It’s the high-profile First Amendment cases that tend to grab headlines—protests over a comedian’s standup on campus or a white supremacist’s insistence that he has the right to offer his opinion in the middle of the Student Union. Free speech is an issue that affects all college students, though. You’re less likely to wind up in the paper if a professor doesn’t like the message on your T-shirt or a TA doesn’t like the post on your dorm room door. You deserve fair treatment, too, though.
The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team exists to make sure you get it. We were founded to protect student rights, and we take our responsibilities seriously. We know what you’re up against when you try to take on a major university like Georgetown. We’ve taken the time to learn the university’s disciplinary processes and procedures, though, and we can show you how to use them to your advantage. We’ve helped hundreds of students just like you defend themselves from all types of misconduct charges, and we’re especially adept when it comes to issues of free speech and expression.
How can we help with your case? Call 888-535-3686 today to find out, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.
Free Speech at Georgetown
GU insists that it is committed to protecting students’ and faculty members’ rights to free expression. The university’s “Policy on Speech and Expression” emphasizes the institution’s Jesuit roots and its respect for “free and open inquiry, deliberation and debate, and the untrammeled verbal and nonverbal expression of ideas.”
Pretty.
However, this commitment to free speech comes with some important limits. The same policy notes that Georgetown prohibits harassment, defamation, and invasion of privacy, terms that are subject to interpretation. Additionally, it notes that it does not supersede HR policies, professional conduct policies, and confidentiality agreements signed by members of the campus community. That’s a lot of limitations.
The fact is that the line between acceptable and unacceptable speech at GU is so fine that it is far too easy to wind up accused of some type of misconduct simply because you spoke up. If that happens to you—or if it’s already happened—the LLF National Law Firm is here to protect your rights and defend your interests.
The GU Code of Conduct
Like all colleges and universities, GU maintains a strict Student Code of Conduct that outlines what behavior is and isn’t acceptable on campus. Look through that document as long as you like. You won’t find any regulations that prohibit “offensive speech.” That T-shirt your professor doesn’t like? They can’t ban it just because they don’t like it. Or, at least, they can’t say that’s why they’re banning it. There are Code violations they can use, though.
- Discrimination and Harassment: Federal law sets limits on discrimination and harassment of individuals based on certain protected classes, including age, sex, race, national origin, and religion. Comments you make that target such characteristics can get you into trouble. Likewise, Georgetown prohibits all types of “bullying” and “cyberbullying.” Any speech that targets a specific individual can be charged as an offense.
- Threats: Georgetown doesn’t just prohibit acts of violence. It also prohibits you from saying or doing anything that might make someone fear they could be the target of violence.
- Disorderly Conduct: Offensive speech is sometimes classed as “disorderly conduct” or “disruption” of school operations. When administrators can’t come up with another way to punish you, they sometimes resort to accusing you of these offenses.
Whatever offense you’ve been accused of committing, the LLF National Law Firm is on your side. We understand your situation, and we’re committed to getting you the best possible resolution to your case.
Defending Yourself at Georgetown
It is surprisingly easy to find yourself accused of disciplinary misconduct at Georgetown, and once you’ve been accused, you cannot be sure where an investigation might lead. The good news, though, is that you are entitled to an investigation. GU can’t simply level an allegation at you and impose a sanction. Not only are you entitled to an investigation, but to a number of other due process rights.
Here’s what you can expect from the disciplinary process.
- The Office of Student Conduct handles all complaints of misconduct. The Office must believe a complaint is both credible and actionable before it issues a formal charge. This means there is often a window of opportunity in which to convince administrators to dismiss a complaint.
- If you are charged, the university must notify you of these charges, so you can begin preparing your defense. The notification should include a description of the allegations and a list of your several due process rights.
- The Office of Student Conduct must then conduct an investigation. You always have the right to provide your version of events and to submit any evidence you might have.
- Once the investigation is complete, the case moves into its next phase: an administrative conference. Before that happens, though, you should have an opportunity to review all the evidence investigators have uncovered.
- At the administrative conference, you have the right to offer any evidence in support of your innocence, including witness testimony. Further, you are entitled to raise questions about any piece of evidence being used against you.
- You are entitled to a presumption of innocence. In order to find you “responsible for” (guilty of) an offense, the university must produce a “preponderance of evidence.” In other words, the administrative decision-maker in the case must believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed an offense.
- Finally, you also have the right to appeal the hearing outcome. However, you cannot appeal simply because you disagree with that outcome. You need grounds for an appeal, such as new evidence to present, a procedural error, or a disproportionate sanction.
Your LLF National Law Firm attorney cannot speak for you during these processes. It’s their job, however, to make sure you’re prepared to speak for yourself. They’ll help you uncover evidence, for instance, and strengthen your arguments. They’ll coach you on how to talk with investigators. They’ll draft your hearing presentation and give you practice in making it. They’ll suggest questions for witnesses. Plus, they’ll monitor everything that happens to ensure you’re treated fairly every step of the way.
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 Georgetown provides you with every due process right to which you are entitled. 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.