Adjudication of allegations of student misconduct in campus living facilities is one of many responsibilities often held by residence hall staff. After receiving an incident report, these administrators may address concerns like roommate conflicts, fire safety, vandalism, and alcohol consumption with their residents in formal or informal meetings…

The results of recent cases indicate that residences and dormitories owned by higher education institutions should be considered "dwellings," and thus subject to the Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act (1968) as amended requires that the providers of dwellings accommodate assistance animals, which includes not only service animals,…

Just a few days before the shootings at Virginia Tech, officials at the University of Delaware received a complaint from the family of a female undergraduate student. The family said that Maciej Murakowski, a 19-year-old student who lived in the same residence hall as their daughter, had posted material on his Web site that made the woman fearful…

This paper reviews the application of the Fourth Amendment, which protects persons against unreasonable search and seizure, as it applies to the student-college relationship. The topics discussed in terms of federal and state court decisions include warrantless searches, delegation of authority to conduct searches, notice of identity and purpose…

Surveyed 78 students to examine the nature of physical and verbal abuse experienced by students who filed judicial complaints. Verbal abuse was the most common, while 24 percent reported pranks, property damage, or physical abuse. Over one-third of the students reported being pressured to drop charges. (JAC)

A ruling in a dispute over whether the State University of New York System was justified in barring from its Cortland campus a group selling kitchen products is discussed. The case involved the legality of a regulation that bars most commercial activity from SUNY campuses. (MLW)

Vendors often use product demonstrations as a means of enticing students to purchase their merchandise. Officials at the State University of New York at Cortland objected when a student hosted in her dormitory room a demonstration conducted by a salesperson representing American Future Systems, Inc. The resulting litigation is discussed.…

The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving three competing interests--the university, students, and commercial vendors. Examines lower court decisions in the case along with other jurisdictions that have specifically addressed the issues of commercial solicitation on campuses. (MLF)

Analyzes the validity of parietal rules under both the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. Models of substantive due process and equal protection are developed and applied to the various types of parietal rules that have been implemented at universities throughout the nation. (Author/JT)

The legal issues involved in requiring students to live on campus, the parietal rule, are examined. It is suggested that the reason for establishing student housing and the rationale justifying the establishment of residence halls are important aspects of the question. Court cases are cited from 1899 that upheld the college's right to exemption…

Since 1969 dormitory residency requirements have been under constitutional challenge. This discussion suggests a judicial trend supporting the requirements has been established. Housing administrators should note that not every requirement has been upheld and that the present trend is no guarantee against a future reversal of direction by the…

Presents issues regarding search and seizure in residence halls and suggests some policies that may be used until the law is clarified. Examples include use of a search warrant for routine safety inspection, in emergencies, when students give permission, or when evidence is in plain view. (JAC)

"Chronicle of Higher Education" presents an abundant source of news and information for college and university faculty members and administrators. This August 13, 2004 issue of "Chronicle of Higher Education" includes the following articles: (1) "Don't Be That Guy" (Ben-Al, Sarah; Sterritt, David); (2) "A Diverse…