Board of Trustees approves revisions to Code of Student Conduct

COLUMBUS – The Ohio State University Board of Trustees on Friday (7/11) approved a revision to the Code of Student Conduct that requires students to disperse from a riotous crowd when requested by either university or law enforcement officials. Failing to do so would subject students to the university’s judicial process.
The University Senate, Ohio State’s internal governing body of faculty, administrators and students, approved the provision at its June meeting.

William H. Hall, vice president for student affairs said that, while the Code of Student Conduct was last revised in 2001 to extend the university’s jurisdiction over students living in the off-campus area, but it did not address the issue of “crowd watchers” at riots.

“When you look at the recent off-campus disturbances, it has been clear that onlookers contribute significantly to the problem,” Hall said. “The code now allows the university to pursue disciplinary action against students who encourage others to commit senseless acts of violence, and makes them responsible for their actions.

“At the same time, the code specifically protects students’ rights to be involved in peaceful demonstrations, picketing, boycotts or other forms of peaceful dissent.”

The Council on Student Affairs, a Senate committee primarily composed of students, brought the new language to the full Senate after reviewing the Code following the riots that occurred after the Ohio State/Michigan game.

J. Briggs Cormier, chair of the Council during the review and former president of the Council of Graduate Students, said the group wanted to do its part to prevent riots from recurring.

“Students felt strongly that the code should be more explicit about riot behavior and that the issue of onlookers should be addressed,” Cormier said. “Two years ago, part of the reason for extending the Code’s off-campus jurisdiction was to set a clear standard. But the code still didn’t take care of the people standing around and watching the riots. The new provision to the code will address that issue.”

In addition to the “failure to disperse” provision, Code language was modified to make it clear that students on interim suspension are not permitted to participate in or to complete academic work, including by email or other electronic means.

The board’s approval of the Code revision comes as state lawmakers enact legislation that requires students convicted of participating in riots or other disturbances to be immediately expelled from state-supported colleges for a year and to be ineligible for state financial aid for two years.