Running head: INSTUTIONAL RESPONSES

Institutional Responses to Legal Issues

Sara Espinoza
Leeza Thomas
Gustavo Tiffer
Azusa Pacific University

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California State University Long Beach is a public, state university bordering both Los
Angeles and Orange County. It is one of the largest campuses and enrollments in the entire Cal
State University system. Biola University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts
university located in Los Angeles County. Syracuse University is a private research university
located in New York.
We chose suicidal students as one of our policies to investigate because we felt that all
universities should and must have policies in place that look at warning signs and response
protocol for suicide or suicidal ideation. We chose alcohol use as a second policy to investigate
because many college students have experienced the effects of alcohol in some way.. Finally, we
chose student judiciary procedures as our final policy to investigate is because all members of
our group have an interest in pursuing careers in residential life programs in the future and we
understand that often judiciary cases are handled by Resident Directors, therefore, it is important
that we understand what possible procedures exist.
The underlying philosophy of Syracuse University is being rooted in receptiveness to the
times. As a renowned research institution it is rooted in tradition and curriculum. The university
prides itself on being informed and open to engaging in public opinion and debate so that
knowledge can be accessible to all its students. The university wants students to be intellectually
engaged so that they can partner and understand what it is like to function in a world of public
and private sectors. Biola University desires to provide a Christ-centered collegiate education by
helping students to grow in a holistic manner. The underlying philosophy of CSU Long Beach is
to provide students rich educational opportunities as well as to be accepting of all students.
Syracuse Universitys alcohol policy acts in compliance with the Drug-Free Schools and
Communities Act of 1989, which requires the university to prevent and prohibit unlawful

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possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs and alcohol by students and employees.
Syracuse permits the consumption of alcohol for those who are legally of age and are responsible
to drink in moderation. Unlawful and disruptive behaviors as a result of drinking are prohibited.
In regard to suicidal students, Syracuse University directs students to its Counseling
Center homepage where they see the appropriate contact information for emergency services.
Syracuse has a program called Campus Connect, which is a training focused on enhancing
gatekeepers knowledge, awareness, and skills concerning college student suicide. Beyond
increasing gatekeepers knowledge, emphasis is placed on developing empathic listening skills,
communication skills, and the ability to ask students about their suicidal thoughts. It is clear that
The University desires to be notified immediately of the situation and provides a 24-hour number
that can be reached.
Syracuse University responds to all judicial issues through their Office of Student Rights
and Responsibilities (OSRR). The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities strives to assist
Syracuse students in learning more about themselves and their surrounding community. The
Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities wants students involved in the conduct process to
better understand their decision-making and how their decisions affect the larger Syracuse
community. The conduct process at Syracuse University is readily available for students to
access via the OSRR website. The conduct process can include a complaint, an informal
resolution process, a conduct hearing, assigned sanctions, and an opportunity for students to
appeal until a resolution is reached.
Biola Universitys alcohol policy does not allow students to use alcohol on- or offcampus, regardless of age, while enrolled in the university. The university is concerned with the
medical and behavioral health and academic success of their students. It is clear that the

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university wants its students to be safe, responsible, and knowledgeable about alcohol and how it
can affect other aspects of life.
In regard to suicidal students, Biola has a Student Care Team that works closely with the
Health and Counseling Centers and other departments to provide a holistic approach when
dealing with student issues. Biola offers 17 warning signs ranging from hinting at ones selfharm to visibly showing a decline in personal appearance and hygiene. Biola does not have a
specific training program in place to raise awareness about suicide on their campus.
Biola University encourages students to show concern for others and one way to do that
is to confront one another. In regard to student discipline, Biola has a Student Care Team in place
to respond to suspected violations. The Student Care Team determines if the case will be put in
the care of an Adjudicator. The Adjudicator is expected to use a procedure that will bring forth a
reliable determination of the truth as well as maintaining fairness, and determine the appropriate
sanctions. Only under certain circumstances may a student appeal to sanctions. The Dean of
Students can select and form an Appeal Hearing Committee and when this committee makes a
final decision, the student may appeal no further.
California State University Long Beach acts in compliance with the Drug-Free Schools
and Communities Act of 1989, which requires the university to prevent and prohibit use of illegal
drugs and alcohol by students and employees. The university should create an environment that
promotes and reinforces good health. The use of alcoholic beverages must be in compliance with
State Laws and strictly limited to persons 21 years of age or older.
CSU Long Beach addresses suicidal students through various trainings and programs.
The most prominent is Project OCEAN (On Campus Emergency Assistance Network), which
seeks to properly train students/staff and seeks to promote a campus climate that reduces the

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stigma of mental health issues and encourages students to seek help when they need it. There is
also a brochure available to download about Project OCEAN, containing phone numbers for
students in an emergency situation.
CSU Long Beach follows judicial procedures that are followed by all universities in the
CSU system. At CSU Long Beach all judicial complaints are directed to the student conduct
administrator. The conduct process includes a complaint, a conference between conduct
administrator and student, a conduct hearing assigned sanctions, and an opportunity for students
to appeal. Before the final decision of a case is reached, the president of the University reviews
the reports and delivers a final decision to the charged student.
Syracuse Universitys judicial policies are consistent with the nature of the alcohol policy
and the suicidal student protocol. Syracuse University seems to be most concerned with
providing learning opportunities for their students. Students are provided the opportunity to
engage in the betterment of themselves and their surrounding community. The concern that arose
when reading about Biola Universitys judicial procedures was that there seems to be little
accountability and that the Student Care Team has a great amount of authority. This is notable
because it is very different that both Syracuse and CSU Long Beach, however, Biola Universitys
judicial procedures are consistent with their underlying philosophy and the nature of the other
two policies that were investigated. Biola University is most concerned with maintaining a health
community for students to learn and grow and that is evident through their policies. California
State University Long Beach is consistent in its policies as well because they are each governed
by California state laws and are regulated through the CSU system. In regard to consistency
throughout their policies, CSU Long Beach also strives to allow the student to learn, however,
their procedures seem to be more removed than those of Syracuse and Biola Universities. In

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other words, it seems that administrators or student affairs professionals are more involved in the
judicial processes.
Concerning alcohol consumption, Syracuse and Cal State Long Beach both agree that the
use of alcoholic beverages must be in compliance with State Laws and strictly limited to persons
21 years of age or older. Biola students are not permitted to consume alcohol on- or off-campus
regardless of the students age. Syracuse Universitys values toward alcohol differ significantly
from Biola Universitys. As we can clearly see, there are differences about alcohol use on each of
the three campuses. All universities, however, have a deep concern for students well-being and
for promoting responsible living within the community of the university.
Across all three campus websites on the topic of suicidal students or crisis assistance, it is
clear that the university seeks to be notified immediately of the situation and provides a 24-hour
phone number that can be reached in the event that a student is suicidal. Both Cal State Long
Beach and Biola provide a list of warning signs ranging from making statements alluding to selfharm to showing signs of noticeable and declining changes in appearance and hygiene.
Both Syracuse and Cal State Long Beach have campus-wide suicide prevention trainings
or programs. Syracuse has a program called Campus Connect: A Suicide Prevention Training
for Gatekeepers and CSULB has Project OCEAN (On Campus Emergency Assistance
Network), which both seek to properly train students/staff and seeks to reduce the stigma of
mental health issues and provide resources for students to be able to ask for help when they need
it. Biola has a Student Care Team, which in collaboration with the Health Center, the Biola
Counseling Center (BCC), and other Biola departments, provides a holistic approach in response
to significant student issues.

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One major difference we noticed was the feeling created when reading the policies on
suicide or crisis on each of the universities websites. On the Syracuse website there was a sense
of urgency and the need to be contacted immediately should a student have self-harming
thoughts. In large, red letters the Syracuse website directly tells you who to call during normal
business hours or after hours. On the CSULB website, there is a brochure that can be
downloaded about Project OCEAN and there are clearly highlighted numbers to call should a
student be experiencing an urgent situation. While Biola did have a similar sense of urgency and
a sense of comfort and care, we also felt a sense of inconsistency while reading a policy related
to self-harm. The policy basically states that a student could be disciplined or suspended if they
do not meet certain behavioral standards. A strong sense of care is not communicated through
Biola University's policy as is in similar policies at Syracuse and Cal State Long Beach.
Each institution investigated varies as far as how their judicial process is run, who
primarily oversees cases, and the possible outcomes and sanctions that are available to students.
Biola University does not appear to have a formal process for judicial issues like those at
Syracuse University and California State University. Biola University does not have one
particular form of a procedural process that is required for their Adjudicators to use. This places
more responsibility on the Adjudicator and a great responsibility for the Dean of Students to keep
all Adjudicator accountable for the ways they may choose to conduct their judicial hearings.
Both Syracuse and California State University Long Beach have detailed judicial processes that
are provided for students to review on their universitys respective websites. These judicial
processes include an initial meeting to discuss the alleged violation, a conduct hearing, possible
sanctions, and a process to appeal. While Biola University does assign sanctions and provide all

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students to appeal, again, there is not a formal procedure in place. It appears to be a much more
relaxed process.
Upon reviewing the policies and underlying philosophies at Syracuse University, Biola
University, and CSU Long Beach the members of our group decided that we most closely align
with the Syracuse University. We discovered that the students at Syracuse are encouraged to
learn, grow, and become involved citizens both within and outside of the universitys community.
Each of the policies reflect the universitys desire educate the student in all situations and this is
one aspect of student affairs work that we truly value and want to be evident in our future work.