Students on college and university campuses sometimes get rowdy, but yelling at or disrespecting members of the school staff or community, such as the campus police, can land them in hot water.

Yelling at Campus Police Can Violate School's Code of Conduct

Most colleges and universities have codes of conduct that set forth behavioral standards students must follow. Schools might accuse students who yell at or disrespect campus police of violating their school's code of conduct. This can happen even if the students were joking around at the time, or even if the behavior is an isolated incident.

Baylor University's code of conduct, for example, prohibits behavior that “reflects poorly on the University,” “shows disrespect to persons and/or property,” and “fails to exhibit due regard for, or violates the rights of others.”

Some college codes of conduct prohibit “disorderly conduct,” which is a vague, catch-all term that many schools use to punish miscellaneous unwanted behavior. These schools might claim that yelling at or disrespecting a campus police officer constitutes “disorderly conduct.”

• At Swarthmore College, disorderly conduct includes “excessive noise,” “conduct that disrupts the operation of the College,” and “any other actions that interfere with the work environment or the rights of others.”
• At Boston College, disorderly conduct includes “unreasonable, reckless, lewd, or unruly behavior,” and “rude or abusive language.”
• Catholic University defines disorderly conduct as “acting in a manner that annoys, disturbs, … or is offensive,” and includes “shouting or making excessive noise” that “annoys” or “disturbs” others, and “verbally abusing University officials who are acting in performance of their duties.”

Disciplinary Action for Yelling at Campus Police

School officials will usually bring disciplinary proceedings against students who violate their school's code of conduct. In addition to the stress of these proceedings, students who are found in violation face consequences that can be devastating to their academic and professional careers.

Loss of scholarship money, loss of campus housing, probation, suspension from school, and even expulsion are some of the potential outcomes students might expect when they are subject to school disciplinary hearings.

These drastic results will not only affect a student's ability to continue their education but also limit their future employment opportunities.

Help for Students Facing Disciplinary Action

School disciplinary hearings are stressful, and students shouldn't go through them alone. Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm have years of experience advising students in academic settings around the country. They know the unique nature of school disciplinary proceedings and can help students and their families plan a strong defense and work with schools to achieve the best possible outcome. Contact Attorney-Advisor Lento and the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686, or submit a confidential online consultation form.