School Spotlight
Washington and Lee University
Speech Code Rating
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: October 13, 2021The 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 MoreStudent Handbook: Student Judicial Council
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
Last updated: October 13, 2021The 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. … Violati... Read MoreUniversity Facilities Use Policy
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies, Security Fee Policies
Last updated: October 13, 2021This 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 MoreInterim Sexual Discrimination and Misconduct Policy
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 13, 2021Non-Title IX sexual harassment means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature (e.g., 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 follo... Read MoreStatement on Response to Bias Incidents
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Last updated: October 13, 2021Bias 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 MoreUniversity Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Other Than Sex
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 13, 2021To 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) severe, persistent, or pervasive that it unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work or academic pe... Read MoreStudent Handbook: Statement on Student Behavior
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: October 13, 2021The 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 MoreStudent Handbook: Computing Resources, Network and Email Use Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: October 13, 2021Neither the network pathways nor W&L-owned computer systems are to be used: … for harassing, fraudulent, or threatening purposes; … Read MoreInterim Sexual Discrimination and Misconduct Policy: Title IX Sexual Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 13, 2021Title IX sexual harassment means conduct on the basis of sex that occurs in a University education program or activity, against a person in the United States, and satisfies one or more of the following: … Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive ... Read More
Washington and Lee University: Student Groups Prohibited from Displaying Campaign Materials
September 23, 2021
On September 12, 2021, a Washington and Lee administrator told the university’s chapter of the College Republicans that it could not display campaign materials for Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin while tabling at a student activities fair. The university justified its stance by claiming that its status as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization restricts the university’s… Read more
After FIRE criticism, Washington and Lee implements new political activity policy, allowing students to advocate for political candidates
January 17, 2022
After barring the College Republicans from displaying campaign materials on campus during Virginia’s 2021 gubernatorial campaign, Washington and Lee University implemented a new political activity policy. The new policy cures the pitfalls that led to the university’s censorship of the student group and now protects the ability of students and student groups to engage in… Read more
Washington & Lee to College Republicans: Stop advocating for candidate Glenn Youngkin in tight Virginia governor race
October 19, 2021
Administrator told group they could not advocate for candidates actively running for office Administrator incorrectly blames the university’s tax-exempt status to justify the censorship The university must immediately clarify that political student groups can be, well, political LEXINGTON, Va., Oct. 19, 2021 — The College Republicans at Washington & Lee University were caught red-handed. Their… Read more
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