Purdue News
Purdue News
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January 7, 2000 Purdue expels student after assaultWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University today (Friday, 1/7) announced that it has expelled a student after university officials found that he physically abused and harassed another student on Dec. 3 outside the Purdue Armory. The expelled student allegedly hit another student in the head with a cricket bat, causing serious injury. Two members of the Office of the Dean of Students heard the case and ruled that the code of student conduct and the university's antiharassment policy had been violated, said Steve Akers, executive associate dean of students. The expelled Purdue student was accompanied by three 17-year-olds who do not attend the university. All four reportedly made harassing, but not racial, taunts, Akers said. The verbal abuse was initiated by one of the non-Purdue students. "One of Purdue's primary responsibilities is to ensure a safe environment for everyone on its campus," Akers said. "Physical assault on any individual is a very serious matter, and the university will not tolerate harassment in any form." Akers said the offender was found to have violated a section of the code of student conduct that prohibits "physical abuse of any person or conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any other person." The student also was found to have violated the university's antiharassment policy concerning general harassment because his behavior created a hostile environment and unreasonably interfered with the victim's educational environment, educational opportunities and participation in a university activity. Expulsion is permanent dismissal from the university. Disciplined students may appeal to the campus appeals board. Once the appeals board rules or the time period for the appeal has passed, the final outcome may be released concerning crimes of violence. The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act restricts what information a university may release concerning students and disciplinary hearings. Purdue police reports involving criminal activity routinely are forwarded to the Tippecanoe County prosecutor's office. Source: Steve Akers, (765) 494-1242 Writer: J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371; mwillis@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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