III. Regents'
Statement of Disruptive Behavior
The following is the
policy of the Board of Regents in regarding disruptive behavior in any
institution of the University System. The rights, responsibilities, and
prohibitions contained in this statement are incorporated as a part of
these regulations.
"Any student, faculty
member, administrator, or employee, acting individually or in concert with
others, who clearly obstructs, disrupts, or attempts to disrupt any teaching,
research, administrative, disciplinary, public service activity, or any
other activity authorized to be discharged or held on any campus of the
University System is considered by the Board to have committed an act of
gross irresponsibility and shall be subject to disciplinary procedures,
possibly resulting in dismissal or termination of employment."
IV. Student
Rights and Responsibilities
A.
Student Responsibility:
Southern Polytechnic
State University students bear a general responsibility to support the
institution's effort to maintain a spirit of free inquiry and respect for
the rights of others. This responsibility imposes a duty on students to
refrain from conduct which is not consistent with the Southern Polytechnic
State University Student Conduct Code and also to support the enforcement
of civil laws where such enforcement is reasonably deemed necessary by
responsible officials to the safety and well being of the members of the
university community as well as the continued operation of the institution.
B. Right
of Freedom of Association:
Students at Southern Polytechnic State University are free to organize
and join associations to promote their common interests. This organization
is done according to the rules constituted and set forth regarding establishing
student organizations. The regulations are complete and very explicit,
and place cooperative responsibility for the established organization and
the protection of the rights of all students.
C. Right
to Listen:
Students or properly
established organizations (note regulations for establishing student organizations)
are allowed to invite and to hear any person of their choosing for the
purpose of hearing his or her ideas and opinions.
If the President of Southern
Polytechnic State University, the Board of Regents, or an authorized designee
thereof, after proper inquiry, determines that the proposed speech constitutes
a clear and present danger to the ordinary operation of the university,
he or she can ban the speaker.
Regulations require clearing
such invitations through the Office of Student Activities for the purpose
of arranging for security through the university police department, publicity
through the public relations office, notification of campus organizations,
and information to the President.
D. Right
to Freedom of Expression:
Students at Southern
Polytechnic State University have the right to express their opinions freely
as a part of the educational process of the university. This includes the
right to make complaints to university officials about unfair or abusive
treatment, poor service or any other unacceptable behavior on the part
of any university office, department or agency.
They must, however, respect
the rights of others and allow them to be heard as they express their opinions.
The students are expected to tell the truth and be mindful of the liability
involved should what they express prove not to be fact. This freedom and
right to expression is only a right as long as the expressions do not disrupt
or interfere with the orderly operation of the campus.
E. Residence
Halls:
Should it become necessary
to inspect or have access to private quarters, the procedures listed in
the Residence Hall Guidebook will be followed.
V. Sexual
Assault Victim's Bill of Rights
The following rights
shall be accorded, by all campus officers, administrators, and employees
of Southern Polytechnic State University, to victims of campus-related
sexual assaults:
1. The right to have
any and all sexual assaults against them treated with seriousness; the
right, as victims, to be treated with dignity; and the right for campus
organizations which assist such victims to be accorded recognition.
2. The right to have
sexual assaults committed against them investigated and adjudicated by
the duly constituted criminal and civil authorities of the governmental
entity in which the crimes occurred; and the right to the full and prompt
cooperation and assistance of campus personnel in notifying the proper
authorities. The foregoing shall be in addition to any campus disciplinary
proceedings.
3. The right to be free
from any kind of pressure from campus personnel that victims not report
crimes committed against them to civil and criminal authorities or to campus
enforcement and disciplinary officials; or report crimes as lesser offenses
than the victims perceive them to be.
4. The right to be free
from any kind of suggestion that campus sexual assault victims not report,
or under-report, crimes because:
(a) victims are somehow
responsible for the commission of crimes against them;
(b) victims were contributorily
negligent or assumed the risk of being assaulted; or
(c) by reporting crimes
they would incur unwanted personal publicity.
5. The same right
to legal assistance, or ability to have others present, in any campus disciplinary
proceeding that the institution permits to the accused; and the right to
be notified of the outcome of such proceeding.
6. The right to full and
prompt cooperation from campus personnel in obtaining, securing, and maintaining
evidence (including a medical examination) as may be necessary to the proof
of criminal sexual assault in subsequent legal proceedings.
7. The right to be made
aware of, and assisted in exercising any options, as provided by State
and Federal laws or regulations, with regard to mandatory testing of sexual
assault suspects for communicable diseases and with regard to notification
to victims of the results of such testing.
8. The right to counseling
from any mental health services previously established by the institution,
or by other victim-service entities, or by victims themselves.
9. After campus sexual
assaults have been reported, the victims of such crimes shall have the
right to require that campus personnel take the necessary steps or actions
reasonably feasible to prevent any unnecessary or unwanted contact or proximity
with alleged assailants, including immediate relocation of the victim to
safe and secure alternative housing, and transfer of classes if requested
by the victims.
10. In addition to the
above rights, students, whether sexual assault victims or not, have a right
to habitability in campus housing and in campus accommodations for which
the university receives any compensation, direct or indirect.
Definition: For
purposes of this subparagraph, "habitability" shall mean an environment
free from sexual or physical intimidation, or any other continuing disruptive
behavior by persons sharing rooms or their guests, that is of such a serious
nature as would prevent a reasonable person from attaining their educational
goals. Substantiated violations of the above-listed habitability provisions
shall be corrected by campus personnel by relocation of the complainant
to acceptable, safe, and secure alternative housing as soon as practicable,
unless the conditions of nonhabitability demonstrate the necessity of immediate
action by campus personnel.
Victims of sexual assault
can obtain assistance from University Police, the Counseling Office, Campus
Nurse, Housing Office, or the Vice President for Student Affairs. In addition,
there are other services available in the Marietta area including:
Rape Crisis Center
- 428-2666
24-hour Hotline
for information, counseling, and crisis intervention sponsored by the Cobb
County YWCA.
VI. Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Policy
It is the policy of
the Southern Polytechnic State University to provide academic programs,
support services, and social/recreational activities to all eligible individuals.
In the event that a student, faculty member, or staff member is diagnosed
as having Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), or there is clinical
evidence of infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), they
shall retain their right to these programs, services, and activities. Students
and employees of the university who may become infected with the AIDS virus
will not be excluded from enrollment or employment, or otherwise restricted,
unless medically-based judgments in individual cases establish that exclusion
or restriction is necessary to the welfare of the individual or other members
of the university community.
No admissions restrictions
will be applied and no effort will be made to identify a person with AIDS
during the admission process.
Students with AIDS
will not be denied assignment to a campus residence hall but specific decisions
regarding housing assignments and roommates will be made on an individual
basis utilizing medical personnel as necessary.
Individuals who have
AIDS are expected to seek expert medical advice about their health condition
and are obligated to conduct themselves responsibly in the interest of
protecting others.
The University will
conduct an ongoing education program for students, faculty, and staff regarding
the transmission and prevention of AIDS in order to promote rational decision-making
and to minimize confusion and fear about this disease.
The University does
not have an AIDS Testing Service on campus. Individuals interested in AIDS
testing can talk with the campus nurse or contact one of the following
for assistance:
| AID Atlanta |
Cobb County Health
Department |
| 1438 W. Peachtree
St. |
1650 County Farm Road |
| Atlanta, GA |
Marietta, GA |
| Phone: (404) 872-0600 |
Phone: (770) 514-2300 |
| Free service including
pre- and post- test counseling |
$20.00 charge including
pre- and post-test counseling |
| Tuesdays, 2:00 - 5:00
pm |
Mon-Fri, 8:30 - 11:00
am and 1:00 - 6:00 pm |