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,…

The "Talking Stick" is published bimonthly, six times a year in January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, and November/December by the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International. Each issue is divided into three sections: Features, Columns, and Departments. These sections contain…

The "Talking Stick" is published bimonthly, six times a year in January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, and November/December by the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International. Each issue is divided into three sections, namely: Features, Columns, and Departments. These sections…

Since 1970, officers on the Seattle campus have regularly patrolled the hallways of dormitories of the University of Washington. It is a community-policing strategy, a low-key way to engage students. However, the practice might cease this fall. In June, the state's Court of Appeals ruled that students have the same right to privacy in dormitory…

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…

Presents basic legal issues fundamental to revenue bonds (bonds secured by pledging only the revenues from the facility for the payment of the principal and interest on the bonds) authorized for construction of college and university residence halls and provides reference to, as well as discussion of, court decisions giving specific attention to…

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…

With the proliferation of cases affecting higher education, it seems necessary to give focus to the law as it pertains to on-campus student housing. The areas of concern in housing are (1) residency requirements and (2) housing regulations with attendant rights of inspection and search to maintain order and discipline. Residency requirements that…

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.…

Considers the right to free speech guaranteed in the first amendment to the United States Constitution and discusses categories of public property and the standards of regulation applied to each in terms of freedom of speech. Reviews two court cases involving American Future Systems, Inc., a private corporation which sells cookware, silverware,…

Legal disputes concern limiting access of sales demonstrations to student residence halls. Court cases argue the regulation of commercial speech, the rights of sales demonstrators on campus, the university's censorship of demonstrations, and student privacy and association rights. (SI)