Student Handbook 2009-2010

The University has free access to the premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of examining the same in order to make any alterations or repairs to buildings that the University may deem necessary for its safety or preservation.

Every effort will be made to respect the privacy of individuals living in college-owned or operated living units. However, designated University officials have the right to enter student rooms without prior notification to perform custodial, repair and maintenance services, or in the case of an emergency.

Room inspections to check the conditions of college property will be announced in advance. In the event of demonstrated damages, a charge will be made, roughly proportionate to the cost of removal, repair, and/or refinishing required.

University personnel may enter and/or search a student's room, vehicle, or other area, including personal property, in either a residence hall or other University-owned location or operated facility under any one of the following conditions:

Law enforcement officers possessing proper legal documents have the legal right to search rooms, and whenever possible, a representative of the University will accompany the law enforcement officer conducting the search.

Search Procedures:

Any items violating University policies, or creating a health or safety risk may be confiscated anywhere on university premises.

Subject to the limiting provision provided in section II.B.3 below, an individual engages in conduct(physical, verbal, graphic or written) on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnic or national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, or Vietnam-era status that is sufficiently severe, pervasive or persistent so as to interfere with or limit the ability of another individual to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or privileges provided by the University; or

Submission to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual employment, academic advancement, or ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or privileges provided by the University, or submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for decisions affecting such individual.

In academic settings (classroom instruction, research, scholarship, publication), harassment as defined in section II.B.1 occurs only if the conduct is taken with a general intent to engage in the actions and with the knowledge that the actions are likely to substantially interfere with a protected interest identified in Section I above. Such intent and knowledge may be inferred from all the circumstances.

Some injurious or intimidating conduct, such as assault or battery, normally has no significant speech content and can be regulated to protect other important interests without infringing upon the right to free speech or academic freedom. For example, unless clearly trivial in scope, and absent some mitigating circumstances such as inadvertence, self-defense, or consent, the anti-harassment policy or other University policies normally would apply to such conduct as:

Even speech, or conduct combined with speech, can be regulated if it is merely a tool to advance some activity that is unlawful under valid laws independent of this anti-harassment policy. In many cases, the anti-harassment policy has only incidental or secondary effects on the communication of ideas, because it is aimed at noncommunicative acts and effects touching upon matters in which the University has a great interest. For example, the anti-harassment policy or other University policies normally would apply to the acts of:

As a further example, the anti-harassment policy also applies to speech or conduct by a University official or that is merely a vehicle for substantially interfering with a protected interest, such as:

Other expression or conduct may be protected speech, depending upon the context of the expression.

Relationships Among Multiple Goals

The anti-harassment Policy, including these interpretive guidelines, reflects an effort to accommodate diverse University goals and obligations. Members of the University community who have a special allegiance to one goal to the exclusion of others may view the policy as an unacceptable compromise of that goal. The University, however, must take a broader view of its multiple obligations.

In many cases, interests in promoting a hospitable campus environment will be perfectly consistent with interests in free expression and academic freedom. For example, suppose a department Chair directs his or her faculty to discourage students from completing projects that might be construed as favoring a particularly controversial point of view. As a result, faculty could suffer a loss of academic freedom, students could suffer loss of freedom of expression, and some students and faculty might suffer serious interference with their educational opportunities or terms or conditions of employment. Administrative measures to eliminate the Chair's policy would tend to restore interests in free expression and academic freedom as well as interests in maintaining a campus environment free of harassment. Similarly, suppose that a campus official responsible for preventing and investigating crimes unreasonably detains and searches a minority student on his way to class, causing the student to miss all or part of his class. Suppose further that the detention and search is unreasonable because the official acts largely on the basis of his stereotyped assumptions about the student's propensity to commit crime because of the student's race and ethnic attire. Such conduct by the official might violate the anti-harassment policy by substantially interfering with the student's educational opportunities. It would also place a burden on the student's constitutional interest in being free of unreasonable searches and seizures, in expressing himself through T-shirt slogans or other clothing, and in being free of racial discrimination. A University policy that sought to prevent such conduct could help vindicate all of these concurrent interests.

Even when these interests do not so clearly coincide, the anti-harassment policy primarily seeks to regulate conduct with no significant speech component, raising no first amendment problems. In come cases, however, efforts by the University to maintain a hospitable campus environment may raise questions about the University's obligations to preserve freedom of speech. These interpretive guidelines are designed to assist an administrator in addressing those questions and in avoiding any violation of state or federal constitutional provisions protecting speech.

The University's constitutional and statutory obligations to provide equal educational and employment opportunities may require it to regulate some conduct and speech. For example, suppose a professor threatens to lower the grades of female students unless they submit to his sexual demands. Although the threats are conveyed through speech in the most general sense, the constitutional protection would not extend to them, because the threats are simply a tool for illegally coercing sexual favors. Moreover, the University may in some circumstance be legally responsible for the professor's harassment, particularly if University officials adopt or implicitly ratify the harassment as University policy by failing to intervene in the harassment after receiving notice of it. Thus, in some circumstances, University regulation of speech and conduct is not only permitted, it is the University's legal obligation, notwithstanding interests in free speech.

This could extend to harassment of students by fellow students: if University officials receive notice that students are harassing another student on the basis of a protected status and fail to take reasonable steps to intervene, they may be guilty of maintaining unequal educational opportunities. On the other hand, if the University restricts protected speech, it will violate the first amendment.

Thus, the enactment of the University anti-harassment policy should not be viewed as a rejection of interests in free speech; nor should the recognition of first amendment limitations be viewed as a diminution of the University's commitment to diversity. The University has a wide range of legal responsibilities that extend to equal opportunity, to freedom of expression, and to maintenance of reasonable educational, working, and residential environments for all members of the campus community. The University will be faithful to all of these obligations if it pursues its goals of diversity, equal opportunity, and non-harassment in a way that fully respects rights to free speech and academic freedom. In some cases, as illustrated by these guidelines, interests in free speech will limit the University's ability to pursue other goals. In those cases, the University is fully committed to honoring those limits.

Defacement or Destruction of Property

Just as a person may burn his own flag but not one stolen from another, a student would be free to display a symbol on his T-shirt but could be disciplined for spray-painting the symbol on a classroom wall or over a poster owned and displayed by another. This presumes that the University would mete out discipline for any defacement or destruction of property, regardless of the presence, absence, or content of any expression associated with it.

Free Speech and Academic Freedom in an Academic Context

Students, faculty, and others are entitled to express any view in an academic context, even if the content of the speech offends or even shocks some of the speaker's listeners. For example:

Those who disagree with such speech can, among other things, silently reject the view or respond to it with more speech in such form as class discussion or a letter to the editor of a campus newspaper. However, the University cannot, and should not, seek to regulate the content of intellectual debate.

Similarly, for pedagogical reasons, a classroom instructor can exercise a high degree of control over the process of communication in his or her class. The instructor can demand, for example, that students raise their hands and be recognized before speaking, that they speak to the topic raised by the instructor, that they address the instructor rather than speak among themselves, and that they adopt a classroom demeanor that does not disrupt the educational activity of the moment. Although deviations from such rules set down by an administrator or instructor would not necessarily violate university policy, the examples serve to help illustrate the scope of interests in free speech and academic freedom.

Time, Place, and Manner Restrictions on Speech

Subject to certain narrow exceptions outlined in section B above, a person enjoys the right to express even offensive ideas in such forums as (1) a written statement posted at appropriate sites after getting approval on a content-neutral basis from the appropriate University office, or (2) a private or public meeting staged at a room or other site properly reserved on campus. Those offended by such expression can, among other things, ignore the speech, avoid it, or respond to it with more speech; however, the University cannot ban the speech simply because it offends others.

On the other hand, the University may adopt content-neutral restrictions on the time, place, and manner of speech to avoid conflicts and disruptions. For example, it could require presentations on the Academic Quad to be sufficiently limited in scope as to avoid obstructing foot traffic on the bordering sidewalks and to be sufficiently limited in volume as to avoid disrupting work or study in the library or in nearby offices or classrooms. Similarly, if a campus organization has reserved a time and location on campus to celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., the University could prohibit another group that did not reserve the same time and location from disrupting the celebration with a conflicting rally or speech. This interest in freedom from disruption might be strongest when the event is scheduled inside a room, thus generating expectations of separation from those who do not identify with the goals of the event. It may be stronger still when the event is open only to invited participants, thus generating expectations of privacy. Time, place, and manner restrictions must be reasonable. For example, if the University prohibits students from posting any notices or affixing any other materials on the hallway walls and exterior doors of residence hall rooms and in the common bathrooms, it must provide other reasonable areas for the posting of public notices. Similarly, if a group of students has reserved an area for a presentation celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., University officials could not prohibit other students in an adjacent area within eyesight of the area from carrying picket signs or handing out leaflets that disparaged King, so long as they do not disrupt the scheduled celebration. Moreover, sometimes those expressing ideas at a rally invite debate and reactions from listeners; in such cases, the expression of competing views in the same time and place would not be expression in an unsuitable time, place, or manner. Nonetheless, such expression could be subject to University regulation if it amounted to exercise of a "heckler's veto," which drowns out the scheduled presentation or otherwise prevents it from proceeding.

Slurs and Epithets

Derogatory terms may amount to harassment or may be protected speech, depending upon the context. For example, a drama student writing a play about racism in America would be free to use the ugly, disparaging term "nigger" in her script to drive home her points about racism. Indeed, if he or she were willing to lose credibility and to weather the outpouring of criticism and counter speech, a person would be free to use such a term in a speech disparaging an ethnic group, gender, or sexual orientation.

On the other hand, a student would violate university policy by referring to another student by the term "nigger" "stupid jerk" or other epithets in such a manner or in such a context as to put the listener in reasonable fear of imminent physical harm. For example, suppose that one or more students stopped an African-American student in an isolated area of campus at night and invoked racially disparaging terms in a threatening manner. In light of the long history of racial violence in our society, the racially disparaging terms in this context could very well put the African-American student in reasonable fear of imminent harm. Under that analysis, the speech and conduct could be regulated without infringing upon interests in free speech.

Because of the high incidence of violence against women and against persons of gay/lesbian/transgender/bisexual sexual orientation in our society, this analysis might apply with particular force also to disparaging terms directed to such persons, particularly in a volatile context that presents a risk of physical harm to the target of the speech. Other kinds of confrontations, such as a woman referring to a man as a "male chauvinist pig," or a student calling a professor a "windbag," might not place the listener in reasonable fear of imminent physical harm as frequently, because the incidence of violence historically associated with such disparagement is relatively low. However, the immediate context is more important than the actual language, status of the parties, or historical context. Thus, if the term "male chauvinist pig" or"windbag" were communicated in a threatening manner and in circumstances underscoring the viability and immediacy of the threat, the speech and conduct could be regulated.

Other kinds of cases illustrate further that the context may be more important than the term used. For example, in a public forum that unwilling listeners are free to avoid, a speaker has a right to make the highly offensive statement that "women are whores." The speaker has no duty to make his or her voluntary listeners comfortable or to treat them equally. In another context, however, even the less offensive term "girl" could contribute to harassment. For example, suppose that a professor addressed his male students with great respect, but that each time a female student raised her hand the professor paused and said condescendingly:"Oh, no; let's see what the girls have to say." Particularly when frequently repeated, such condescending speech might provide unequal educational opportunity for women, thus violating the fourteenth amendment and federal legislation such as Title IX. In these circumstances, the University could constitutionally regulate the speech.

The Campus Environment Team ("CET"), an advisory group to the President, is composed of members who broadly reflect the campus community. The composition of the committee shall be created in the following way:

The Office of the President shall set aside appropriate funding for the CET to carry out its duties and fulfill its objectives.

Civil and just campus environment that values diversity;

Respect for all individuals regardless of their status;

Free speech and academic freedom and

The pursuit of individual goals without interference from discriminatory harassment.

Antiharassment Education

The CET should support and collaborate with efforts of others to educate the campus community for the purpose of preventing harassment and promoting a campus environment that reflects respect for all individuals regardless of status.

Members of the CET should be "in touch" with the campus environment. CET members may be aware of the potential for discriminatory harassment and may have special knowledge on how to ease tensions when harassment has occurred or is about to occur. The CET should work closely with the University administration to help implement strategies, consistent with free speech and academic freedom, to resolve tensions that may lead to discriminatory harassment and to mitigate such harassment after it has occurred.

The CET should provide data concerning discriminatory harassment at least twice per semester to the University President and the campus community, suggesting specific policies and programs that will help carry out the CET's goals.

Promoting Free Speech and Academic Freedom

The CET should support and collaborate with efforts of others to educate the campus community for the purpose of preventing infringements of free speech and academic freedom and helping the campus community to understand the University's obligations to protect free speech and academic freedom.

A public awareness program to inform the campus community of the existence of the CET, its purpose and the University's policy prohibiting discriminatory harassment and protecting freedom of speech and academic freedom;

A program to train counselors, resident assistants, student affairs administrators, and other employees of the University to deal with harassment and protect freedom of speech and academic freedom;

Offer workshops on cultural sensitivity, free speech and academic freedom;

Offer student orientation sessions on diversity, harassment, free speech and academic freedom;

A program to design and disseminate brochures, posters, and related materials that address issues of free speech and academic freedom and encourage members of the University community to appreciate diversity and to report harassment;

Offer suggestions to the administration, curriculum committees, and faculty to develop and implement programs on diversity, free speech and academic freedom;

A lecture series on cultural diversity, harassment, free speech and academic freedom available to all organizations within and outside the campus community;

Distributing a questionnaire on the campus climate, to faculty, staff, and students;

Recommending that exit interviews of University employees who leave their jobs include questions about the campus environment;

Periodically conducting studies on systems and structures that might undermine a harmonious campus environment or promote segregation of various campus groups;

Sponsoring public forums on the campus environment and how it can be improved.

Admissions: Consideration of AIDS-related conditions or HIV infection is not a part of the admissions process.

Residential Housing: Decisions about housing for students with HIV/AIDS infection are made on a case-by-case basis. The best currently available medical information does not indicate any risk to those sharing residence with infected individuals. In some circumstances, however, there may be reasonable concern for the health of students with immune deficiencies (of any origin) when those students might be exposed to certain contagious diseases (e.g., measles, or chicken pox) in a close living situation. Health officers and administrators may wish to recommend that students with immune deficiencies be assigned private rooms in order to protect the health of the immunodeficient student.

Access To Facilities: The University ensures access for students with HIV/AIDS-related conditions to classrooms, the college union, theaters, dining halls, snack bar, gymnasiums, swimming pool, recreation facilities, and other common areas.

Athletic Programs: Students with AIDS-related conditions may be capable of vigorous athletic activity; in some circumstances, however, competition may not be medically advisable for the health of the student athlete. An individual assessment by the University Physician is required. The Physician will make appropriate recommendations regarding athletic participation. This process requires protection of the confidentiality of the medical information involved. The Athletic Department has procedures for handling injuries to student athletes and for dealing with spilled blood or body fluids.

Job Status/Promotions: Previous testing, regardless of outcome, or /HIVAIDS-related condition, is not a criterion for consideration for job status and/or promotions.

Confidentiality of Information: The University ensures that confidential information concerning any aspect of HIV infection is handled with extraordinary care.

HIV Antibody Testing:

Satisfactory progress is determined at the end of the academic year. To maintain satisfactory progress a full-time student must earn:

For the purposes of federal financial aid, a half-time enrollment is defined as 6-8 credits; a three-quarter time enrollment is defined as 9-11 credits. Satisfactory progress for half-time students is the completion of one-half the credits for full-time students; for three-quarter time students the requirement is three-quarter of the credits for full-time students.

The Registrar will evaluate all credits for incoming transfer students. On the basis of that evaluation, the number of semesters of financial aid eligibility will be determined according to the following:

A student who is deficient in credits for satisfactory progress at the end of the academic year will have a standard financial aid package for one succeeding academic year only and will be considered to be on satisfactory progress probation. Students who are deficient in credit hours will not be eligible to take Denison funds on off-campus programs. Students not making satisfactory progress after the academic year of satisfactory progress probation will not be eligible for any financial aid. If the student completes the necessary number of credit hours during that year at Denison or at another college, the student will again be considered to be making satisfactory progress.

Good Standing: Students with a cumulative grade point average below 2.0 after four semesters at Denison will not be eligible to receive any financial aid. In order for your financial aid to be reinstated, you must raise your cumulative GPA by taking additional course work at Denison University without receiving financial aid. An appeal for a waiver of this regulation may be made to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee if the student has undergone undue hardship resulting from the death of a relative of the student, an injury or illness of the student, or other special circumstances. Transfer credits received during an off-campus program do not count in the calculation of the cumlative GPA, but they are included in the calculation of both attempted and earned hours.

Medical Withdrawal Policy: Students who are granted a medical withdrawal by the Office of Student Affairs will be eligible for a ninth semester of financial aid. This financial aid package will be adjusted from the norm due to the federally mandated loan proration, if applicable.

Monitoring: At the end of each semester, the Financial Aid Office will monitor the cumulative GPA's for all students receiving financial aid. At the end of the fall semester, the Financial Aid office will monitor those students who were not making satisfactory progress at the end of the preceding spring semester. Juniors and Seniors who have regained good standing/satisfactory progress will be funded for the spring semester as funds permit. At the end of the fall semester, the Financial Aid Office will also monitor all freshmen and sophomores on financial aid in order to alert them to the consequences of not achieving good standing and satisfactory progress by the end of the sophomore year.

Appeals: Students wishing to appeal their classification for aid may file a written petition to the Financial Aid Office.

Limit of Time: Students failing to complete a degree in eight (8) semesters of attendance at Denison shall be ineligible for institutional financial aid. Eligibility for federal financial aid ceases after twelve semesters.

It is recommended that owners of motor vehicles carry at least the minimum insurance required by the State of Ohio, as the University does not assume such liability while the motor vehicle is on the campus.

All motor vehicles are to be registered within three days (72 hours) of physically locating on campus. Registration is available through the Student Accounts office. The permit must be displayed within 24 hours of registering the vehicle. The permit must be displayed on the driver side rear window or bumper (fender area of motorcycle/moped). The registration is $60. The fee for a replacement permit (e.g., lost, stolen, damaged or upgraded) or a temporary permit is $10 each.

At the time of registration, the owner must present evidence of vehicle ownership and valid driver license. Only registered students of Denison University (those students currently registered for classes) have the right to register a motor vehicle. An eligible student may register a motor vehicle at Denison only if the vehicle is titled in his or her name or immediate family name. Students who have the use of vehicles owned by Denison University staff/faculty must register the vehicle with a student parking registration permit. When a student withdraws, takes a leave of absence or is suspended, he/she loses parking permit privileges.

In cases of speeding, reckless operation and DUI, the driver of the vehicle is held responsible. Responsibility for all other violations rests with the individual in whose name the vehicle is registered, regardless of the person driving at the time of the violation.

Denison University reserves the right to deny/revoke registration and campus parking privileges for the following reasons:

-Five (5) or more citations accumulated during an academic year.

-Falsification of information on registration forms.

-Tampering with, defacing or defrauding a parking permit-actions deemed hazardous to the safety of the community or the property of the college.

-Other instances when deemed necessary by Campus Security

To impound a vehicle involved in an investigation (to preserve evidence) or to disable a vehicle so it cannot be moved before a wrecker arrives (i.e., accident).

When the vehicle/license plate number appears on the multiple offender list.

Other instances, when deemed necessary by Campus Security and Safety.

All campus organizations are required to submit a Campus Organization Registration Form in order to be registered and utilize University Resources. In order to apply for DCGA recognition, organizations must submit a constitution for the organization to the DCGA Rules Committee. Failure to complete and submit an Organization Registration Form to The Student Activities Office may result in the organization's loss of DCGA funding.

Funding. DCGA allocates funding to organizations. Budget requests are taken from individual organizations at the beginning of second semester each year.

Eligibility.

Fraternity and Sorority New Member Education.

Fraternity/Sorority Grade Reporting. Students wishing to participate in the recruitment process for membership in IFC, NPHC or PHC organizations automatically consent to the release of their cumulative and semester GPAs and credit hours to the Associate Director of Student Activities for Leadership for verification of eligibility.

Members of IFC, NPHC and PHC organizations automatically consent to the release of their cumulative and semester GPAs to the chapter president, scholarship officer and chapter advisor for coordinating of scholarship programming, internal chapter standards concerns or the completion of required reports to be filed with the Inter/National Organization or designee.

Organization's Responsibility. Denison University places particular importance on respect and dignity for all persons. Campus programming, both social and co-curricular, should be consistent with this standard. Campus organizations and student groups that have responsibility and authorization to sponsor programs, including films, lectures and other kinds of entertainment, must keep this expectation in mind when planning programs.

Facility Scheduling

Student Activities Office Sensitivity Statement

The Student Activities Office (SAO) at Denison University, in an affirmation of its commitment to the principles of multicultural enhancement, is supportive of the concepts of non-discrimination, affirmative action and equal opportunity as they relate to race, creed, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age and physical ability. In holding with these tenets, the SAO stresses the importance of eliminating discriminatory and/or culturally insensitive language, behavior and content from Denison University-sponsored events. The statement is not to suggest the SAO supports censorship, but rather urges thought and advance planning so that Denison University and SAO-sponsored events reflect diversity and sensitivity inherent in the University Mission Statement and goals.

Campus Organization Funding Policy for Administrative Offices and Academic Departments

Administrative offices and academic departments will not fund campus organization social events. These offices and departments do not have budgets that include social programming for campus organizations. Funding for campus organizations is available and is appropriately allocated by DCGA through the normal budgeting process and through the Student Activities Office. Regularly scheduled social events as well as regularly scheduled academic events should be included for consideration in the normal annual budgeting cycle. There are times when academic opportunities become available during the academic year, after budgets have been approved, that might lead campus organizations to seek alternative sources of funds. An example would be when a campus organization learns that a certain speaker might be in our area as part of another campus program and wishes to take advantage of the opportunity. In these cases, it would be appropriate for campus organizations to utilize the Student Activities Office in trying to gain additional funds to sponsor/co-sponsor the event. The Student Activities Office is the only department or academic area that may be approached for funding for programming. Under no circumstances may Campus Organizations canvas departments or academic programs for additional funding.

Collaborations and Co-sponsorships with the Student Activities Office

The Student Activities Office at Denison University is committed to assisting students in developing their leadership and life skills. This goal is accomplished by creating an environment in which students can exercise their organizational and leadership skills in the area of activity planning and presentation. Specifically, the Student Activities Office, through the Assistant Director of Student Activities for Programming, acts as an informational and, at times, financial resource to Campus Organizations at Denison University. In order to provide the best possible service to Denison community, the Student Activities Office has developed the following policies and guidelines for organizations requesting event co-sponsorship with SAO:

Advertising/Posting on Campus

Outdoors Campus Noise Policy (Events)

Campus Organization Fundraising Policy

Campus Organization Alcohol Policy

The following policies apply to all formal and informal campus organization events, regardless of where the event is held:

Registration of Events with Alcohol that are Sponsored by Campus Organizations

Responsibilities of the Sponsoring Campus Organization During a BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage)Alcohol Event

Anti-Hazing Policy (Policy Applies to Individuals and Organizations)

Denison University expects its students and organizations to abide by the Denison community code of conduct, which states that members of the Denison community are expected to treat other persons with dignity, respect, mutual consideration and to respect and preserve property, and to act with due regard for the health and safety of others. In addition it is expected that community members act with dignity, respect, mutual consideration and to respect and preserve property, and to act with due regard for the health and safety of others. Failure by individuals and/or organizations to comply with the University Anti-Hazing policy constitutes a major violation of the Student Code of Conduct and may result in sanctions for the organization and/or individuals, including but is not limited to: disciplinary probation, deactivation, suspension, expulsion, withdrawal of recognition and/or suspension of operations.

No Denison University student or organization shall conduct nor condone hazing activities. Hazing activities are defined as any action taken or situation created, directly or indirectly, whether on or off university premises, which results in or has the potential to result in mental or physical injury, discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: use of alcohol; paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; mutilation or alteration of the body or parts of the body; physical and psychological shocks; quests; road trips;wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts of buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; and any other such activities that are not consistent with academic achievement, fraternal or organizational law, ritual or policy or State of Ohio law.

It shall not constitute a defense to the charge of hazing that the participant(s) took part voluntarily, that they voluntarily assumed the risks or hardship or the activity, or that no injury, physical or mental, in fact was suffered.

To report possible violations, even anonymously, call the "Hazing Hotline" at (888)NOT-HAZE (668-4293), or contact the Student Activities Office, (740)587-6739.

Serenades

Serenades are a traditional event connected to the fraternity tradition of pinning a significant other. All serenades must be registered by at least one recognized fraternity or sorority. Non-fraternal organizations wishing to sponsor a similar event may inquire at the Student Activities Office, 200 Slayter Union. In the event that serenade policies from the IFC, NPHC or PHC are more stringent than those listed here, the council policies will prevail

Community Rights and Standards Process for Campus Groups and Organizations

Sanctions: The following sanctions may be imposed on groups or organizations:

Appeals Process (refer campus group/organization to the appeal process in Article IV of the Student Handbook)

Public Information Regarding Community Rights and Standards Matters: As soon as feasible after an incident which represents a serious breach of community standards, a brief description of the incident will be posted at designated locations around campus. In addition, statistics are compiled by the Office of Security and Safety and published annually in compliance with the Campus Security Act.

Housing Requirements and Exemptions: All Denison students shall be required to reside in campus residence during their tenure at the college. However, students may apply for exemption from this housing requirement through the Office of Campus and Residential Life, under certain circumstances. The following students may be eligible for exemption:

Students seeking exemption must provide the appropriate documentation as requested by the Office of Campus and Residential Life. Documentation could include (but not limited to) a driver’s license, marriage certificate, and/or parent’s voter registration. Prior to making any off-campus housing arrangements, eligible students must have prior approval from the Office of Campus and Residential Life. Any student who resides outside of university housing without such permission shall be responsible for all housing and board charges and may be subject to disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct, through the University's Office of Community Rights and Standards.

Dates of Operation: The Office of Campus and Residential Life determines the dates and times for the opening and closing of the residence halls. Information regarding these dates and times can be found on the campus academic calendar (http://www.denison.edu/provost/calendars/) and is communicated to students in the Student Housing Agreement and to their home addresses during the summer months. In general, residence halls are opened and closed at 9:00 a.m. on the dates specified on the campus academic calendar. Students shall not have access to the halls prior to specified dates and times unless they have been approved for break housing.

At the end of the academic year, non-graduating students are required to vacate their rooms within twenty-four hours of their last final exam and by the specified closing date and time. This requirement is necessary to ensure that the halls are properly prepared to accommodate families of graduating seniors and summer conferences.

Break Housing: The University does offer limited housing during official break periods. This privilege is available to international students, to athletes who are required to remain on campus due to their sport's schedule, and to those students who are needed on campus by a faculty member, department or other office for academic or campus employment purposes. Typically, this privilege is not extended to students living within 500 miles from campus. Students who wish to be considered for break housing must submit a break housing intent form to the Office of Campus and Residential Life, prior to the published deadline for the break period. During all break periods, students who are not approved for break housing are expected to leave the residence halls and campus by the specified closing date and time. Students discovered to be residing on Denison's property without authorization may be subject to action under the Student Code of Conduct. Guest privileges are restricted during break periods. Dining halls are not open during vacation periods or breaks.

Room Keys: Each student shall be issued a room key and a Denison University Identification Card. Upon receipt of these items, each student shall be required to sign a Residence Hall Key Control Card. By receiving the key, ID, and signing the control card, the student agrees:

During break periods, student ID cards are deactivated. A student's room key and issued break access card will access the designated residence hall, for the dates when the student is approved to be on campus during the break.

Lost identification cards and/or keys can result in the denial of service, including residence hall access and food and other auxiliary service, until such time as replacements can be issued. Students who have lost their keys or ID will be charged for their replacement at a rate established by the University. Damaged identification cards will be replaced free of charge, but only one time, by the University.

Residence Hall Access: To provide reasonable security for residents, all residence hall entrances remain locked twenty-four hours a day. Students can access their assigned residence hall at any time using their Denison University Identification Card. Additionally, the card provides student access to all other campus residences—through outside doors designated Resident Access—but only between the hours of 7:00 AM and 1:00 AM. Students are expected to enter and exit residential facilities only through approved entrances and exits. With the exception of an emergency situation such as fire, students are prohibited from entering or exiting through any room or apartment window, or from using fire escapes or other non-approved points of egress to enter or exit residential facilities. Violation of this prohibition is resolved through the university conduct process. Students are advised that university officials have the right to enter any room to ensure student safety and compliance with all university regulations.

Assignment of Rooms: All first-year students shall be assigned to a room by the Office of Housing and Residential Life, prior to their arrival at Denison, and shall be required to live in one of Denison's designated first-year residence halls. These halls include Curtis East Hall, East Hall, Smith Hall, Shorney Hall, Beta House, Kappa Sigma House, and Morrow House. This list may be amended by the Office of Campus and Residential Life as housing needs warrant. The University discourages entering first-year students from living with fellow students from the same high school. Only mutually requested roommate preferences can be honored when housing assignments are made. The University is unable to guarantee specifically requested roommate preferences.

Rising sophomore, junior and senior students select their residence hall space through a housing lottery process that is coordinated by the Office of Campus and Residential Life. To support equity and fairness in that process, lottery rules require that the student who secures a specific room with his or her lottery number reside in that space, minimally, through the Fall semester. These students are only eligible to change rooms after that time frame.

Room changes: All students are expected to live in their assigned rooms. Students are advised that there is a room freeze in effect on all room changes during the first two weeks of both the Fall and Spring semesters. Specific dates are set by the Office of Campus and Residential Life. Any student that changes rooms during this room freeze, or changes rooms without completing the appropriate paperwork or without express authorization from the Office of Campus and Residential Life, may be subject to disciplinary action under the community rights and standards process, which could result in that student's loss of lottery privileges.

When a room change is needed or desired, the student seeking the change should request authorization by completing the appropriate form with the Housing Coordinator in the Office of Campus and Residential Life. However, in the event a student is seeking a room change because of a roommate conflict, the student will be referred first to the quad area staff for assistance with resolution of the conflict before any room change will be considered. Upon receipt of the completed form, the Housing Coordinator will process the request and inform the student of the approval or denial of the request. Upon notification of approval, the student may then initiate his or her move into the new living space and must complete the move within 48 hours.

Students are advised that the University reserves the right to reassign rooms, consolidate assignments or remove students from the residence halls as deemed necessary. Consolidation may require that a student move to another room or require that occupants fill empty spaces by having other friends or peers move into those vacancies. Any student who may be singly occupying double-occupancy rooms, or students residing in triples, quads or apartments who may have space, may be subject to administrative consolidation. Students with empty room spaces are advised to seek a roommate and/or be prepared for occupancy by another student at any time.

Room Furnishings: Students shall be responsible for all University furnishings present in their room. All furniture must remain in the assigned room; the University does not have appropriate space for the storage of unwanted furniture. Students shall be billed for the repair and/or replacement of any furnishings that are missing or damaged.

Denison University prohibits the moving of common area furnishings into student rooms. Students found with common area furniture or other items may be subject to action under the student code of conduct.

Housekeeping Services: Housekeeping Services are not provided for student rooms, suites, private baths or suite baths. Students residing in these rooms are responsible for daily cleaning of their bathrooms. Limited cleaning supplies are available from the housekeepers on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. All public areas and public bathrooms are serviced daily Monday through Friday, with limited cleaning services provided on weekends.

Emergency and Routine Maintenance: Students may submit routine maintenance requests by emailing physplant@denison.edu. Items needing immediate attention (i.e. leaking faucets or radiator pipes, clogged drains, or circuit breaks, etc.) should be reported immediately to the Physical Plant Office at extension 6264. After 4:00 p.m., facility concerns requiring prompt assistance should be communicated to Campus Security.

Storage: Denison University offers limited storage of personal items during the academic year and during the summer months. Only properly identified and locked trunks, suitcases, or metal containers may be stored. All items are stored at the owner's risk and only at the discretion of the Office of Campus and Residential Life. In order to provide this service to as many students in need as possible, the Office may refuse to store particular items or may limit the number of items. Students desiring storage of any kind may speak with the Assistant Director in the quad area service center.

Loss or Damage to Personal Property: The University does not cover, shall not be responsible for, and offers no agreement for any loss, theft, or damage to residents' personal property. It is strongly recommended that residents obtain insurance coverage for their personal belongings used and maintained at the University. Most often, students find coverage within their parents' or guardians'; fire or other homeowner's insurance policy or through a separate renter' insurance policy. Individual policies should be reviewed to determine any conditions relating to coverage.

Telephones:

Student Withdrawals / Suspension / Leave of Absence: In the event that a student withdraws from the University, takes a leave or absence or is suspended, the student is expected to vacate campus housing within twenty-four hours of notification. A student shall follow the guidelines and steps for withdrawal from the university as outlined in the Student Handbook.

Mail Deliveries: Deliveries to the residence halls are made to the East Quad Service Center located in the lower level of Huffman Hall or the West/North Quad Service Center in the lower level of Curtis West Hall.

Noise and Quiet Hours: Excessive noise in the residence halls can be disruptive to the community and often infringes on the right of others to sleep and study. With this in mind, residents are expected to extend appropriate courtesy to all residents at all times and to comply fully and promptly with any request from a resident or other member of the community to reduce noise levels or discontinue activities which the resident may find disturbing.

In support of the academic mission of Denison, the Office of Campus and Residential Life requires that all residence halls maintain quiet hour periods during the academic year. These designated quiet hour periods are:

During these designated periods, noise of any kind (which includes but is not limited to, music, social gatherings, loud conversation, or slamming doors) that can be heard inside or outside the residence hall would constitute a violation of quiet hours. Residents may receive a Notice of Violation for infractions or may be subject to formal action under the Student Code of Conduct.

During examination periods, strict quiet will be maintained 24-hours a day, beginning at the end of the regular quiet hour period, following the last day of classes. No registered events may occur in the residence halls during the examination period.

Overnight Guests / Visitation: Students may have a guest(s) stay overnight in their residence hall room only when they have the consent of their roommate(s). The rights of the roommate(s) and floor members must be respected at all times. Guests may stay overnight only for two nights within a seven-day period (this also applies to students who reside in a single room). Guests must comply with all residence hall and University policies and regulations. Resident students hosting guests are responsible for informing their guests of these rules and may be held responsible for any inappropriate behavior of their guests. Guest privileges are restricted during break periods.

Window Screens: Screens may not be removed from residence hall windows. Security screens shall remain in the closed position at all times unless there is an emergency.

Roofs, ledges, and fire escapes: Students are strictly prohibited from access to roofs, balconies, ledges, and fire escapes. Students should not lean, hang on or place any part of their body out of residence hall windows. Violation of this regulation is resolved under the Student Code of Conduct. All violations shall be referred to the formal university conduct process.

Smoking: In accordance with the Student Code of Conduct, smoking in any interior area of the University, including classrooms, labs, private offices, restrooms, hallways, residence hall rooms and dining rooms is strictly prohibited.

Lofts: The construction and assembly of lofts or platforms in the residence halls is prohibited. Upon request, the University provides appropriate equipment to students who wish to elevate their beds. Due to furniture type and/or ceiling height or other building restrictions, the lofting of beds in Sunset A, B, and C, and ASH House.

Room Decoration: Students are encouraged to decorate their interior residence hall rooms, but to do so in ways that are conducive to the rights of others and that do not compromise the safety of the residence halls or cause damage to facilities. Room decorations must be limited in order to comply with all fire safety regulations; they must be flameproof, fire resistant or non-combustible. With this in mind, the following regulations are in place regarding room decoration:

Obstruction of Common Areas / Bicycle Storage: To avoid potentially dangerous traffic situations, lobby areas, hallways, stairwells and other common areas of the residence halls must be kept free of obstruction at all times. Items such as trash bags, bicycles, furniture, personal effects or other items should not be left in places where they might impede, block or hinder egress in an emergency. Items found in these areas may be confiscated and/or discarded by campus security if deemed hazardous to proper egress. Bicycle racks are available on campus and in some residential halls.

Cooking: For fire safety and sanitation purposes, cooking shall be restricted to common area kitchenettes and to apartment-style living units that have within them self-contained kitchen areas. Students residing in rooms or suites without self-contained kitchens are prohibited from cooking within those spaces and may not be in possession of cooking appliances of any type—including (but not limited to) microwave ovens, hot plates, electric skillets, electric grilling machines (e.g. George Foreman-style grills), toasters and toaster ovens, and rice cookers—that are predominantly designed for kitchen area use. Although students may desire to have available to them cooking appliances for use in the common area kitchenettes, the prohibition of cooking appliances still applies. These public kitchen areas are intended to be used for snack preparation only and to assist in hosting social functions. Given the numbers of students that share single public kitchens, these area are not designed to sustain full-service food preparation.

All students may possess and use electric coffee makers, if they wish, provided the coffee maker includes an automatic shut-off feature. Coffee makers without this feature are not permitted.

Students who reside in those areas with self-contained apartment kitchens are permitted to use the range of kitchen appliances. However, use is restricted to the kitchen area only. Any evidence of cooking outside the kitchen would be addressed accordingly.

Prohibited Items: Because of the inherent fire and life-safety risks associated with these items in a community setting, the possession or use of the following items is strictly prohibited in the residence halls:

Posting Policy: In accordance with policy set by the Student Activities Office, there shall be absolutely no posting of signs, posters, written or printed information and/or flyers on front lobby doors, windows and window frames, inside stairwells or on stairwell doors. The posting of any type of information in these areas can impede, hinder, disorient or obstruct another person in their attempt to exit the building during an emergency. Student room doors both inside and outside may not be covered to excess with paper or other highly flammable material.

December Holiday Decorating: During the month of December, many students may choose to adorn their rooms and the building with seasonal and festive decorations. In the interest of fire safety, Denison University has in place guidelines and restrictions regarding these decorations. Because of the significant risk of fire, neither live nor cut holiday trees, i.e. Christmas trees, are permitted in any campus building, including the residence halls. This also includes the use of wreaths or other garland that is constructed from live tree material. Any such item will be confiscated and discarded by the University. The University shall define a holiday or Christmas tree; as any tree, limb or branch thereof or any device, however constructed, that is intended to imitate or simulate any such tree used for decoration purposes during the Christmas holiday season. Students may use and decorate artificial trees in their residence hall rooms and lounges provided they are certified as slow burning and/or fire resistant. Metallic trees are to be lighted only by indirect spot lighting. Students wishing to set up an artificial tree in their room or in the main lounge of their residence hall should contact their Resident Assistant.

Door propping: Students are expected not to prop open any residence hall doors because it compromises the general safety of the building. Additionally, students should never allow strangers into any campus residence hall. Suspicious looking persons should immediately be reported to Campus Safety and Security. Telephones are available on the exterior of each residence hall for use by visitors.

Because the ceilings are too low, lofts are not permitted in Sunset A, B, C, D, Shannon House, Prospect House, Monomoy Annex and Ash House.

In the residential buildings where lofted beds are provided or made available, students are not permitted to make, build, or construct lofts of their own.

No residence hall furnishings, including bed springs and frames, may be stored in the hallways, stairs or other common areas.

An elevated bed must be freestanding and self-supporting. It may not rest on residence hall furnishings such as desks or bookcases. The elevated bed may not be nailed or fastened to the room (walls, floors, ceiling) or its furnishings.

Residents are expected to take all possible precautions against damage to walls, paint, floor tile, woodwork and other furniture. Damages will be charged to the resident.

Under no circumstances shall a loft obstruct a window or door at any time. Window(s) and door(s) must be operable at all times and must not be used as anything other than an emergency exit or entry into the room.

Lofts cannot be constructed or enclosed in any way that could impede, block or hinder egress from the area in an emergency.

Flammable decorative materials such as paneling, netting, curtains, etc., are not to be attached to the loft.

Room decorations must be limited in order to comply with all fire safety regulations. All decorations are to be flameproof, fire resistant or non-combustible.

Posters and pictures should be affixed to walls with caution given to the amount of the wall covered by paper or other flammable material. See your RA and HR about specific guidelines for affixing decorations to walls in your building.

Drapes, tapestries, beads, or other items that block egress from the room into the hallway are not permitted, as these pose a fire hazard.

No decorations which may interfere with safe passage or evacuation may be hung from the ceilings of rooms, hallways or lounges. Freestanding decorations may not block aisles or exit routes and are to be fire resistant. Only a small portion of entrance and bathroom doors may be covered by papers, flyers, pictures, etc.

All electrical lights must be UL-approved (Underwriters Laboratories). The UL sticker must be intact. The Residence Hall staff may check all lights. Lights should not be placed against anything flammable. NEVER leave lights unattended.

Be sure you know the location of fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations, and exits.

"Christmas tree" means any tree, limb or branch thereof or any device however constructed that is intended to imitate or simulate any such tree used for decoration purposes during the Christmas season.

NEITHER LIVE NOR CUT TREES ARE PERMITTED IN ANY CAMPUS BUILDING, INCLUDING RESIDENCE HALLS.

Students wishing to have an artificial tree in the main lounge should contact student staff.

Only those artificial trees that are certified as slow burning or fire resistant may be used in residence halls, including student rooms.

Metallic trees are to be lighted only by indirect spot lighting.

Let the record stand

Allow the student to insert a letter of explanation

Correct the record

Delete the item in question