From scavenger hunt to job hunt: Syracuse student suspended over hazing allegations

[ad_1]

Peers said they weren’t uncomfortable with tasks like kissing other students and licking a statue on campus

A Syracuse University student saw her college career derailed after she staged a fateful scavenger hunt she had planned as something fun for her peers.

His case is being represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which has called Eriendeep Uppals’ situation a violation of his free speech rights.

Each fall, Syracuse University prepares to welcome thousands of freshmen to its central New York campus, thanks in part to the work of its Student Orientation Leaders, or OLs.

Uppal, an orientation leader, organized a campus scavenger hunt for her OL teammates, involving various challenges like kissing teammates on the university’s Kissing Bench, running down the Carnegie steps and licking a statue of Abraham Lincoln.

The activity was entirely voluntary and there are no known complaints from students who participated, according to FIRE.

But the fun quickly dissipated after Syracuse administrators accused Uppal of violating its student code of conduct, viewing scavenger hunt activities as demoralizing hazing and a threat to the mental and physical health of its students. OL colleagues, according to a disciplinary letter she received on December 16. .

According to the Syracuse Anti-Hazing Policies website, the university defines hazing as any action that intentionally or recklessly causes or presents a substantial risk of harm to the mental or physical health or safety of a person. or more people.

The Dec. 16 disciplinary letter says Syracuse University’s Board of Conduct suspended Uppal until the summer of 2023 for four private university student code violations.

In council hearing documents, obtained by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, the Syracuse Driving Council heard testimony from one of Uppals other guidance leaders who said that everyone Everyone felt safe on the scavenger hunt and didn’t find Uppals’ behavior or language out of place. line.

Another OL member said she enjoyed the event.

FIRE sent a letter to Syracuse urging it to rescind Uppals’ suspension.

Syracuse’s harsh punishment of Uppal violates the university’s commitment to protecting students’ speech rights, the Dec. 22 letter said. Additionally, Syracuse presented no evidence that the scavenger hunt violated the university’s policies on hazing or mental harm to others.

Syracuse did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The College Fix. Reached by The College Fix, Uppal declined to comment.

Along with the semester suspension, Syracuse is asking Uppal to submit a petition demonstrating good citizenship as part of the return process, as well as verification of 45 hours of community service, proof of paid employment and academic credit , mandatory TED talk monitoring, and anti-hazing reflective paper.

You must submit evidence of academic progress and/or paid employment while away from Syracuse University. You are strongly encouraged to contact your academic advisor to discuss the process of transferring credit into your program at Syracuse University, the letter states.

MORE: Syracuse students aren’t interested or committed to a required diversity class

IMAGE: Khairil Junos/Shutterstock.jpg

Read more

Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter

[ad_2]