One of your goals as a college student should be to develop your own opinions and learn how to express them. Unfortunately, the last several years have seen a rise in restrictions on free speech, and those threaten to undermine the very nature and goals of a university education.

Any time a professor dislikes what you have to say on a subject or a dorm manager takes exception to the slogan on your t-shirt, you can find yourself accused of disciplinary misconduct. Once the university opens an investigation, you can’t know where it might lead. Students have been put on probation in recent years for saying the wrong things, they’ve been suspended, and they’ve even been dismissed altogether.

The moment there’s a problem, it’s crucial you contact the LLF National Law Firm. Our Student Defense Team was founded to protect student rights. We know how Princeton procedures work, and we understand how free speech issues typically play out on campus. We’re always on your side, no matter what the situation, and you can count on us to use every resource at our disposal to ensure you get the best possible resolution to your case.

To find out more about how we can help, call 888-535-3686 today, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.

Defining Free Speech

Fair credit to Princeton. The university’s policy on Protests and Free Expression begins with a pretty firm endorsement of free speech: “Free speech and peaceable assembly are basic requirements of Princeton University as a center for free inquiry and the search for knowledge and insight.” The problem is that the very next sentence suggests the university also has a “concurrent obligation” to create an “atmosphere conducive to scholarly pursuits.” Thus, Princeton also promises not to restrict the content of speech, and even includes a list of speech acts it promises to restrict.

Confused? We’re not surprised. When schools try to straddle the line between promoting free speech and restricting free speech, the end result is usually confusion. And when students are confused, it’s far too easy to wind up accused of an offense as a result of a misunderstanding. It’s also far too easy for students, faculty, and administrators to accuse others of misconduct when they simply don’t like what others say. That’s a recipe for too many investigations, too many hearings, and too many sanctions.

Princeton’s Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities

There’s no rule in Princeton University’s Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities against “saying the wrong thing.” Make no mistake, though: there are rules that the university can use to charge you if it doesn’t like what you have to say.

  • Rules About Person Safety: All communities have an obligation to protect their members. Princeton is no different from any other college, town, or city in that regard. Among the university’s rules governing personal safety, though, are regulations against threats, participation in a riot or “general disturbance,” and “interfering” with free expression. Any one of these might be used to punish students who speak out. Elsewhere, in fact, Princeton goes further, attempting to legislate “respect for others” on campus.
  • Rules About Harassment and Discrimination: Additionally, you are barred from making “disparaging remarks” based on protected characteristics, including race, age, sex, national origin, and religion.
  • Rules About Disorderly Conduct: Finally, there is a whole set of rules that govern “dissent, protests, and demonstrations.” These regulate where free speech is allowed and the manner of such speech. In general, they prohibit students from interfering with university activities.

It doesn’t really matter what the university chooses to charge you with. Any charge can lead to a serious sanction. It’s also true, though, that the attorneys who work for the LLF National Law Firm can handle any kind of allegation. We’ve worked with hundreds of students on a wide variety of cases.

The Disciplinary Misconduct System at Princeton

No matter what you’re accused of doing, Princeton can’t simply impose a sanction just because you’ve been accused. You are entitled to due process. That starts with a presumption of innocence (“non responsibility”). You are innocent until the university can present a “preponderance of evidence” proving otherwise. That’s a strong starting position.

  • The Faculty-Student Committee on Discipline has jurisdiction over all allegations of misconduct. Anyone on campus can accuse you of an offense, but only this Committee can issue a formal charge against you.
  • You are always entitled to notification of any charges you’re facing. This notification should explain the allegations and your due process rights.
  • As part of any investigation, you have the right to give your version of events, to submit evidence, and to suggest witnesses. In addition, the university must allow you to review any evidence it uncovers in your case.
  • At the conclusion of the investigation, the Committee sets a time and date for a hearing. Minor cases appear before the Residential College Disciplinary Board. The Committee handles more serious offenses itself.
  • In either case, you have the right to present physical evidence and call witnesses to testify. You may also raise questions for anyone testifying against you.
  • Decision-makers must decide whether there is a “preponderance of evidence” against you. This means you are responsible (guilty) if it seems “more likely than not” that you committed the offense.

Princeton requires you to conduct your own defense. That is, you must speak on your own behalf during hearings and other types of proceedings. However, no one can prevent you from consulting with an LLF National Law Firm attorney. As part of the process, we can help you prepare every aspect of your case, from working with you to uncover evidence to drafting any necessary appeals. You can count on us to protect your rights and ensure the university treats you fairly.

Trust the LLF National Law Firm

If you’ve been accused of some type of disciplinary misconduct over something you’ve said, you don’t want to try to handle the situation on your own. Your educational and professional futures are at stake.

The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team is committed to your future and to ensuring you get justice. We are skilled negotiators, but make no mistake: we’re ready to fight for you any time you need us.

To find out more about how we can help, contact the LLF National Law Firm today at 888-535-3686, or fill out our online questionnaire.

Princeton University

Tell About Your Case

When the SRO (School Resource Officer) is Involved: Why “Educational Discipline” Just Became “Legal Defense”

In the name of student safety, schools are installing School Resource Officers (SROs) on campus. But SROs’ involvement in campus problems also means that incidents at school can now turn directly into criminal investigations. What parents need to know is this: If your child faces discipline because of an incident […]

Can Schools Punish Students for Social Media Posts? The Mahanoy Standard

A frustrated high school cheerleader walks into a convenience store on a Saturday afternoon. She snaps a photo with a friend, raises her middle finger, and posts a profanity-filled message to Snapchat complaining about school and cheerleading. By Monday, she’s suspended from the cheer squad. Most students would assume that’s […]

State > District > School: How Inconsistent Policies Become a Defense in Student Misconduct

The state is greater than the district, while the district is greater than the school. That probably seems like a weird SAT math problem. However, it describes the legal concept of “preemption,” when a higher authority’s law prevents lower authorities from acting inconsistently with the senior law. And preemption can […]

Zero-Tolerance Discipline Policies Can Undermine Students’ Due Process Rights

Colleges and universities have broad authority to maintain campus safety and enforce student conduct policies. However, students accused of misconduct don’t lose their due process rights simply because allegations are serious. At the higher education level, courts have repeatedly recognized that suspension and expulsion can have life-changing academic and professional consequences. As […]