Conduct Code

The College’s Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Policy stems from the belief that students who are educated as to the effects of the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs should be trusted and expected to make healthy, respectful decisions for themselves and the entire community. Students are responsible for living within the parameters of this policy and for encouraging others to do the same. Violations of the spirit and intent of this policy will be responded to with disciplinary action and sanctions as outlined below.  The influence of alcohol or other drugs is not an excuse for unacceptable behavior and will not be seen as a mitigating factor in conduct hearings.

Furthermore, members of the community should understand that Sarah Lawrence College observes all federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing the sale and/or purchase of alcohol and other drugs and the service of alcoholic beverages by all members of its community. See Appendix 4. The College expects that these laws will be adhered to at all events associated with the College. The College cannot and will not protect any member of the Sarah Lawrence community who has broken federal, state, and/or local law.

Prohibited behaviors regarding the use, possession, and distribution of alcohol and other drugs on campus, as well as minimum sanctions for engaging in such behaviors, are outlined in the charts below. Violations and alleged violations will be investigated according to the College’s Student Conduct Process. Some of these behaviors may also be violations of local, state, and federal laws and may be subject to off-campus legal action. See Appendix 4.

Prohibited Behaviors – Alcohol Related - MINIMUM SANCTIONS

CATEGORY A

Consumption and/or possession of alcohol by an individual under the age of 21. Possession of an open container of alcohol in public, regardless of age.

First Tier

• Conversational resolution
• Confiscation of alcohol and/or alcohol paraphernalia

Second Tier

• Documented warning
• Mandatory educational program

Third Tier

• Referral to Health & Wellness
• Housing and/or social probation
• Parental notification

Fourth Tier

• Loss of housing

CATEGORY B

Participating in or sponsoring activities that encourage excessive consumption (e.g., drinking games or contests). Possession of mass consumption containers (e.g., kegs, beer balls, beer bongs, etc.) Providing alcohol to an individual under the age of 21. Providing alcohol to someone who is visibly intoxicated.

First Tier

• Documented warning
• Mandatory educational program
• Confiscation of alcohol and/or alcohol paraphernalia

Second Tier

• Referral to Health & Wellness
• Housing and/or social probation
• Parental notification

Third Tier

• Loss of housing

Fourth Tier

• Suspension

CATEGORY C

Consumption of alcohol that causes a disruption to the community or necessitates assistance from others but does not require medical intervention (e.g., ER evaluation)

First Tier

• Documented warning
• Mandatory educational program
• Confiscation of alcohol and/or alcohol paraphernalia

Second Tier

• Referral to Health & Wellness
• Housing and/or social probation
• Parental notification

Third Tier

• Loss of housing

CATEGORY D

Consumption of alcohol that necessitates medical intervention (e.g., ER evaluation)

First Tier

• Documented warning
• Mandatory educational program
• Health & Wellness notification
• Confiscation of alcohol and/or alcohol paraphernalia

Second Tier

• Referral to Health & Wellness
• Housing and/or social probation
• Parental notification

Third Tier

• Loss of housing

Prohibited behaviors regarding the use, possession, and distribution of alcohol and other drugs on campus, as well as minimum sanctions for engaging in such behaviors, are outlined in the charts below. Violations and alleged violations will be investigated according to the College’s Student Conduct Process. Some of these behaviors may also be violations of local, state, and federal laws and may be subject to off-campus legal action. See Appendix 4.

Prohibited Behaviors—Other Drugs Related— MINIMUM SANCTIONS (please also review the section detailing the Student Conduct Process)

CATEGORY A

• Possession or use of illegal drugs
• Possession or use of legal drugs not lawfully prescribed for the individual or intentional misuse of legally prescribed drugs
• Possession or use of drug paraphernalia

First Tier

• Documented warning
• Mandatory educational program
• Confiscation of drugs and/or drug paraphernalia

Second Tier

• Referral to Health & Wellness
• Housing and/or social probation
• Parental notification

Third Tier

• Loss of housing

CATEGORY B

Use of drugs that leads to medical intervention (e.g., ER evaluation).

First Tier

• Documented warning
• Mandatory educational program
• Health & Wellness notification

Second Tier

• Referral to Health & Wellness
• Housing and/or social probation
• Parental notification

Third Tier

• Loss of housing

CATEGORY C

Distribution (including purchase, sale, illegal transfer, or gifting) of illegal drugs or prescription medication

First Tier

• Suspension
• Parental notification

Second Tier

• Expulsion

Failure to comply with this policy will result in disciplinary action. See “Student Conduct Process”. Prohibited behaviors regarding the use, possession, and distribution of alcohol and other drugs on campus as well as minimum sanctions for engaging in such behaviors are outlined in the charts below. See “Student Conduct Process”. Some of these behaviors may also be violations of local, state, and federal laws and may be subject to off-campus legal action. See “Appendix 4”. A hearing officer or hearing panel may give sanctions greater than the sanctions listed in the chart below when warranted by the facts and circumstances of the specific violation. In addition, the period of time between offenses will be taken into account when determining sanctions.

1. the issues that led to the suspension from the College and the measures taken to address them;
2. the reasons the student feels ready to resume study at this time; and
3. the plans made to support the student’s progress if reinstated

The decision to reinstate a student relies on evidence that the student has identified and addressed the issues that impeded academic work in the past and has demonstrated a readiness to re-engage with the academic demands of the College. As such, it is strongly recommended that, if possible, students engage in meaningful activity (work, volunteer, take classes) elsewhere in preparation for a return to Sarah Lawrence College.

Students who are reinstated will return to the College on academic probation. A student who is suspended after having been reinstated may not apply again for reinstatement for two academic years.

Prohibited Behaviors

CATEGORY A – Other Drugs Related Possession or use of illegal drugs

Possession or use of legal drugs not lawfully prescribed for the individual or intentional misuse of illegally prescribed drugs Possession or use of drug paraphernalia

First Offense:

• Documented Warning
• Mandatory Educationa lProgram

Second Offense:

• Referral to Health and Wellness
• Housing or Social Probation
• Parental Notification

Third Offense:

• Parental Notification

CATEGORY B – Other Drugs Related Possession or use of illegal drugs

Use of other drugs that leads to medical intervention, i.e., ER evaluation

First Offense:

• Referral to Health and Wellness
• Housing or Social Probation
• Parental Notification

Second Offense:

• Parental Notification

CATEGORY C – Other Drugs Related Possession or use of illegal drugs

Distribution (including purchase, sale, illegal transfer, or giving others for free) of illegal drugs or prescription medication

First Offense:

• Suspension

Second Offense:

• Expulsion, particularly associated with sale
• Suspension

Student health and safety are primary concerns of the Sarah Lawrence community. To ensure that students receive prompt and appropriate medical attention for alcohol or other drug intoxication, and to reduce impediments to seeking such assistance, the College has instituted this Good Samaritan Policy.

In those instances in which students contact Campus Safety or other College officials to request medical assistance (either for themselves or for another student) due to intoxication, neither student will be subject to formal disciplinary action for being intoxicated or under the influence of other drugs or for having provided the intoxicated person with alcohol.

In lieu of formal disciplinary action, the involved students are encouraged to meet with a Student Life staff member to discuss the incident confidentially.  The student requiring medical attention will be referred to Health & Wellness for a consultation and should complete any resulting treatment recommendations in a timely manner.  This policy does not excuse or protect students who flagrantly or repeatedly violate the Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy and does not preclude disciplinary actions regarding other violations of College policy.

The spirit of the Good Samaritan Policy is that we all have an ethical responsibility to help people in need. As a community, we expect that all members will take active steps to protect the safety and well-being of other members of our community. 

Bias-Related Incidents

An event that targets and/or denigrates a member or members of the SLC community on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, sex, gender, national origin, ancestry, gender identity or expression, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, language, or citizenship can constitute a “bias incident.” Such incidents need not rise to a criminal level in order to violate Sarah Lawrence policies or other applicable antidiscrimination laws.

If you believe you are the victim of, or witness to, a bias incident, you may report it using the Bias Incident Report Form, found on MySLC. Please visit the DEI website on MySLC for FAQs about bias incident reporting. You may also contact the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office for information and/or support.

Bias-Related Crimes

Any crime committed by a defendant against a victim when that victim (either a person or an institution) is intentionally selected, in whole or substantial part, because of that victim’s perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, age, disability, or sexual orientation or expression is considered a hate or bias crime.

Federal and state laws specifically regulate crimes that are motivated by hate or bias, and the College is required to report them to the local police.

Any bias-related crime against a member of our community is viewed as an attack on the entire community and will not be tolerated. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are encouraged to immediately report all bias-related crimes by contacting Campus Safety at 914.395.2222. You may also contact the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office for information and/or support.

To help ensure an environment free of such hateful acts, the College has enacted policies and procedures that specifically deal with bias-related crimes.

Sanctions

Violations and alleged violations of this policy will be investigated according to the College’s Student Conduct Process.

Sanctions may include::

• Permanent expulsion from the College
• Suspension from the College
• Permanent loss of campus housing
• Suspension from campus housing
• Housing probation
• Social probation
• Restricted access
• Parental notification
• Documented warning
• Mandatory educational program
• Conversational resolution

Possible penalties for bias-related crimes committed by faculty or staff include warnings, formal reprimands, suspension without pay, or termination of employment.

Note: If the bias crime involves an alleged sexual assault, the Policy on Sexual Violence will be followed and will supersede the College’s bias-related crime policy and procedures. See “Policy on Sexual Violence”.

New York State Law Involving Bias Crimes

Under the NYS Hate Crimes Act of 2000 (Section 485.05 of the NYS Penal Code), in addition to the criminal charges and the penalties a perpetrator must face for the “crime” element of a hate crime, the law allows for additional charges for the “hate” element as well. This significantly increases the crime the perpetrator is charged with as well as the penalties and time of imprisonment if convicted.

Sarah Lawrence community members (e.g., students, faculty, staff, and visitors) are expected to respect College property, the private property of other members of the community, and the property of the larger community in which we live.

Examples of behaviors that would be violations of this policy include, but are not limited to, damaging, removing, tampering with, vandalizing (including etching, painting, drawing upon, or otherwise marking something without permission), or otherwise altering property owned, operated, or controlled by the College or one of its members. This includes, but is not limited to, signs, gardens, lawns, and landscapes.

Sanctions

Violations and alleged violations of this policy will be investigated according to the College’s Student Conduct Process. Sanctions may include:

• RestitutionPayment of repair costs
• Payment of hourly wages of College staff incurred in the repair or cleanup
• A $100 community impact fine
• Housing and/or social probation
• Documented warning
• Conversational resolution

Violators may also be subject to arrest.

Students will be considered in violation of this policy if they:

• Lie or furnish false information to the College or to College officials.
• Are aware of false information being furnished by others with the intent to deceive (and do not correct that false information in a timely manner).
• Withhold information pertinent to student misconduct.
• Alter, misuse, enter any false information, or forge signatures on any official documents or College resources including, but not limited to, registration form, audit form, fourth course request form, academic transcripts, drop/add form, or electronic communication.
• Alter or have in their possession an altered identification card of any form.
• Counterfeit, forge, and fabricate official documents/paperwork/electronic communications.
• Intentionally issue a bad check/payment or other financial instrument in order to remove a hold, register for classes, or receive an official transcript or diploma.
• Provide false information or fail to provide current information for the purpose of defrauding Sarah Lawrence College or other parties.

Sanctions

Violations and alleged violations of this policy will be investigated according to the College’s Student Conduct Process. Possible sanctions include those described in the Student Conduct Process.

The College expects that students and their guests will avoid disruptive behavior that impairs, interferes with, or obstructs the orderly conduct, processes, and functions of the College. Examples of disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to:

• obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, conduct proceedings, and other College activities including, but not limited to, the integrity of classes, lectures, discussion groups, readings, performances, meetings, and public occasions, such as Opening Day, Family Weekend, Mayfair, admission events, and Commencement;
• self-destructive conduct that may impact the larger community;
• interference with the rights of others to enter, use, or leave any College facility, service, or activity;
• throwing any object from a window or structure.

This policy covers acts and attempted acts, regardless of whether the act or attempted act was deliberate or whether the potential outcome was intended.

Sanctions

Violations and alleged violations of this policy will be investigated according to the College’s Student Conduct Process. Possible sanctions include those described in the Student Conduct Process. Students engaging in self-destructive behavior may also be referred to Health & Wellness and/or a local hospital.

Violations of this policy include failure to comply with the request of a College official (including requests for identification or information), lying to a College official, failing to provide relevant information, and/or running away when approached by a College official.

Sanctions

Violations and alleged violations of this policy will be investigated according to the College’s Student Conduct Process. Sanctions may include, but are not limited to, housing and/or social probation or restriction of access to campus. Additional sanctions as described in the Student Conduct Process may be imposed. Any physical aggression directed at a College official, including but not limited to shoving, kicking, or spitting, may result in suspension.

Possessing false identification is a Class D Felony (170.10 of the Penal Code—Forgery in the Second Degree or 170.25 of the Penal Code—Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree).

Sanctions

Violations and alleged violations of this policy will also be investigated according to the College’s Student Conduct Process. Sanctions may include:

• Suspension
• Restriction of access to campus
• Housing and/or social probation
• Confiscation of false identification

Sarah Lawrence is committed to offering all its students the fullest opportunity to pursue their education.

We believe education best occurs in an atmosphere of unfettered inquiry and freedom of expression; we believe such inquiry and expression are possible only in a community founded on mutual respect and acceptance practiced by students, faculty, and staff alike. Free and robust debate and exchange of ideas are at the heart of our academic enterprise. However, the College makes a distinction between free expression of ideas and physical or verbal abuse that threatens or inhibits such expression or significantly interferes with a person’s education. Repeated and confirmed instances of abuse or harassment will be subject to disciplinary action.

Hearing officers may assess whether a verbal action constitutes an abuse serious enough to warrant disciplinary action. With the understanding that speech includes oral, written, and electronic forms of communication including social media, the following definitions will serve as guidelines:

Threatening or Menacing Speech: Speech intended to put a particular person or group of persons in reasonable fear of physical or psychological harm, or speech that may reasonably be foreseen to induce such fear

Slander: Speech referring to a particular person that is false, defamatory, and malicious, with malice understood as knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard of truth

Verbal Harassment: A pattern of behavior entailing at least two instances of insulting and vituperative speech, directed at a particular person and in the presence of that person, that may reasonably be foreseen to interfere with that person’s education, inhibit that person’s freedom of action or expression, or cause significant mental or emotional harm

Assaultive Speech: Speech intended to insult and provoke, employing vituperative obscenity or abusive epithets, directed at a particular person and made in that person’s presence, without reasonable provocation, that may reasonably be foreseen to interfere with that person’s education, inhibit that person’s freedom of action or expression, or cause significant mental or emotional harm

These definitions may be employed to evaluate allegations of harassment of all kinds including, but not limited to, harassment on the basis of race, sex, gender, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, or sexual orientation. We hope that these definitions may also serve to guide members of the community in the formation of ideas and expression of responses to others that are critically constructive, ethically responsible, and intellectually courageous.

We urge students to resolve conflicts that cause or are caused by such remarks through the various types of mediation available in the College: Resident Advisors and staff and faculty members. 

Allegations of possible harassment involving faculty or staff may be presented to the Dean of the College or the Director of Human Resources Students who believe they have been harassed by other students in terms of the definitions outlined above may file a complaint using the SLC Residential Life Incident Reporting form, found on MySLC..

Sanctions

Violations and alleged violations of this policy will be investigated according to the College’s Student Conduct Process. Possible sanctions include those described in the Student Conduct Process.

Graffiti of any kind (tape, paint, and chalk, etc.) is forbidden. Students and their guests may not alter, write on, or paint College property, including, but not limited to, sidewalks, walls, furniture, gardens, lawns, and landscapes.

Sanctions

• Violations and alleged violations of this policy will be investigated according to the College’s Student Conduct Process. Possible sanctions include: Payment of a $100 community impact fine
• Payment of the cost of labor and materials to remove the graffiti).
• Housing and/or social probation
• Documented warning
• Conversational resolution

Restoration work must be completed by SLC staff or a third-party vendor. Students and/or guests are not allowed to repaint the affected areas. See also “Damage to Property and Vandalism”.

According to the New York State Penal Code, “a person is guilty of hazing in the first degree when, in the course of another person’s initiation into or affiliation with any organization, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person and thereby causes such injury.”

Sarah Lawrence College defines hazing as any action taken or situation created which, regardless of location or consent of the participants, recklessly or intentionally endangers mental or physical health or involves forced consumption of alcohol or other drugs for the purpose of initiation into or affiliation with any organizations at Sarah Lawrence College. Hazing activities and situations include, but are not limited to, physical and psychological shocks, morally degrading or humiliating games and activities, coerced or forced illegal acts, personal servitude, and sexual harassment.

The College prohibits all forms of hazing, and any instances of hazing should be reported immediately to Campus Safety at 914.395.2222.

Sanctions

Violations and alleged violations of this policy will be investigated according to the College’s Student Conduct Process. Possible sanctions include:

• Expulsion
• Suspension
• Housing and/or social probation
• Restricted access to campus
• Documented warning

Organizations that violate the hazing policy may be revoked of their ability to operate on campus, and visitors to campus who engage in hazing are subject to ejection from campus property and/or arrest. In addition, violators are also subject to any applicable provisions of the Penal Code (e.g., arrest, imprisonment, and fines).

Physical assault is defined as striking, shoving, kicking, or otherwise subjecting another person to physical contact that causes them harm, is harassing, or alarms that person regardless of whether the behavior was deliberate or whether the potential outcome was intended. Physical assault also includes hitting a person with anything thrown or propelled.

Sanctions

Violations and alleged violations of this policy will be investigated according to the College’s Student Conduct Process. Possible sanctions include:

• Expulsion
• Suspension
• Housing and/or social probation
• Referral to Health & Wellness
• Restricted access to campus
• Documented warning

Violators may also be subject to arrest.

If it is determined that a student found responsible for violating this policy had no other option but to use physical violence in self-defense, this will be taken into consideration in the sanctioning process.

Individuals who believe they have been physically assaulted should seek immediate assistance by contacting Campus Safety at 914.395.2222. If medical assistance is required, contact Health & Wellness at 914.395.2350 during business hours or Campus Safety at 914.395.2222 at any time.

Threats or other forms of intimidation and/or retaliation against a student or employee, or their family or friends, for bringing a complaint of any alleged violation of College policy, assisting another person with bringing a complaint, or participating in the investigation and/or student conduct process are prohibited.

All incidents that are believed to constitute retaliation committed by or against a student should be reported immediately using the SLC Residential Life Incident Reporting form, which can be found on MySLC.

Sanctions

Violations and alleged violations of this policy will be investigated according to the College’s Student Conduct Process. Possible sanctions include:

• Expulsion
• Suspension
• Housing and/or social probation
• Restricted access to campus
• Documented warning

Sarah Lawrence community members, including visitors, are expected to respect College property, the private property of others, and the property of the larger community in which we live. Violations of this policy include, but are not limited to, the theft, attempted theft, unauthorized use, or possession of property or services owned or controlled by a community member of the College, regardless of location.

Sanctions

Violations and alleged violations of this policy will be investigated according to the College’s Student Conduct Process. Possible sanctions include:

• Housing and/or social probation
• Restitution
• Payment of a $100 community impact fine 
• Payment of the cost of labor and materials incurred in any relevant repair or cleaning
• Restricted access to campus
• Documented warning

Violators may also be subject to arrest.

The use, possession, and storage of any weapons of any kind (e.g., firearms, ammunition, air guns, knives, bows and arrows, replicas of such, etc.), including those defined in Sections 265.01(3) and 265.06 of the New York State Penal Code, are strictly prohibited on campus. Exceptions, for educational purposes only, must be arranged in advance via written approval by the Director of Campus Safety.

Sanctions

Violations and alleged violations of this policy will be investigated according to the College’s Student Conduct Process. Possible sanctions include:

• Expulsion
• Suspension
• Housing and/or social probation
• Documented warning
• Restricted access to campus

Violators may also be subject to arrest in accordance with the New York State Penal Code.