University Policies On Conduct
STUDENT CONDUCT
Behavior that may be in violation of municipal, state, and federal laws will be reported and referred to appropriate agencies.
Behavior that may be in violation of established and published university policies and residence hall regulations and expectations will be reported and may be referred for disciplinary action.
The Housing and Dining Services Judicial Board is a group of residence hall leaders who respond to reports of possible violations and conduct judicial hearings. Findings may result in the assignment of educational projects, transfer to another residence hall, or termination of a residence hall contract, among others.
The Office of Student Life staff administers the university discipline process in conjunction with the Student Government Association's student judiciary system. When the situation warrants, the office of Student Life staff and residence life coordinators who act as their designees, will confer with students for behavior which might be in violation of published university policies.
The university disciplinary process may result in sanctions that include warning, probation, loss of privileges, dismissal, or suspension.
More information about the residence hall and university judicial process is available from the Office of Residence Life at 785-532-7659, or the Student Government Association, 785-532-6541.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
As K-Staters we have a responsibility to each other. This means we are obligated to respect the other person's right to make choices about their own sexual behavior. If you have to "make" someone have sex, you have taken away their right to a free choice. You may also have committed an act of sexual violence.
The damage caused by sexual violence is costly to the victim, to the community, and to society as a whole. Fear replaces trust, doubt replaces confidence, distraction replaces concentration, wasted effort replaces focused productivity, and a void replaces the contributions that might have come from the victims. No one wins. There are no victors.
Although the university cannot assure protection from sexual violence, it can state expectations and, in some instances, can impose sanctions on any university student who fails to meet those expectations.
The policy prohibiting sexual violence was created for two purposes:
(1) to educate members of the university community
(2) to take action against violence. It encourages students to resolve complaints of sexual violence by utilizing the administrative review process through which the university may administer its own sanctions.
POLICY PROHIBITING SEXUAL VIOLENCE
The acts in this policy are prohibited only when they are forced on another person. An act is forced if the victim refuses, or when the victim does not verbally or otherwise indicate refusal but:
- Is overcome by force or fear.
- Is unconscious or physically powerless.
- Is incapable of refusing because of mental deficiency or disease.
- Is incapable of refusing because of the effects of alcohol, narcotics, drugs, or any other substances.
Confidential assistance is available to any student following a sexual assault. Contact the Women's Resource Center, 206 Holton Hall, 785-532-6444. The university police will put you in touch with the staff member on-call after hours and on the weekend.
INTERIM POLICY PROHIBITING RACIAL AND/OR ETHNIC HARASSMENT
The policy on racial and/or ethnic harassment reaffirms Kansas State University's commitment to maintaining a learning and working environment in which all individuals are free to pursue ideas and develop intellectually, personally, professionally, and socially, without intimidation or fear.
For academic freedom to prevail in a university environment, there must be an appreciation of and support for cultural, ethnic, and racial differences. When people feel coerced, threatened, intimidated, or degraded by others based on their race or ethnicity, their work and academic performance are likely to suffer. Racial and/or ethnic harassment is thus harmful not only to the persons involved, but also to the entire community.
The university acknowledges that open discussion of ethnic, political, cultural, religious, artistic, and scientific issues may be controversial, disturbing, or even offensive to some individuals. Principles of free expression and exchange are fundamental to the educational process and freedom of expression is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. This policy is not intended to censor or punish members of the university community for exercise of their First Amendment rights or in a way that infringes on academic freedom. However, racial and/or ethnic harassment is a form of illegal discrimination and is contrary to the nature and mission of the university.
The entire university community is responsible for addressing issues of racial and/or ethnic harassment. Administrators and supervisors who become aware of harassment are to take steps to prevent its continuation.
A complete copy of these policies is available at the Student Activities and Services Office in the K-State Union. Please direct questions to Pat Bosco (785-532-6237) or Carla Jones (785-532-6432).