Wake Forest University
Location: Winston Salem, North Carolina
Website: http://www.wfu.edu
Type: Private
Federal Circuit: 4th Circuit
Speech Code Rating
Wake Forest 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.
Red Light Policies
Student Code of Conduct: Verbal Abuse and/or Harassment
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: February 19, 2018Verbal abuse is the use of obscene, profane, or derogatory language that abuses or defames another person. Harassment is any action, verbal or nonverbal, that annoys or disturbs another person or that causes another person to be reasonably apprehensive or endangers the health or safety of another person.
Student Code of Conduct: Campus Posting
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: February 19, 2018All signs/posters/flyers displayed on campus must be in good taste, consistent with University policies, and must not contain sexist, racist, profane or derogatory remarks, or nudity. In addition, messages that contain abusive language, threats, fighting words, or obscenities will be removed. The University retains the right to deny posting of any materials on campus. Violators may be subject to fines and/or disciplinary procedures.
Student Code of Conduct: Misuse of Online Resources
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: February 19, 2018Although the University does not actively monitor students’ use of computing resources, any information brought to the attention of University officials about the misuse of online resources, including social networking sites, may be pursued through the University’s undergraduate judicial system. Examples of such behavior include, but are not limited to, harassment and threats toward individuals or property, photographs portraying inappropriate or illegal situations, misrepresentation of identity, etc.
Student Code of Conduct: Conduct and Social Regulations and Policies – Introduction
Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
Last updated: February 19, 2018When, in the opinion of the University, the conduct of a student at any place is reprehensible or detrimental to the best interests of that student, his or her fellow students, or the University, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.
Student Code of Conduct: Bullying/Cyberbullying
Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
Last updated: February 19, 2018Although definitions of bullying vary, most agree that bullying involves: … Repetition: incidents of bullying happen to the same the person over and over by the same person or group.
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Bullying can take many forms. Examples include:
- Verbal: name-calling, teasing
- Social: spreading rumors, leaving people out on purpose, breaking up friendships
- Physical: hitting, punching, shoving
- Cyberbullying: using the Internet, mobile phones or other digital technologies to harm others
Guide to Community Living: Room Displays
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: February 19, 2018Realizing that the display of certain items may be considered offensive and disrespectful to some community members, the university requires the use of discretion concerning the content of the pictures, posters, or written materials displayed in rooms and hallways. Residents possessing any materials that the university deems questionable may be asked to remove such items.
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In the interest of encouraging students to be active participants in national elections, the University permits the display of signs endorsing candidates for office for a 10-day period before the day of elections. Students should be trusted to use their good judgment in complying with this exception.
Title IX: Definitions of Sexual Misconduct
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: February 19, 2018Sexual or gender-based harassment is a form of discrimination that includes verbal, written, or physical behavior, directed at someone, or against a particular group, because of that person’s or group’s sex, gender identity, actual or perceived sexual orientation, or based on gender stereotypes, when that behavior is unwelcome and meets either of the following criteria:
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(2) The behavior has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with the student’s work or educational performance by creating an intimidating, hostile, or demeaning environment for employment, education, University living, or participation in a University activity or program. Examples of this type of sexual harassment can include:
- Unwelcome efforts to develop a romantic or sexual relationship;
- Unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors;
- Unwelcome commentary about an individual’s body or sexual activities;
- Unwelcome sexually-oriented teasing, joking or flirting
- Unwelcome back/shoulder massages; and
- Verbal abuse of a sexual nature.
Behaviors or communications may be verbal or nonverbal, written, or electronic. Such conduct does not need to be directed at or to a specific student in order to constitute sexual harassment, but may consist of generalized unwelcome and inappropriate behaviors or communications based on sex, gender identity, actual or perceived sexual orientation, or gender stereotypes.
Report Bias: Frequently Asked Questions
Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Last updated: February 19, 2018Wake Forest defines a bias incident as any threat or act – verbal, written, or physical – that is directed against or targeted at a member(s) of the Wake Forest community or Wake Forest property that are motivated, in whole or in part, because of a bias against race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and/or veteran status. Bias incidents that are addressed by the university Bias Response Team include actions that are motivated by bias but may not meet the necessary elements required to prove that a crime has occurred.
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Wake Forest values freedom of expression and the open exchange of ideas. The expression of controversial ideas and differing views is a vital part of University discourse. The expression of an idea or point of view some may find offensive or inflammatory is not necessarily a bias-related incident. While this value of openness protects controversial ideas, it does not protect harassment or expressions of bias or hate aimed at individuals that violate the Student Code of Conduct.
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The Bias Incident Response Steering Committee will review bias incidents reported and University responses to those incidents on a regular basis and share aggregate findings in a confidential form with the University community. Through these reports and responses, we as a community can gain a better understanding of one another’s experiences and build a more caring community.
Strategic Plan Vision and Mission Statements
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: February 19, 2018From its rich religious heritage, Wake Forest is committed to sustaining an environment where vital beliefs and faith traditions can engage secular thought in a climate of academic freedom and an unfettered search for truth.
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Boiling Point
November 26, 2014
By Daniel Schere at Yes!Weekly Students and faculty gathered in Wait Chapel on the campus of Wake Forest University, November 19, for a town hall discussion on campus policing, treatment of minorities and other student concerns. The discussion featured a four-member panel that included Vice President of Campus Life Penny Rue, and Regina Lawson, chief of campus police. During the question and answer period, one of the hot topics that surfaced was the recent sighting of messages written in chalk such as “Wake will lie for your money” that suggested the university was not providing a safe en vironment for […]
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Thought Reform 101
March 1, 2000
At Wake Forest University last fall, one of the few events designated as “mandatory” for freshman orientation was attendance at Blue Eyed, a filmed racism awareness workshop in which whites are abused, ridiculed, made to fail, and taught helpless passivity so that they can identify with “a person of color for a day.” In Swarthmore College’s dormitories, in the fall of 1998, first-year students were asked to line up by skin color, from lightest to darkest, and to step forward and talk about how they felt concerning their place in that line. Indeed, at almost all of our campuses, some […]
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REPORT: North Carolina is home to some of America’s best colleges for free speech
September 24, 2018
Eight colleges in North Carolina earn FIRE’s highest rating for free speech — more than in any other state — but 17 still maintain policies that substantially restrict student expression. PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 24, 2018 — A new report finds that North Carolina’s colleges and universities lead the way nationally for protecting student free speech. The Tar Heel State is home to eight of only 42 institutions nationwide that earn the highest, “green light” speech code rating from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. Do North Carolina Students Have Freedom of Speech?, released by FIRE and the James G. Martin […]
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Of saltines and speech codes
March 9, 2018
Bias Response Teams were in the news last month after a 2016 incident at Wake Forest University became the subject of national attention. For administrators at Wake Forest, a student being called a “mayonnaise monster” is sufficient grounds to investigate speech and remind students of the need to be “respectful.” According to the Old Gold & Black, Wake Forest’s student newspaper, in October 2016, Wake Forest student Ryan Wolfe filed a report with his school’s BRT because he believed that a group of students violated the school’s Code of Conduct by harassing him because of his race and political views. […]
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Speech Code of the Month: Wake Forest University
May 5, 2014
FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for May 2014: Wake Forest University. Wake Forest’s “Campus Posting” policy explicitly restricts student postings on the basis of their viewpoint. Not only does the policy ban any postings subjectively deemed “sexist,” “racist,” “derogatory,” or not in “good taste,” but it threatens violators with fines and disciplinary action. With this policy, Wake Forest places an impermissibly heavy burden on students wishing to express controversial political or social opinions on campus.
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Policies are rated on their inclusion of 10 due process safeguards. Each policy may receive 2 points for fully including that safeguard, 1 point for partial inclusion, and 0 points for no meaningful inclusion. Most, but not all, institutions have separate policies for sexual misconduct and all other misconduct. See FIRE’s Spotlight on Due Process report for more information.