Office of Residential Services: Community Standards for Living on Campus

Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: January 6, 2016

The doors of student rooms may be decorated but are considered public areas. Such decorations may not damage door surfaces or create health/safety hazards. In addition, obscene or offensive materials are strictly prohibited.

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Campus Code of Conduct: Additional Policies and Procedures- Equal Opportunity, Anti-Discrimination & Harassment and Sexual Harassment

Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: January 6, 2016

Sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment where … such advances, requests or conduct have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance by creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating or sexually offensive work environment.

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While it is not possible to list all of the circumstances that may constitute sexual harassment, the following are examples of conduct that, depending on the circumstances, may rise to the level of sexual harassment: * Unwelcome sexual advances — whether or not they involve physical touching; * Sexual epithets, jokes, written or oral references to sexual conduct; gossip regarding one’s sex life; comments on one’s body; comments about one’s sexual activity, deficiencies or prowess; * Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons; * Unwelcome leering, whistling, brushing against the body, sexual gestures, suggestive or insulting comments; * Inquiries into one’s sexual experiences; * Discussion of one’s sexual activities.

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Campus Code of Conduct: Trustees’ Statement on Student Responsibility and Conduct

Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
Last updated: January 6, 2016

Students enter WPI voluntarily. They apply, presumably, because they wish to further their education and because they believe WPI, with its traditions and reputation, is capable of advancing their intellectual attainments. Students come to learn, not to demand; to be guided, not to direct. If they do not like some of the rules, regulations, traditions, and policies of WPI, they do not have to enter. But let it be understood that having been accepted and having decided to enter, they are expected to abide by the laws of our nation and comply with rules and policies of WPI.

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Campus Code of Conduct: Additional Policies and Procedures- Equal Opportunity, Anti-Discrimination & Harassment and Sexual Harassment

Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: January 6, 2016

Unlawful discrimination or harassment consists of treating a person differently in any WPI program or activity based on their race, sex, age, color, national origin, religion, genetic identity, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or any other protected status. This includes, for example, the display or circulation of written or electronic materials or pictures degrading to either gender or to racial, ethnic, or religious groups; and verbal abuse or insults directed at or made in the presence of members of a racial, ethnic, or minority group.

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Acceptable Use Policy

Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: January 6, 2016

Use of any WPI system or service used for unethical or illegal activities is prohibited. Harassment, violations of privacy, inappropriate data use, and attacks using WPI technology are examples of such activities forbidden at WPI.

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Campus Code of Conduct

Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
Last updated: January 6, 2016

Without infringing upon any of the basic rights and freedoms guaranteed within the general American society, the WPI community recognizes that membership in this particular academic community is freely sought and freely granted by and to its members, and that within this membership group certain specific behaviors that may be accepted by society in general cannot be accepted within an academic community without hindering the explicit goals of that academic community.

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Office of Residential Services: Community Standards for Living on Campus

Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: January 6, 2016

Acts of intolerance, physical violence, and/or harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.

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Campus Code of Conduct: Glossary of Terms

Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
Last updated: January 6, 2016

“Bullying” under this policy means the repeated use of a written, verbal, or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture, directed at a victim that causes physical or emotional harm to the victim, damage to the victim’s property, places the victim in reasonable fear of harm to himself/herself or of damage to his/her property, or creates a hostile environment for the victim.

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Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Can’t Say They Didn’t Warn You

December 22, 2005

Prospective students beware: at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Mass., you don’t have nearly as many rights as your fellow students just down the road at Worcester State. That’s because, as a private institution, WPI is not bound by the U.S. Constitution, and WPI takes full advantage of that by stripping its students of their First Amendment rights. WPI doesn’t try to hide this fact, either. Unlike many private universities, its website makes no promises that students will have the constitutional rights that they enjoy in society at large. Moreover, it prominently advertises that “[s]tudents enter WPI voluntarily…If they do not […]