Union College
Location: Schenectady, New York
Website: http://www.union.edu
Type: Private
Federal Circuit: 2nd Circuit
Speech Code Rating
Union College 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.
Red Light Policies
Student Handbook: Student Conduct Code- Regulations Relating to Conduct
Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
Last updated: September 28, 2018Violations of the Student Conduct Code by a student or student organization, or their guest, subject the student or student organization to disciplinary action. Such violations may include, bot are not limited to …
Bullying: The aggressive and hostile acts of an individual or group of individuals which are intended to humiliate, mentally, or physically injure or intimidate, and/or control another individual or group of individuals. Such aggressive and hostile acts can occur as a single, severe incident or repeated incidents and may manifest in the following forms:
Verbal/Written Bullying: Includes ridiculing, insulting, instigating, spreading rumors about, or maligning a person either verbally or in writing; addressing abusive, threatening, derogatory, or offensive remarks to a person; and/or attempting to exploit an individual’s known intellectual or physical vulnerabilities.
Nonverbal Bullying: Includes directing threatening gestures toward a person or invading personal space after being asked to move, leave the space, or step away.
“Cyber Bullying”: Defined as bullying an individual using any electronic form including, but not limited to, the Internet, interactive and digital technologies, or mobile phones.Sexual Misconduct Policy
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: September 28, 2018“Harassment” is conduct that creates an intimidating, offensive, or hostile working or learning environment or that unreasonably interferes with work or academic performance based on a person’s protected status, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. All such conduct is unlawful.
“Sexual Harassment” is any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, whether verbal, physical, graphic, or otherwise.
“Gender-Based Harassment” is harassment based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, which may include acts of aggression, intimidation, or hostility, whether verbal, physical, graphic, or otherwise. To qualify as Gender-Based Harassment, the conduct need not involve conduct of a sexual nature.
Generally speaking, harassment can be divided into two types of conduct: …
2. Hostile Environment. A hostile environment exists when the conduct is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent that it unreasonably interferes with, limits, or deprives an individual from participating in or benefiting from the College’s education or employment programs and/or activities. Whether conduct is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent is determined by using an objective standard of a reasonable person as well as the subjective standard of the Complainant.
Student Handbook: Bias Acts, Policy Prohibiting
Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Last updated: September 28, 2018Under Union’s specific definition, a bias incident is action taken that one could reasonably and prudently conclude is motivated, in whole or in part, by the alleged offender’s bias against an actual or perceived aspect of diversity, including, but not limited to, age, ancestry or ethnicity, color, creed, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, height, immigration or citizenship status, marital status, national origin, race, religion, religious practice, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or weight.
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Union College may respond to bias acts through educations. Bias acts (or perceived bias acts) will be addressed by the College on a case-by-case basis.
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Respondent The respondent, a student who is accused of a bias incident, is entitled:
● To be treated with respect by College officials.
● To take advantage of campus support resources (Counseling Center Religious & Spiritual Life and Health Services).
● To have an Advisor during a Student Conduct Code Board Hearing in accordance with the Student Conduct Code.
● To refuse to have an allegation resolved through informal resolution procedures.
● To be heard in accordance with the Student Conduct Code.Student Handbook: Student Conduct Code- Introduction
Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
Last updated: September 28, 2018By valuing a diversity of opinions and life styles, members of the College community are bound together both by respect for the individual and collective rights of others and by recognition of the primary aims of learning and development of the disciplined mind that brings us together. Judicial action will be taken against students and student organizations whose conduct adversely affects the College community or the pursuit of the College’s objectives.
Student Handbook: Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation, Policy Prohibiting
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: September 28, 2018Harassment
Unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct which is directed at a person based on a protected characteristic and violates the law when: … (ii) these behaviors are sufficiently severe and/or pervasive to have the effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s educational experience, working conditions, or living conditions by creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. Whether conduct is sufficiently severe and/or pervasive is determined by using the objective standard of a reasonable person as well as the subjective standard of the individual at whom the unwelcome conduct is directed. Union College strives for a respectful workplace and classroom environment at all times and prohibits any harassing conduct. Examples of conduct that can constitute harassment if based on an individual’s protected characteristic include but are not limited to:
● Unwelcome jokes or comments about a legally protected characteristic (e.g., racial or ethnic jokes);
● Disparaging remarks to a person about a legally protected characteristic (e.g., negative or offensive remarks or jokes about a person’s religion or religious garments);
● Displaying negative or offensive posters or pictures about a legally protected characteristic;
● Electronic communications such as derogatory e-mail, text messaging, websites, and postings on social media.Student Handbook: Student Conduct Code- Regulations Relating to Conduct
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: September 28, 2018Violations of the Student Conduct Code by a student or student organization, or their guest, subject the student or student organization to disciplinary action. Such violations may include, but are not limited to …
Disorderly Conduct: Behavior that intentionally causes or recklessly creates a risk of disruption to the College community or local community. These include … any behavior that infringes on the rights, safety, and/or dignity of others.
Student Handbook: College Policies- Rules of Public Order
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: September 28, 2018Nothing herein is intended, nor shall be construed, to limit or restrict the freedom of speech or peaceful assembly, since free inquiry and free expression are indispensable to the objectives of a higher educational institution.