The Freedom of Expression (FOE) Policy Group would like to thank our students and colleagues for their thoughtful engagement throughout the Freedom of Expression Policy update process. We are grateful to everyone who participated in the community dialogues and to those who shared feedback through surveys during spring and fall 2025. Your perspectives and questions were essential in shaping this work.

Here is the final Freedom of Expression Policy.

Throughout this process, we received questions from community members about both the policy itself and the approach used to develop it. In response to these requests for clarification, below is a timeline outlining the entire revision process and answers to the common questions that arose when collecting feedback from faculty, staff, and students.

We catalogued the questions we received and are sharing our responses below:

What is the difference between Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression?
Academic Freedom is the right to pursue knowledge through teaching, research, scholarship, scientific investigation, creative expression, and the open exchange of ideas—without censorship or retaliation—regarding matters relevant to the subject of that intellectual or scholarly pursuit.

In contrast, freedom of expression is the right to use words, symbols, sounds, movements or engage in other actions to share thoughts, emotions, experiences, and beliefs; discuss ideas; participate in the life of a community; and engage in self-realization. This freedom includes the ability and opportunity to be exposed to, and respond to, the thoughts, emotions, experiences, and beliefs of others.

Why does the policy focus on principles rather than providing a comprehensive list of behaviors that are permitted or prohibited?
CC’s FOE policy emphasizes that regulation is the exception and that restrictions should be interpreted narrowly and tailored to prevent harm. Within the policy, there are categories of prohibited or regulated behavior, though we avoided an exhaustive list to better respond to the variety of anticipated or unanticipated scenarios our community might face. Regulated behaviors include those that:

The policy includes principles in response to community feedback we received during listening sessions, requesting that the policy expressly articulate the principles and philosophy that underlie it.

Why does the policy not include specific sanctions for different types of violations?
CC’s FOE policy does not list specific sanctions because it defers to existing policies. Violations of this policy are handled according to the procedures and sanctions already established in the Student Community Standards (Pathfinder), the Staff Handbook, or the Faculty Handbook, depending on the individual’s role at the College.

What if the government has a stricter interpretation of the laws than our policy?
All expressive activities must comply with legal requirements. Freedom of expression should be exercised in compliance with applicable laws and college policies. CC implements regulations to meet our legal obligations while attempting to maximize freedom of expression to the extent it does not inhibit the College’s mission.

Thank you again for your engagement. Your perspectives and questions were essential in shaping this work.

Sincerely,

Ty Nagamatsu, Ombuds (co-lead)
Lacy Karpilo, VP of Student Life and Dean of Students (co-lead)
Cathy Buckley, Director of Campus Safety
Chelsea Walter, Director, Office of Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education & Lecturer
David Jensen, AVP Civil Rights & Title IX
Doug Edlin, Professor of Political Science, and McHugh Professor of American Institutions & Leadership
Edwin Hamada, AVP Student Life
Josh Isringhausen, Assistant Director for Civil Rights and Interim Title IX Coordinator
Marion Hourdequin, Professor and Assistant Dean of the Faculty, ACM-Mellon Leadership Fellow
Rosalie Rodriguez, CDO, Institutional Equity & Belonging
Ryan Simmons, VP for Human Resources