Protect Your Future: Understanding College Housing Policies

Moving into a college dorm or student apartment is an exciting time for many students. It’s an opportunity to meet new people, learn to live independently, and have some fun. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when many students face allegations of college code of conduct violations and potentially serious consequences. At Spodek Law Group, we understand the importance of defending your rights and protecting your future. Attorney Todd Spodek and his team have extensive experience handling college code violations, including those related to student housing policies.

Unexpected Rules and Intricate Policies

Colleges and universities have various policies and rules regarding their residence facilities. While some are built around respect and maintaining a safe environment for everyone, others can be unexpected and unknown to most students. Campus dormitory rules can be intricate, and college students are often more interested in building a life for themselves than reading and remembering every detail of a residential rulebook. However, students may violate a rule without realizing it and suddenly face extreme consequences. This can include losing scholarships, suspensions, or other disciplinary actions that can affect their education and future in general.

Examples of Common Housing Policy Violations

The following are only some examples of the many rules that can apply to student housing and that can lead to serious college code violation accusations.

Fire Safety Violations

In any type of large housing development, fire safety is a top concern. Policies should be in place to ensure the safety of all residents. However, fire safety policies can involve many types of prohibited items, many of which can be surprising and may include extension cords, furniture not provided by the school, electric heaters, firearms or fireworks, air mattresses, halogen lights, evergreens (artificial or natural), hot plates, and candles. While some of these may seem obvious, many students may not realize that they are violating fire safety rules by, for example, blowing up an air mattress for a visiting friend, adding a table they brought from home to the dorm room, or having a small Christmas tree as a festive decoration. In some instances, a student may light a single candle in their room, and when they blow it out, the smoke alarm may be set off. Suddenly, that student is facing disciplinary proceedings before the college board and may lose their funding, be suspended, or worse. It’s important to speak with an experienced attorney like Todd Spodek if you’ve been accused of violating any residence policy at your school.

Alcohol in Student Housing

Colleges and universities have the difficult task of trying to enforce underage drinking rules. Some campus housing policies can be unrealistic and can lead to wrongful accusations of underage alcohol possession. For example, some schools state that no student under 21 can be in the presence of alcohol or even alcoholic beverage containers. Imagine that you stop by a friend’s dorm room, and he is drinking a beer. If you are having a conversation, and a security guard knocks on the door, you may be accused of underage alcohol possession even though you never held the beer or drank the beer. In addition, many colleges and universities are now banning drinking games from being played in student rooms or apartments—specifically, residence policies prohibit any activity that promotes the rapid consumption of alcohol. However, students may be accused of playing drinking games when they, in fact, are not. These are only some examples of how alcohol-related housing policies can be ambiguous, and wrongful allegations can arise.

Controlled Substances

Colleges and universities expect students to adhere to state and federal laws, so it is no surprise that illegal drugs are banned from student housing complexes. However, like any type of drug possession case, college code drug policies can lead to wrongful accusations and penalties that can affect the rest of your life. Drug possession accusations can be based on actual possession or constructive possession. Actual possession means that drugs were found on your person, in your backpack, or otherwise under your control. However, constructive possession means that you had the ability to control the drugs if you wanted, which can include drugs simply being in your dorm room. If your roommate has marijuana and security discovers it, you may also be accused of possessing marijuana even if you had no idea that it was in the room.

Drug possession allegations may not only lead to severe disciplinary action by a school but also to state criminal charges. A drug possession conviction on your record can have many consequences, including disqualification for federal student loans, difficulty finding a job or getting into grad school, and more. If you’ve been accused of drug possession on campus, it’s critical to be represented by a highly experienced defense attorney who can handle both your college disciplinary proceedings and any charges in criminal court. Attorney Todd Spodek and his team at Spodek Law Group have the experience to handle the most complex college code violation cases, including those related to drug possession.

Protecting Your Rights and Future

Many students view their dorm room as a private space, but increasingly colleges and universities want to monitor what students do in their private housing. Violating a college’s housing policy is far easier than you may think. If you have been accused of violating a campus housing policy, you will likely face one or more disciplinary actions from your school, including suspension, eviction, a revocation of your funding/scholarship, and more. At Spodek Law Group, we understand the serious consequences that can arise from college code violations, and we are committed to defending your rights and protecting your future.

Do You Need a Lawyer for a College Housing Policy Violation?

College housing policies can be quite complex and detailed, and unfortunately, many students do not read them. In many cases, a student can violate these policies without even realizing it. Unfortunately, students who have been accused of violating college housing policies risk facing a wide array of consequences, including expulsion, depending on the severity of the offense. An experienced defense attorney like Todd Spodek can help you navigate your school’s housing policy and prevent you from being sanctioned.

Experienced College Code Defense Attorneys

At Spodek Law Group, we know that college code violations can have lasting consequences. Our team of experienced college code defense attorneys has successfully represented countless students facing allegations of code violations, including those related to student housing policies. We know how to protect your rights, limit the consequences you face, and help you move forward with your education and future. If you’ve been accused of violating a college housing policy, contact us today to schedule a consultation.