Free Speech and Civility

Elizabethtown College is committed to maintaining an environment where open, vigorous debate and free speech can occur. At the same time, the College recognizes that there are limits to what is considered acceptable behavior on the part of members of the College community. While preserving the individual’s right to free speech, the College must also guarantee the right of individuals to be free from discrimination and harassment and, in addition, allow the College to fulfill its responsibility to protect the educational process and the work environment.

All members of the College community must stand ready to censure any behavior, verbal, physical, or electronic, which stigmatizes or victimizes an individual on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, handicap, or political ideology, as well as sexual advances or requests for sexual favors.

Discrimination and harassment, based upon personal characteristics or any protected class status, is unacceptable and illegal. The College seeks to balance freedom of speech, the right of individuals to be free from injury caused by discrimination and harassment, and the College duty to protect the educational process and the learning environment.

Reported violations of these standards will be vigorously investigated and adjudicated within the College judicial system.