Article 7: Student Organizations

Recognition and Registration of Student Organizations
Students interested in establishing an organization on campus should initially inquire about recognition through an appropriate student government. Application forms and the criteria for recognition are available at student government offices. Student organizations not affiliated with an appropriate student government may request registration through Student Life. Registration will be granted to organizations affiliated with the university and agreeing to abide by campus rules, regulations, standards, and policies. For general information about student organizations and the recognition/registration process, contact the Student Government Liaison in Student Life, 150 Student Union. For information on the recognition process for social fraternal organizations, contact the University Liaison for Greeks, 150 Student Union. Recognition and registration policies and procedures will be developed and implemented by Student Life.

Conditions for Registration of All Student Organizations
A. When functioning on campus, all registered student organizations will be held responsible by the University for abiding by federal, state, and local laws, as well as all University regulations. The University will not become involved in the off-campus conduct of registered student organizations except when such conduct is determined to have a substantially adverse effect on the University or upon individual members of the University community.

B. Any organization with restrictive membership clauses which discriminates on the basis of race, religion, sex (except as exempted by Federal Regulations), disability, age, creed, National Origin, or veteran status will not obtain or maintain University registration.

C. Only currently registered students shall be eligible for active membership status in student organizations. Students must be in good academic standing as defined in Article 1 of this document:

• to be a candidate for elected office
• to serve in an appointed office
• to serve throughout one's elected or appointed term

D. The purpose or purposes of a student organization must not conflict with the educational functions or established policies of the University. It is incumbent upon any person presenting objections to the application for registration or continuance of an organization to demonstrate how and in what manner the registration or continuance of that organization would conflict with the educational functions or established policies of the University.

E. Student organizations will not be granted recognition or registration status if the recognition/registration unit determines that its proposed purposes or functions duplicate those of an existing student organization. Student organizations will not be permitted to retain recognition/registration status if they do not fulfill their stated purposes and/or functions or violate campus rules, regulations, standards, and policies.

F. Registered student organizations may not engage in hazing activities. Hazing is defined as any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student or that willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, any registered student organization. Hazing 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 any other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health and safety of the individual, and shall include any activity that would subject the individual to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual, or any willful destruction or removal of public or private property. Any activity as described in this definition upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with or continued membership in a registered student organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be "forced" activity, the willingness of an individual to participate in such activity notwithstanding. Any registered student organization that commits hazing is subject to disciplinary action.

Relation of the University to Student Organizations
Registration of student organizations shall not be construed as agreement, support, or approval by the University, but only as recognition of the rights of the organization to exist at the University, subject to the conditions enumerated herein.

Rights of Student Organizations
A. Registered student organizations may use the name of the University in their official titles to indicate location, not endorsement.

B. Registered student organizations may use University facilities subject to the duly established written rules governing such use.

C. Registered student organizations may petition for the use of mandatory student activity fees subject to SUNY regulations, student organization regulations and student government manuals.

Banned Organizations
A group that is banned from campus is one that has committed a severe violation or has a history of repeated violations of law and University regulations so as the group's conduct is determined to have irreparable adverse effects on the University or members of the University community. Any affiliation, including rushing, pledging, or residing in housing controlled by a banned organization is prohibited.

Related Sites

None at this time