Kaitlyn Hart
Life Editor
Remember before college? In the good old days, when you have to raise your hand to ask to go to the bathroom, ask a teacher if you can get a drink of water, and getting a signed slip so that you can leave to go to the dentist? Didn’t it kind of make you feel like a prisoner? There was very little that you could control.
It can be a bit of a culture shock when gaining what seems like endless amounts of responsibility after highschool. That is why it is so important to recognize your legal rights and responsibilities as a college student. To ensure that you, your education and your reputation are safe.
Let’s go over the basic rights that you have as a student here at Idaho State University.
According to the Idaho State University Student Handbook, we have the Freedom of Association. This means that we are, “free to organize and to participate in associations of [our] own choosing, subject only to reasonable University regulations insuring that such associations are neither illegally discriminatory in their treatment of other members of the University nor operating in a manner which substantially interferes with the rights of others.”
In other words, you are totally free to try and start any kind of club you want, as long as it doesn’t discriminate or interfere with the rights of your fellow ISU community members.
Second, we here at Idaho State have the right to Freedom of Speech and Assembly, which essentially means that, “no rule will restrict student expression solely on the basis of disapproval or of fear regarding their ideas or motives.” This means that you are free to express yourself in any way that does not include, “defamation, public obscenity, certain incitements to crime as well as other civil or criminal misconduct…[or you] may be subject to institutional redress.” In other words, say whatever you want, but be aware that if it could potentially have negative or dangerous repercussions on the ISU community, you could be looking at some legal trouble.
We also are entitled to the right of Freedom of the Press. This means that, “there will be no ideological censorship in the determination of printed matter on campus.” It’s a free country, Idaho State can’t tell you what kind of books to read, or what kind of books not to read on your free time.
Next, you have the right to Privacy and Educational Records. According to isu.edu, “Idaho State University is in compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), is responsible for providing notice to students of their rights under FERPA, which includes maintaining the privacy of student records and evaluating requests for the release of information from education records.”
Reading over that once or twice can make it sound pretty complicated, so here’s what all of that means. Basically, Idaho State is responsible for making sure that students are aware of their rights to their information, and also for making sure that students can access their own education records.
It is also important to recognize what information the school has obtained due to your enrollment as a student, that can, according to ISU.edu, “be released without student consent”. Although, FERPA requires universities to “define and provide notice to students of information that is included within the term, “Directory Information”.
This type of information includes, “student name, address listings, telephone listings, photograph, e-mail address, dates of attendance, enrollment status, class-level, full-time/part-time status, college, field of study, degree types and dates, club and athletic participation records, height and weight of members of athletic teams, scholarships awarded, university leadership position, high-school attended, and Dean’s list and other awards received.”
This might seem a little overwhelming, but it is also important to note that, “Students who wish to restrict disclosures of their directory information, as listed above, may do so by contacting the Registrar.”
Not only do you have the right to protection of your information, you also have the right to protection of your privacy. According to the Student Handbook, “Campus authorities will not enter premises occupied by students unless appropriate authorization has been obtained. Residence hall rooms may, however, be subjected to reasonable inspections by staff and resident advisors for order, safety, or cleanliness.” Basically, the school can’t just barge into your dorm and demand to ravage through your drawers. They can however, conduct a search, “when there is reason to believe University regulations and/ or state and federal laws are being violated.”
Students at Idaho State University have the right to Equal Protection. This means that ISU, “has an obligation and shall apply its rules equally to all students who are similarly situated.” No matter your gender, race, sexual orientation, etc., Idaho State is under obligation to apply all of its rules the same, to every student who is in similar situations.
Lastly, we here at ISU have the right to Protection from Sexual Harassment. According to the ISU Conduct Code, “any student that is found responsible for Sexual Exploitation or Sexual Harassment will likely recieve a sanction ranging from warning to expulsion, depending on the severity of the incident, and taking into account any previous Code violations.”
Please take the time to look over not only your rights, but your responsibilities as a student. It is your responsibility to be informed, and overall, your safety should be your number one priority.
