University Discipline Law for Student Organizations, Fraternities, and Athletic Programs and Teams

FRATERNITIES, SORORITIES, OR OTHER STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS ACCUSED OF HAZING OR UNIVERSITY CONDUCT OR ACADEMIC CODE VIOLATIONS

As a consequence of recent hazing related deaths across the nation, universities and colleges are taking a firm stance against hazing.  Allegations of hazing are taken much more seriously by universities and students face severe punishments.  Even more, student groups and organizations face consequences for the actions of other student members.

Things Students Should Consider if Their Fraternity/Student Organization/Athletic Program or Team is Accused of Hazing or Any Other University Conduct Code Violation:

• Students and student organizations should be careful not to involve anyone that doesn’t need to be involved. A student's first instinct may be to hold a meeting and inform everyone else in the organization of what is going on.  Involving other members that don't need to be involved can only hurt the student or organization and could even cause harm to those the student informs
  
• Students should not discuss the matter with anyone and, if serious, talk to an attorney immediately. 
• Students should not discuss the matter on the organization’s message board.
• Students should generally avoid contacting national representatives of the organization until they discuss the benefits and consequences of doing so with an attorney.  Although headquarters may be willing to support the local chapter or even pay for their attorneys’ fees, other national organizations may choose to distance the brand and could even disclose its communications with the student organization to the university.  It is important to approach communications with national representatives cautiously.
• The other members of the organization will prioritize their own interests over those of the other students'.  Strongly consider doing the same.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND ADVICE ABOUT WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD DO WHEN ACCUSED OF VIOLATING UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE CONDUCT CODES, SEE OUR PAGE FOR STUDENTS

NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS (FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES), STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC PROGRAMS AND TEAMS:

• Student organizations that benefit from university discipline counsel include: fraternities, sororities, student athletes, sports teams, marching bands, social clubs, and any other student organization, whether it be national or university-specific
• University disciplin
  
• e attorneys can serve as local counsel, co-counsel and, obviously, lead counsel.  We can also serve in a more limited capacity such as consultant or, for certain subjects and circumstances, as an expert witness. 
  

University discipline attorneys can also represent fraternities, sports teams and other student organizations:

• either on behalf of the national organization and headquarters, the officers and employees of the organization, the local organization or chapter, or the organization's student members and officers

• investigations into misconduct and related proceedings pursued by the university against the member student or organization and related attempts to suspend or expel the organization
• relations between the university and the organization or the student and the organization
• appeal administrative decisions by the university against the organization or student member
• both the interest of the organization and the student member’s interests (assuming conflicts don’t exist or they can be waived)