promote free speech on campus. The editorial board writes, in part: “There’s the concern that it’s very difficult to define what is ‘inappropriate’”… Shibley said. “Those are definitions that depend on the opinion of the person you ask, and what’s inappropriate to somebody might not be to their friend or roommate.” Efforts to create a positive campus […]

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  • See No Evil: Tulane Students Vote to Ban Gossip Site ‘CollegeACB’

    May 7, 2010

    Torch readers will remember the controversy surrounding JuicyCampus.com, the much-reviled gossip website that was a frequent target of calls for banishment from university networks on the basis of the often salacious, sometimes malicious comments posted to it by students. JuicyCampus folded on February 4, 2009, but its spirit lives on in the form of CollegeACB.com. CollegeACB touts itself as existing on a higher plane than its predecessor; a site that “consistently hosts a higher level of discourse—while still making room for the occasional gossip post.” Nonetheless, at Tulane University, CollegeACB has become enough of a concern among the student body […]

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  • Tulane University Contemplates Adopting ‘Preponderance of Evidence’ Standard for Student Judiciary Affairs

    December 2, 2009

    Tulane University’s Student Affairs Committee recently voted to pass a revised Student Code of Conduct that, among other measures, would lower the standard of evidence in student disciplinary matters from one of “clear and convincing evidence” to a “preponderance of evidence.” As the Tulane student newspaper The Hullabaloo reports, the new Code of Conduct still needs to pass through the Faculty Senate and the University Senate, and be approved by Tulane President Scott Cowen’s cabinet, before taking effect. However, as it currently stands, the revised Code of Conduct would deal a major blow to students’ due process rights. Coupled with […]

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  • Advocacy group ‘red flags’ Tulane’s free speech policy

    March 28, 2008

    Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a student rights advocacy group, is asking Tulane University President Scott Cowen to clarify the university’s policy on free expression. In a letter sent via mail and facsimile, the Philadelphia-based organization states that Tulane maintains “vague and seemingly contradictory” statements about the limit of students’ free speech rights on campus. “The University encourages the free exchange of ideas and opinions, but insists that the free expression of views must be made with respect for the human dignity and freedom of others,” according to Tulane’s Student Code of Conduct. “All individuals and/or groups of the […]

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