Inquiry and Expression: Freedom of inquiry and expression is integral to a university. As an academic community, the University is devoted to the objective, reasoned, and fair study of all issues and questions. There are times when the study of certain questions will be the subject of disagreement and controversy. While free to voice their objections and to protest, students shall be responsible for helping to maintain an atmosphere in which objective and rational study can continue.
1. Students and student organizations shall be free to examine and discuss all questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly and privately by demonstrations or in other ways, conducted in an orderly and non-obstructive manner. Students should be free, to distribute pamphlets or collect names for petitions and solicit support.
2. Students may be allowed to invite and to hear any person of their own choosing. Those routine procedures required by the University before a guest speaker is invited to appear on campus shall be designed to ensure that there is orderly scheduling of facilities and adequate preparation for the event, including the financial requirements, and that the occasion is conducted in a manner appropriate to an academic community.
3. Students have the responsibility to make clear to the academic and larger community that sponsorship of guest speakers does not necessarily imply approval or endorsement of the views expressed by either the sponsoring group or the institution. All publicity shall clearly indicate that the views expressed or to be expressed are those of the guest speaker and are not necessarily those of Drew University.
4. No publicity may be released to the public, press, radio, or television except through the Office of Communications.
5. No student may enter into or sign a contract in the name of Drew University (or for any group within the University) without first seeking approval (and the signature) of the Director of Student Activities and/or
his/her designee.
Groups not recognized by the University must follow the guidelines of the Housing, Conferences and Hospitality Office.
Student Participation in Institutional Government
1. As constituents of the academic community, students shall be free individually and collectively to express their views on issues of institutional policy and on matters of general interest to the student body. Students should participate in the formulation and application of institutional policy affecting academic and student affairs.
The participation of the student body “in the formulation and application of institutional policy affecting academic and student affairs” may involve a variety of activities ranging from student discussion of proposed policy in committees and in organized agencies of student government or through the student press, to the more formal determination of policy by groups that include student members or, where and if delegated by appropriate authority, by groups that are composed only of students. Such participation is a responsibility as well as a right. Through such participation, students share in the responsibility of responding to the needs and wishes of all members of the academic community.
2. Student associations may be organized to act as the central deliberative body of the students of each of the schools of the University and to exercise such legislative powers as are delegated by the respective faculties and the trustees. It is understood that the faculty and administration will consult with the student body or with individual students when requested, and when it is deemed appropriate will review proposed student legislation. The faculty, administration, and student associations retain the right of final review in matters pertaining to their respective jurisdictions.
3. Student Publications: Student publications and the student press are a valuable aid in establishing and maintaining an atmosphere of free and responsible discussion and of intellectual exploration on the campus. They are a means of bringing student concerns to the attention of the University community, authorities, and of formulating student opinion on various issues on the campus and in the world at large.
Exercise of Rights of Citizenship: Drew University students, as both citizens and members of the academic community, shall enjoy the same freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, right to privacy, and right of petition that other citizens enjoy and they are subject to the obligations that accrue to them by virtue of their membership.
Faculty members and administrative officials shall ensure that institutional powers are not employed to inhibit such intellectual and personal development of students as is often promoted by their exercise of the rights of citizenship both on and off campus.
Institutional Authority:
The University will exercise jurisdiction over any violation of university policy, including public law, whether the offense is committed on or off campus. Students who violate the law may also be subject to criminal and/or civil court jurisdictions. Pending legal cases do not preclude the university from addressing violations under this code.
Actions undertaken by Drew University to address conduct violations will normally go forward even if criminal proceedings are pending and will not be subject to challenge on the grounds that a related legal matter is in process, has been dismissed, or has been reduced. Failure to participate in the University process may result in decisions in absentia, with dues weight afforded any materials submitted by, or related to, the absent party.
Disciplinary actions undertaken by Drew University will normally proceed during the pendency of any criminal proceedings, and the University’s disciplinary actions shall not be subject to challenge on the ground that a criminal allegation involving the same incident is pending, has been dismissed, or has been reduced.