College pranks are considered a time-honored tradition by many students. Every year, students across the country try to one-up each other with ever-more elaborate stunts. But what happens when a college prank goes wrong? Is it just good clean fun, or could there be serious consequences handed down by the school?

There are many different types of pranks that could cause a student to get into trouble with their school administration. Destruction-of-property pranks are just one type.

“Destruction of Property” Pranks Can Destroy Property - And Your Education as Well!

Students have a right to learn, live comfortably, and be safe on campus. Destruction of property, or “causing damage to someone else's property or to property owned by the perpetrator and someone else,” could interfere with that feeling of safety and security and is therefore considered a sanctionable offense by most colleges and universities. Many pranks include some sort of destruction of property, so universities often include pranks on their lists of offenses or violations when drafting their codes of conduct.

At Georgia State, the school ensures that students clearly understand that the school has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to pranks and the destruction of property. Violating this policy could end in sanctions that include disciplinary action and financial remuneration.

At many schools, once a student has been found guilty of committing pranks that result in the destruction of property, they'll have to go through the school's disciplinary process. If they're found guilty, sanctions could range from stern warnings to expulsion, depending on the severity of the offense.

Some School Pranks Are Considered Acceptable

At some colleges, certain pranks are well-known to the schools and are accepted by the administration as part of a rite of passage for the students. This is the case at schools like Caltech. The students at this top university take part in fun-spirited, harmless practical jokes like pranking the freshman physics class by turning a closet into a TARDIS and having it show up in multiple locations around campus.

All pranks are not created equal, however, and some could even lead to the destruction of school property as well as of a student's entire college education.

Types of “Destruction of Property” College Pranks

There are many different types of “destruction of property” school pranks, and any one of them can end up causing a huge amount of damage.

You may think filling the dorm laundry room's washing machines with dishwashing liquid would be a benign prank, that it'd be the perfect way to go viral and land a spot in your school's lore. Tens of thousands of dollars in damages later and the inability of students and staff to use the space would instantly make it very clear how very bad this prank could end up being for you. If someone gets hurt in the process, you could be in even deeper trouble.

Reach Out for Legal Help

If you're facing disciplinary action by your college or university because of a prank gone wrong, you need to go through the process with an experienced college discipline attorney by your side. Sanctions imposed by your school could derail your education, and you shouldn't fight them alone.

Attorney Advisor Joseph D. Lento and the team at the Lento Law Firm have years of experience helping students who've faced disciplinary action from their schools due to pranks and/or the destruction of property. They know what to do to make sure that their clients get the best defense possible.

Reach out to the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686, or contact us online.