Barnard College Expectations for Community Conduct

Barnard College is committed to providing an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation for all members of our community. Our Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment reinforces protections found in our mission statement and in federal, state, and local law, including, for example, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, and national origin. Harassment is defined as unwelcome verbal or physical conduct based on actual or perceived race, color, or national origin that is hostile or offensive from the viewpoint of a reasonable person under all the relevant circumstances and is so severe or pervasive that it limits or denies an individual’s academic opportunities or participation in any academic program, activity, or benefit. 

Impermissible activity on the basis of national origin is defined to include discrimination and harassment based on actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics as well as discrimination and harassment based on citizenship or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity and their association with this national origin or ancestry. For example, students of African, Arab, Hindu, Israeli, Jewish, Latine, Muslim, Palestinian, Sikh, or South Asian descent, or any other faith or ancestry, are protected under Title VI. Discrimination or harassment based on outward displays of national origin identity, such as natural hair or religious or ethnic attire or jewelry is prohibited. Discrimination or harassment using code words for national origin identity is also prohibited. Substituting the word “Zionist” for “Jewish” or “Israeli,” for example, may constitute prohibited discrimination or harassment against those of Jewish or Israeli origin. 

More broadly, the College rejects racism, colorism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, discrimination or harassment based on caste, and all other forms of bigotry based on protected identities and characteristics, including religion, gender identity, and family status.

Some examples of actions that affirm this community expectation include:

• Welcoming community members from different backgrounds and with different identities.
• Working collaboratively with classmates and colleagues from different backgrounds and with different identities.
• Avoiding stereotypes or judgments based on protected identities and characteristics.
• Following Barnard student organization guidelines that prohibit recognized groups from excluding members on the basis of identity, political beliefs, or majors of study.

Some examples of actions that violate this community expectation include:

• Refusing to work or interact with a community member because of their religious attire or perceived religious affiliation, their name, the languages they speak, their accent, their country of origin or citizenship, or their association with an identity-related student club. 
• Ostracizing someone, including denying them membership in a student organization, refusing to let them participate in events, or not permitting them to enter certain areas of campus because of their religious attire or perceived religious affiliation, their name, the languages they speak, their accent, their country of origin or citizenship, or their association with an identity-related student club.
• Using or disseminating stereotypes or derogatory tropes about protected groups orally or in writing, including through signs, banners, residence hall door stickers or whiteboards, and online communications, including personal social media accounts. 
• Calls for genocide of an entire people or other protected group.
• Accusing students of supporting genocide solely on the basis that the students are Jewish or are perceived to be Jewish.
• Calling someone a “terrorist” simply because they are demonstrating in support of the Palestinian people.
• Forcibly removing another individual’s religious or ethnic jewelry or clothing or removing or interfering with items that are part of an approved religious accommodation.

It is important to note that this community expectation is not violated if a community member merely expresses views regarding a particular country’s policies or practices. If such views are accompanied by discriminatory comments or stereotypes, however, then such expression would violate the Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment. For example, as the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has explained, “If a professor teaching a class on international politics references or criticizes the government of Israel’s treatment of non-Jewish people, the nation of Saudi Arabia’s response to religious extremism, or the government of India’s promotion of Hinduism, so long as such comments do not target or stereotype Israeli, Jewish, Saudi, Arab, or Indian students based on race, color, or national origin, that would not likely implicate Title VI.” Likewise, the OCR states that “political protest on its own does not typically implicate Title VI,” but signs at protests that target groups of students using ethnic stereotypes may be considered discrimination or harassment.

To fulfill the College’s mission of engaging in intellectual risk-taking and discovery, Barnard recruits and supports students, faculty, and staff with different mindsets and perspectives. This diversity helps us to dig deeper, to look at the world in new ways, and to be more nuanced and creative in our approaches to society’s opportunities and challenges.  

We promote open inquiry while also being mindful of the ability of all students, faculty, and staff to speak, study, teach, learn, work, and live on our small campus. To respect the belonging of all, we ensure that protests are conducted safely and do not impede the ability of others to access all that the College has to offer. The Policy for Safe Campus Demonstrations — which applies to groups of people coming together on campus to audibly express views on matters of public concern — and our Rules for Maintenance of Public Order both affirm our commitment to freedom of expression while also ensuring that our campus is safe and inclusive. These policies do so by setting forth content-neutral time, place, and manner guidelines for public expression.

We also expect staff members to serve our diverse community. Engaging in any demonstration on Barnard’s campus could interfere with a staff member’s ability to serve all students.

Some examples of activities that affirm this community expectation include:

• Organizing and attending planned academic events that follow our Campus Events and Approval Policy, including speeches, symposia, teach-ins, roundtables, and conferences. 
• Student participation in demonstrations or counter-demonstrations on Futter Field during the hours of 12 noon – 6 p.m. on nonholiday weekdays when classes are in session so long as the demonstrations were preregistered and confirmed as set forth in the Policy for Safe Campus Demonstrations and do not disrupt or interfere with the regular operations of the College or otherwise violate any College policies.  
• Engaging in forms of silent protest outdoors or inside campus buildings outside of scheduled class periods so long as the silent protest does not disrupt or interfere with the regular operations of the College or interrupt or interfere with approved programming. When outdoors or inside campus buildings outside of scheduled class periods, forms of silent protest may include putting tape over your mouth, turning your back on a speaker (so long as you do not obstruct the view of the person behind you), and staging a walkout that does not interfere with the entrance or exit of others, speakers’ ability to speak, or audience members’ ability to listen.

Some examples of activities that violate this community expectation include:

• Engaging in preregistered and confirmed demonstrations that do not remain on Futter Field, exceed the approved time period, or disrupt the regular operations of the College, including, for example, by using amplified sound or by preventing entrance, exit, or normal use or occupancy of any building owned or rented by the College.
• Engaging in demonstrations that are not preregistered and confirmed, including overnight demonstrations and demonstrations inside College buildings.
• Engaging in any form of demonstration or protest, including silent protests, inside of classrooms and laboratories during scheduled class meetings or laboratory sessions.
• Interrupting approved events, including by shouting down speakers or otherwise interfering with the ability of audience members to access the events’ content.
• Setting up unauthorized tents, structures, walls, barriers, barricades, or other objects with the intent to remain or to restrict or block access on College property.
• Using College supplies, equipment, or property to generate flyers, posters, or other materials for demonstrations or other forms of public expression.
• Failure to comply with the requests of Barnard staff. 

Barnard students are subject to Columbia University rules when on Columbia’s campus, and violation of those rules will subject a student to proceedings pursuant to the Barnard Student Code of Conduct and, in very limited circumstances, to proceedings initiated by the Columbia University Judicial Board.  

Barnard College expressly prohibits violence, or calls for violence, against any member of our community. Violence, threats, and intimidation are harmful to members of our community and will be addressed promptly with action proportionate to the misconduct. Words with multiple meanings will be reviewed holistically, taking into account both intent and result.  

As part of this commitment, the College also prohibits hazing by any member of the Barnard community or any visitor to the College. 

Some examples of activities that affirm this community expectation include:

• Engaging in dialogue across different points of view in a peaceful manner.
• Enlisting the help of professors, staff members, mediators, or the College ombuds to resolve conflicts.
• Befriending those with whom you disagree and talking with each other, particularly about difficult issues.  

Some examples of activities that violate this community expectation include:

• Violent physical acts on campus, including physical altercations or threats of physical attack.
• Use or threat of force or violence against any person on campus, including but not limited to specific threats of violence on posters, banners, or signs.
• Calling for violence on campus, including calling for violence against Barnard or Columbia or any member of the Barnard or Columbia communities.
• Spraying individuals with foul-smelling substances.
• Releasing insects or any pests in College buildings or at the residences of College community members.
• Advocating for the elimination of people or groups of people, including by using language that calls for murdering, eradicating, destroying, massacring, or exterminating.
• Engaging in any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers mental or physical health or involves a forced activity for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization. This includes organized or unorganized groups regardless of their recognition by Barnard or Columbia. 
• Engaging in doxxing, defined as the publication, including on social media, of individuals’ private information in an attempt to shame, embarrass, or harm those individuals.
• Requiring participation in demonstrations, protests, or activist activity as a condition for membership in a student club.
• Destruction or defacement of College property, including through graffiti, tagging, or similar means.

Members of the Barnard and Columbia communities and their guests are entitled to use campus grounds, facilities, and buildings rented or owned by the College. We ask Barnard and Columbia community members to carry and display their relevant BC or CU IDs when requested. The ID photo should match the person who is presenting the ID; those wearing a religious covering in an ID photo will not be asked to remove that religious covering upon request for identification. Anyone who does not comply with these rules will be asked to leave campus.

Barnard’s Community Accountability, Response, and Emergency Services (CARES) team works to ensure that everyone may safely work, live, and learn on our campus. While on campus and in buildings rented or owned by the College, Barnard and Columbia community members and their guests must follow all directions from the CARES team. The team or their designees will ask community members and guests to identify themselves when they are not following community expectations. The CARES team may also limit access to certain parts of campus in response to security considerations.

Some examples of activities that affirm this community expectation include:

• Presenting your official Barnard or Columbia ID when entering campus and upon request.
• Agreeing to temporarily remove, for identification purposes, a face covering that does not appear in the photo of a BC or CU ID.
• Asking community members to use their official BC or CU IDs to swipe into Barnard buildings instead of permitting individuals to follow you into buildings without swiping their own IDs.
• Alerting the CARES team when unauthorized individuals are on campus or swipe card readers are malfunctioning.
• Following all directions from the CARES team and other College designees.

Some examples of actions that violate this community expectation include:

• Refusing to relocate, lower volume, or stop engaging in an activity at the direction of the CARES team or other College designees.
• Refusing to identify oneself by displaying an official BC or CU ID to a member of the CARES team or other College designee when requested.
• Refusing to consent to having one’s uncovered face photographed for purposes of identification, including refusing to remove a mask, scarf, or other face covering that hides or obscures one’s identity unless such face covering is worn for religious purposes and appears in the individual’s BC or CU ID photo.
• Providing your BC or CU ID to another individual so that they may enter the Barnard campus or swipe into Barnard buildings.
• Gaining or attempting to gain access to a location that is clearly restricted by barricades or signage.

Classrooms, laboratories, and other spaces where teaching and learning occur are critical to Barnard’s mission and must remain places where ideas are openly explored and tested. These spaces are reserved for teaching and are not appropriate forums for demonstrations or other interruptions in any form, including through the display or distribution of banners, signs, or other printed material not assigned for class. 

Some examples of activities that affirm this community expectation include:

• Exploring topics in class that challenge students to think critically and explore new ideas and theories.
• Engaging in teaching and research designed to elucidate new information about the world.
• Exposing students to new ideas, facts, and theories that may seem shocking or even unthinkable at first. 

Some examples of activities that violate this community expectation include:

• Disruption of classes in any form, including through silent methods of protest.
• Holding signs or banners or otherwise distributing printed material that is not assigned coursework in a way that disrupts classroom or laboratory sessions.
• Interrupting teaching, including by shouting down professors, guest lecturers, or students.

Barnard is a home for students living in our residence halls. All residential students should feel welcome in their assigned residence halls and be able to retreat peacefully to their rooms and suites. Demonstrations and protests that may be permissible in other areas, including off campus, are therefore prohibited in residence halls. More information about living in our residence halls may be found in the Residence Hall Handbook.

Some examples of activities that affirm this community expectation include:

• Exploring ideas and beliefs with roommates and others in residence halls when all agree to participate in the discussion.
• Participating in discussions organized by residence hall staff.
• Decorating the interior of residence hall rooms.  

Some examples of activities that violate this community expectation include:

• Holding or posting signs or banners as a form of demonstration or protest on a residence hall floor or in other external spaces within residence halls, including bulletin boards, stairwells, bathroom stalls, and walls.  
• Holding or posting signs or banners from residence hall windows or balconies.
• Engaging in excessively noisy activities within residence halls.

Please note that the Residence Hall Handbook also prohibits hanging any item outside of resident hall windows. In addition, the handbook prohibits the hanging of any item on the exterior of residence hall doors unless students receive an approved religious accommodation.

As members of the Barnard community, we respect the College’s property as if it’s our own. Vandalism and other destruction and defacement of property are prohibited. Signs and postings on campus and in buildings owned or rented by Barnard must follow our Posting Policy, which outlines permissible locations and methods for display.

Some examples of activities that affirm this community expectation include:

• Posting paper signs or banners that advertise a student club-sponsored event in approved locations so long as the signs or banners comply with approved size limitations and use approved methods of posting. 
• Informally gathering on Futter Field for picnics and other recreational activities so long as you place all trash in approved receptacles when done.
• Reporting problems with College facilities, including spills, leaks, broken equipment, or dirty bathrooms, by submitting a Facilities work order.

Some examples of activities that violate this community expectation include:

• Destruction or defacement of College property, including through graffiti, tagging, or similar means.
• Engaging in impermissible vandalism by using non-water-soluble, semipermanent, or permanent substances to mark College buildings and grounds, including but not limited to using spray chalk, spray paint, or other forms of paint, stickers, or ink that are difficult to remove.
• Projecting a movie or displaying a light projection on any College building.
• Unfurling posters, banners, or other items from stairwells, balconies, windows, or other elevated spaces.
• Affixing posters, banners, or other items in areas of the College property that are not approved for posting, including, but not limited to, fencing, construction scaffolding, and windows.
• Removing signs or posters in approved locations that do not belong to the person removing it. Please note that College staff members will remove signs or posters that are out of date or that violate any other College policy, including our Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment.

To ensure we remain a diverse community committed to freedom of expression and inquiry, Barnard College avoids actions that may silence discourse, dialogue, and debate. The College limits collective statements to those topics that directly affect the College and our mission. The College refrains from taking official positions or issuing statements on matters of public concern except to offer sentiments of support for those who are directly affected or grieving. This commitment to institutional neutrality is particularly important when there is robust debate and a wide range of positions within the Barnard community.

Barnard College is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit institution, which prevents the College from engaging in political activities as a general matter. The College may never campaign or advocate for individual candidates or political parties. Barnard community members may not engage in political activity, speech, or campaign work on behalf of the College or appear to do so. The College’s Political Activity Policy sets forth the very narrow instances in which College officials and College resources may be used to engage in non-campaign-related political advocacy in furtherance of Barnard’s mission. 

Some examples of activities that affirm this community expectation include:

• Messaging from the president of Barnard College, or from an office, department, or center of the College, that encourages members of the Barnard community to vote and otherwise participate in the political process, so long as the messaging does not support or oppose a particular candidate and is nonpartisan.
• Messaging from the president of Barnard College, or from an office, department, or center of the College, expressing support of students with personal connections to an off-campus tragedy.
• Messaging from the president of Barnard College, or from an office, department, or center of the College, denouncing an action of the Supreme Court that would have the effect of terminating a federal financial aid program upon which our students rely for financial support.
• Faculty scholarship and teaching on any topic related to a faculty member’s discipline or approved syllabus.
• Faculty writings and statements on any topic so long as individual authors are identified so the writings and statements are reasonably perceived to represent the views of individual faculty members as opposed to the views of the College or an office, department, or center of the College.
• Faculty, staff, or students hosting and publicizing programs and other events on the Barnard campus that invite the community to engage in dialogue about matters of public concern.
• Faculty, staff, or students campaigning or fundraising for candidates for public office in their personal capacities without the use of any College resources (including College property, email, or logos). 
• If employment at Barnard is noted on a personal social media account, clearly noting that messages represent individual views and not the views of the College.

Some examples of activities that violate this community expectation include:

• Messaging from the president of Barnard College on issues that do not directly affect the College’s academic mission.
• Messaging from the College, including from any office, department, or center of the College, on issues that do not directly affect the College’s academic mission.
• Employees posting signs on their exterior office doors that are inconsistent with their roles or not directly related to the College’s academic mission.
• Faculty, staff, or students hosting and publicizing programs and other events on the Barnard campus featuring speakers making statements in favor of or in opposition to a political candidate or political party. 
• Employees posting signs in public College spaces, including on their exterior office doors, that support a political candidate or political party.
• Employees supporting a campaign for a candidate on their Barnard webpage profile.