Students have to be very careful about what they say at this school.

The FIRE blog reports.

Speech Code of the Month: Grinnell College

FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for March 2016: Grinnell College in Iowa.

FIRE recently downgraded Grinnell College to our poorest, “red light” speech code rating for a “bias-motivated incident” policy that makes a great deal of speech punishable at the college.

Grinnell defines a bias-motivated incident as

an expression of hostility against a person, group, or property thereof because of such person’s (or group’s) identifying or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, and/or sexual orientation.

Grinnell takes these incidents very seriously, promising that “[s]ince these behaviors are not reflective of our Community Standards, student(s) found responsible for bias-related charges may face outcomes up to and including suspension, dismissal or degree withdrawal.”

This is extremely broad language, encompassing, on its face, virtually any critical opinion someone expresses on topics like religion, gender, race, or sexuality. Do you think evangelical Christians have an objectionable attitude about issues of sexuality? If you say that out loud at Grinnell, it’s a bias-motivated incident. Do you support greater restrictions on immigration? Bias-motivated incident. Have you accused someone of “mansplaining”?