Hazing

Florida Statute 240.326 prohibits hazing at community colleges. "Hazing" means "any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of a community college," which organization is hereafter referred to as a "community college organization." Such term includes, but is not limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance, or other forced physical activity which could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the individual, and also includes any activity which would subject the individual to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct which could result in extreme embarrassment, or other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual. For the purposes of this section, any activity as described above upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with a community college organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be a "forced activity," the willingness of any individual to participate in such activity notwithstanding.

No form of hazing shall be permitted in connection with any initiations and/or activities of any college organization or group.

Harassment

Harassment of OWCC students is prohibited.

Harassment of college employees by OWCC students is prohibited.

Harassment is considered to be any repeated or unwelcome verbal or physical abuse which causes the recipient discomfort or humiliation or which interferes with the recipient's academic performance.

Harassment related to an individual's race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, marital status, or physical or mental handicap is a violation of this policy.

Unwelcome or uninvited conduct with sexual overtones, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment, including, but not limited to instances when:

1. Submission to such conduct is made explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of a student's academic achievement, or

2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for academic decisions affecting a student or college employee, or

3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive academic environment.

The President of the college may act directly or through a designee to investigate and report harassment claims. Due process and/or Student Grievance procedures shall be followed in connection with such claims.

Guest Speakers

The freedoms of speech and assembly guaranteed by the first and fourteenth amendment to the Constitution shall be enjoyed by the students of the college with regard to the opportunity to hear "off-campus" speakers on the college campus. Students at the college are expected to accept fully the responsibilities that accompany the freedoms of speech and assembly which they enjoy. When inviting a guest speaker, a student organization is charged with the responsibility of making a choice that reflects the students' genuine concern for the best interests and welfare - not only of the student organization - but of the college and the community as well.

The extension of invitations to guest speakers who are not of the college community shall be governed as follows:

1. Guest speakers may be invited and sponsored only by recognized student organizations.

2. No invitation shall be extended to a guest speaker without the prior written approval of the President or his designee, the Dean of Students. Approval or disapproval will be based on consideration of the appropriateness and availability of times, dates, and facilities.

3. Permission to invite a guest speaker shall be requested in writing at least two weeks prior to the proposed speaking engagement by the president of the student organization sponsoring the program. This request shall contain the name of the sponsoring organization, the proposed time, date and location of the program, the expected size and nature of the anticipated audience, and the topic of the speech.