School Spotlight

Washington and Lee University

Location: Lexington, Virginia
Type: Private
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Speech Code Rating

Washington and Lee University 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. 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.

  • Student Handbook: Social Media Guidelines

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: January 25, 2019

    The basic principle is that members of the community are expected to adhere to the same levels of civility in their online conversations as in their face-to-face conversations.  The same laws, University policies, guidelines, and personal and professional expectations for interacting with all University constituents... Read More

  • Student Handbook: Student Judicial Council

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
    Last updated: January 25, 2019

    The SJC believes that honorable behavior is a University Community Standard (“Standard”) that must be upheld. Students are bound to this Standard just as they are bound to the Honor System. Any person who believes a student has deviated from this Standard may bring a complaint  to the SJC. … Violations of the ... Read More

  • University Facilities Use Policy

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies, Security Fee Policies
    Last updated: January 25, 2019

    This Policy is intended to set forth the processes, procedures, and requirements for the use of University Facilities and to facilitate the efficient, safe, and orderly use of such facilities and grounds, consistent with the University’s educational mission. … Major Event means any Event where one or mor... Read More

  • Statement on Response to Bias Incidents

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
    Last updated: January 25, 2019

    Bias incidents – – incidents that one could reasonably conclude may intimidate, mock, degrade, or threaten individuals or groups because of actual or perceived inclusion in any of the categories or statuses listed above – – can adversely affect the members of our University community and unde... Read More

  • University Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Other Than Sex

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: January 25, 2019

    To constitute harassment in violation of this policy there must be a finding that the conduct was: (1) based on one or more of the protected categories mentioned above; (2) unwelcome and offensive; and (3) either severe (in the case of isolated incidents) or repeated and pervasive such that it had the purpose or eff... Read More

  • Student Handbook: Statement on Student Behavior

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: January 25, 2019

    The community expects civil, decent behavior designed to encourage mutual respect for our individual differences, desires, and ways of thinking. Instances of uncivil behavior involving students are most effectively dealt with in personal and informal ways, not by formal conduct procedures. Therefore, members of the ... Read More

  • Student Handbook: Computing Resources, Network and Email Use Policy

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: January 25, 2019

    Neither the network pathways nor W&L-owned computer systems are to be used: … for harassing, fraudulent, or threatening purposes. Read More

  • Sexual Discrimination and Misconduct Policy

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: January 25, 2019

    Sexual harassment Any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature (sexual advances, request for sexual favors, or other unwanted verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature) or unwelcome conduct based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, when one or more of the following conditions are prese... Read More
At present, FIRE has not been involved in any cases at this school.

  • Due Process Legal Update: Judges in Virginia, Tennessee Rule in Favor of Accused Students

    August 18, 2015

    As Torch readers undoubtedly know, college students accused of sexual misconduct are routinely denied due process in campus judicial proceedings. In recent years, an increasing number of those students have been taking their universities to court, arguing that unfair campus proceedings violated their constitutional due process rights, breached contracts, and even discriminated against them on… Read more

  • The Problem with Mandating Civility

    October 11, 2012

    FIRE is often referred to as a "watchdog" organization, and that is indeed an important part of what we do. But those who follow our work know that we also love to reward schools for upholding students’ free speech rights. That is why when a university earns a "green light" rating—a distinction currently awarded to… Read more