School Spotlight
University of Washington
Location:
Seattle, Washington
Type:
Public
Speech Code Rating
University of Washington has been given the speech code rating Yellow. Yellow light colleges and universities are those institutions with at least one ambiguous policy that too easily encourages administrative abuse and arbitrary application.
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Student Conduct Code: Prohibited Conduct
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: August 19, 2020Computer abuses include, but are not limited to: … Use of university computing facilities or resources to send intimidating, harassing, or threatening messages; … Harassment or bullying is language or conduct that is unwelcome and sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive such that it could reasonab... Read MoreHousing & Food Services: Resident Handbook- Bias-related Incidents
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Last updated: August 19, 2020Bias-related conduct is behavior that by intent, action and/or outcome may offend, harm or threaten to harm a person or group based on the perception of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic informat... Read More2020-2021 9-Month Housing Agreement
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
Last updated: August 19, 2020I will not participate in any action or situation involving physical or mental abuse, harassment, bullying, cyber-bullying, intimidation, hazing, pranks and/or other conduct that recklessly or intentionally endangers or threatens the health, safety or welfare of any person or results in damage to University property. Read MoreStudent Conduct Code: Prohibited Conduct
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: August 19, 2020Discriminatory harassment includes verbal, physical, electronic, or other conduct based on an individual’s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, age, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran status when one of the conditions... Read MoreRSO Policy Guide: Handbill Distribution
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: August 19, 2020Non-commercial handbills, leaflets, and similar materials may be distributed by regularly enrolled students, and by University personnel in open areas per facility policy, and in meeting rooms that have been reserved for their use, so long as such distribution does not materially or substantially interfere with the ... Read MoreReporting Bias Incidents: Frequently asked questions
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Last updated: August 19, 2020For the purposes of the Bias Incident Advisory Committee, a bias incident is any discrimination or harassment against a member of the university community based on perception of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or exp... Read More
FIRE surveyed roughly 20,000 students at 55 colleges and universities about the climate for free speech at their institutions. In 2020, FIRE released rankings of those schools, based on a number of factors, including openness, tolerance, self-expression, administrative support for free speech, and campus policies, scoring overall speech climate on a scale from -4-100. See the full report on FIRE’s 2020 College Free Speech Rankings for more information.
Rankings / out of 55 colleges surveyed |
|
| Overall Ranking | 15 |
| Ranked by Liberals | 20 |
| Ranked by Conservatives | 22 |
| Ideological Diversity | 40 |
Overall / out of a top score of 100 |
|
| Overall Score | 54.2 |
| Openness | 67.2 |
| Tolerance | 48.0 |
| Administrative Support | 66.0 |
| Self-Expression | 45.6 |
| Speech Code | YELLOW |
University of Washington settles security fee censorship lawsuit, agrees to change policy and pay $122,500 in legal fees
June 20, 2018
On June 14, the University of Washington settled with the UW College Republicans over a $17,000 security fee imposed on the students for scheduling a rally with the conservative group Patriot Prayer. The settlement requires UW to create a viewpoint-neutral security fee policy and dole out $122,500 to the College Republicans for attorneys’ fees. The… Read more
University of Washington School of Law professors release letter denouncing viewpoint-based security fees
April 30, 2018
Professors at the University of Washington School of Law recently released a letter criticizing their university’s attempt to impose a security fee on a student group for hosting a controversial speaker. The letter provides a compelling review of the legal and policy reasons why universities must not charge student groups viewpoint-based security costs for their… Read more
Student Government at U. of Washington Unanimously Passes Free Speech Resolution
December 4, 2013
On November 26, all 100 members of the Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW), the university’s student government, voted for the passage of a resolution supporting students’ right of free speech. The unanimous resolution (PDF) reads in part: WHEREAS, roughly 1 in 6 of America’s top colleges have so-called “free speech zones,” defined here as… Read more
Do School Admins Need to Have a Thicker Skin for Discussion of Social Issues?
December 2, 2013
I have to admit, I am tempted to have the text of this blog entry consist of the word “yes” and then head home for the day. A thick skin seems so self-evidently critical to the functioning of a free and democratic society that it’s hard to believe people need to be reminded of it…. Read more
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