If you’re a student at Cornell University and you’re accused of misconduct, you should not speak to the school or others without taking the necessary precautions. Too much is at stake. Cornell University will have specific policies as to how the case will be addressed and adjudicated. Understanding and successfully navigating these policies is import key to success.

The specific policy that would apply is in part dependent upon the specific offense alleged. Is it a Title IX sexual misconduct case? Does the case involve alleged academic integrity or an academic misconduct charge? Or is it just a general disciplinary issue? Also, understanding that Cornell University, as with most schools, is often in a rush to judgment and can unfortunately not have an accused student’s rights and interests in mind. That’s why an experienced attorney-adviser can help navigate the process and can help potentially best allow for the most favorable outcome by protecting an accused student’s rights and interests.

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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 […]