Student Handbook 2010-2011 - Holyoke Community College

Notwithstanding, any other provisions of this section to thecontrary, consent shall not be available as a defense to anyprosecution under this action.Chapter 269:18 Failure to Report Hazing; PenaltySection 18. Whoever knows that another person is the victimof hazing as defined in Section 17 and is at the sceneof such crime shall, to the extent that such person can dowithout danger or peril to himself or others, report the crimeto an appropriate law enforcement official as soon as reasonablypracticable. Whoever fails to report such crime shall bepenalized by a fine of not more than three thousand dollarsor imprisonment of not more than one year, or both.Chapter 269:19 Notification by Schools of HazingLaw; Report by Schools; Disciplinary PolicySection 19. Each institution of secondary education and eachpublic and private institution of post-secondary educationshall issue to every student group, student team, or studentorganization which is part of such institution or is recognizedby the institution or permitted by the institution to use itsname or facilities or is known by the institution to exist as anunaffiliated student group, student team or student organization,a copy of this section and Sections 17 and 18; provided,however, that an institution’s compliance with this section’srequirements that an institution issue copies of this sectionand Sections 17 and 18 to unaffiliated student groups, teamsor organizations shall not constitute evidence of the institution’srecognition or endorsement of said unaffiliated studentgroups, teams or organizations. Each such group, team, ororganization shall distribute a copy of Sections 17 and 18to each of its members, plebes, pledges, or applicants formembership. It shall be the duty of each such group, team ororganization, acting through its designated officer, to deliverannually to the institution an attested acknowledgment statingthat such group, team or organization has received a copyof this section and said Sections 17 and 18, that each of itsmembers, plebes, pledges, or applicants has received a copyof 17 and 18, and that such group, team, or organizationunderstand and agrees to comply with the provision of thissection and Sections 17 and 18. Each institution of secondaryeducation and each public or private institution of postor secondary education shall, at least annually, before or atthe start of enrollment, deliver to each person who enrolls asa full-time student in such institution a copy of this sectionand Sections 17 and 18. Each institution of secondary educationand each public or private institution of post-secondaryeducation shall file, at least annually, a report with the Boardof Higher Education, and, in the case of secondary institution,the Board of Education, certifying that such institutionhas compiled with its responsibility to inform student groups,teams, or organizations and to notify each full-time studentenrolled by it of the provision of this section and Sections 17and 18, and also, certifying that said institution has adopteda disciplinary policy with regard to the organizers and participantsof hazing, and that such policy has been set forthwith appropriate emphasis in the student handbook or similarmeans of communicating the institution’s policies to itsstudents. The Board of Higher Education, and, in the case ofsecondary institutions, the Board of Education, shall promulgateregulations governing the content and frequency of suchreports, and shall, forthwith, report to the attorney generaland any institution which fails to make such report.Life and Health Threatening BehaviorHolyoke Community College is committed to providing asafe and healthful environment to support the success ofstudents. It recognizes that certain life threatening behaviorsthat include but are not limited to suicide threats orattempts, eating disorders, or self-mutilation are signs ofpersonal distress. The college will help students by providingsupport or appropriate medical and mental health referrals,but also recognizes that the college must take action whenany student demonstrates life threatening or self-destructivebehavior while on the campus.Any student who demonstrates such behavior will berequired to meet with the dean of Student Services priorto returning to his or her studies at Holyoke CommunityCollege. The dean of Student Services may establish certainconditions for the student being allowed to return to the college.Such conditions may include but are not limited to: sionalcommunity mental health or medical personnel. or medical personnel establishing that the studentis in treatment and does not pose a threat to himor herself and can function in the college environment. lishmentof regular counseling services for a specifiedperiod of time. Office.A decision to allow a student to return to his or her studiesat Holyoke Community College will be based on concern forthe safety and welfare of the student and members of the collegecommunity. If it is determined that the student poses athreat to him or herself or the college community, he or shemay be suspended from the college until such time as he orshe is no longer a threat.In instances where a group or groups of students on thecampus or within classes were disturbed or upset by the lifethreatening or disruptive behavior of an individual student,counseling services and other appropriate resources will beoffered to the affected students individually or in groups.Pluralism PolicyThe community colleges have historically been a majorcontributing element to the emergence of our nation as oneof the most technologically and economically advanced soci-51