If you’re a college student, you probably already realize that it’s easier to wind up in trouble for something you’ve said than ever before. Disagree with a professor too strenuously or wear a t-shirt with a slogan your RA doesn’t like, and you could find yourself facing probation, suspension, or even dismissal.

You can take precautions—you can be cautious about what you say. You can try to be empathetic towards others and use all sorts of fancy conflict resolution strategies any time there’s a disagreement. Those strategies won’t always be enough to protect you, though. The fact is that an allegation can come anytime from anyone. Misunderstandings happen all the time. False accusations happen from time to time as well.

The only sure protection from a misconduct charge is to have an LLF National Law Firm attorney on your side. Our Student Defense Team is focused on helping students defend themselves. We know how Loyola University Chicago operates, so we know exactly what you’re up against. We also understand the stakes in ways other attorneys don’t. No one will fight harder or smarter than we do.

First, you have to contact us, though. Call 888-535-3686 today to find out how we can help, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.

Free Speech at Loyola University Chicago

How restrictive is Loyola University Chicago when it comes to free expression? You tell us. The university has not one but three separate policies that deal with this issue. There’s a Speaker Policy, an Engage With Empathy Policy, and a set of Guidelines for Political Activities. All three of these documents begin by extolling the value of open discourse and free speech, and they’re all written in complex legalese, so it’s sometimes difficult to sort out exactly what they’re saying, though. All three make clear, however, that the goal is less to promote free speech than to “lessen[] the conflict” between members of the campus.

Fair enough: we all want campus environments that are friendly and welcoming. When policies are too restrictive and too hard to understand, though, perfectly innocent students can wind up accused of what should be perfectly acceptable actions. The rules and regulations become a kind of battering ram available to anyone who feels slighted or offended.

When you’re facing dense, complex rules, you need an attorney on your side to make sense of them. The attorneys at the LLF National Law Firm are skilled attorneys who work primarily in the field of education law. They have a clear sense of how free speech issues play out at colleges and universities, and they’re experienced at helping students challenge misconduct allegations.

The Actual Rules and Regulations

None of Loyola University Chicago’s free speech policies suggests how students will be punished for speaking their minds. Don’t think that means you’re off the hook if someone accuses you of saying something they don’t like. There are plenty of Community Standards that can be used to “hold you accountable.”

  • Abuse: Schools have both a right and an obligation to police their campuses from violence. Loyola’s rules go further, though, outlawing any words or actions that could potentially cause another person “emotional” harm. That’s a pretty low bar.
  • Harassment/ Discrimination: Restrictions on harassment and discrimination are a matter of federal law. The university must limit such actions as they pertain to protected characteristics like race, sex, age, and national origin. Here again, though, Loyola goes further than it needs to. Its policy on harassment and discrimination starts by noting “Ours is a community of care, where all people are to be treated with dignity and respect.” In this context, anything negative said about anyone can potentially be treated as an offense.
  • Disorderly Conduct: Loyola also maintains rules against general misconduct such as “disorderly conduct,” “disruptive conduct,” and “neighborhood disturbances.” Any one of these can be broadly interpreted to restrict free speech.

No matter what Loyola University Chicago decides to charge you with, you can be sure your LLF National Law Firm attorney is ready to handle it. We’ve dealt with every conceivable type of student allegation. We know your rights under the Loyola disciplinary system, and we can show you how to use those rights to your best advantage.

Defending Yourself

The good news in all of this is that you have some pretty significant rights as a Loyola University Chicago student. Any time you are accused of an offense, you have the right to due process, starting with a presumption of innocence (“non responsibility”).

Here’s what you can expect.

  • All misconduct allegations at Loyola are under the purview of the Director of Student Conduct. Anyone can lodge a complaint against you, but only this official can issue a formal charge.
  • If you’ve been charged, you are entitled to notice of those charges. That notice should provide information crucial to building your defense, including a description of your alleged actions and a complete list of your due process rights.
  • You should expect some type of investigation. The university cannot proceed without evidence to substantiate the charges. As part of this investigation, you have the right to give your side of the story. In addition, investigators must keep you apprised of all evidence they discover.
  • Following the investigation, you’ll face a hearing. Depending on the nature of the allegations, this might take place before a Graduate Residence Coordinator, a Peer Conduct Board, Student Conduct administrators, or the University Board on Discipline. In any case, you are entitled to present evidence, including witness testimony. You may also raise questions about any evidence presented against you.
  • The standard of guilt isn’t “beyond a reasonable doubt.” It’s a lesser standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” In simple terms, you are responsible if it seems “more likely than not” that you committed the offense.

From start to finish of a disciplinary process, your LLF National Law Firm attorney will prepare you for everything you have to face. We can work with you to collect evidence and coach you in how to respond to investigators. We can draft the content of your hearing presentation and suggest questions for witnesses. Through it all, we are here to make sure Loyola University Chicago respects your rights and 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.

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