by Lori Cruz
Staff Writer
After University administrators have denied action in the recent homosexual harassment incident, questions have been raised about a clause in the “Disciplinary Process at the University of La Verne” handbook.
Under the “University Policies” section of the booklet, it is stated that “physical abuse, or threat thereof, is not permitted on or off campus property to members of the University community. As well, abusive behavior directed toward, or hazing of, a member of the campus community is not allowed. This includes threats, malicious pranks, abusive name-calling, and racial, sexual or homosexual harassment.”
Dr. Loretta Rahmani, dean of student affairs, said, “It has been our working policy that we are not responsible for students’ behavior off campus nor do we adjudicate their behavior off campus.”
She added that her statement is not anywhere in the book, but she concedes that there is an exception.
“You will not find this working policy any place, but now we’re going to write it down,” she said.
The exception, she said, is written under the physical/verbal abuse or harassment.
The reason the policy states “on or off campus” in the handbook is because “we believe that’s an important policy that threatens the safety of other people,” Dr. Rahmani said.
“Our response has been that I have called people into my office. I have put them on notice for such a policy violation to say that if ‘You did that on campus, that’s very serious,’ and I put them on notice for it. Also depending on circumstances we can issue a university administrative order that asks the persons not to communicate with each other,” she said.
“It’s called an ‘off campus response,’ but we don’t take official responsibility. The frustrating part with all of this is that we have not been clear with it. It’s not stated in the policy handbook. It’s a big learning for us, and we’re going to have it written in the student conduct code this summer,” Dr. Rahmani said.
She said the only time the University can maintain responsibility is when a student is “on University property doing University business.”
