On Tuesday, 30 January 2018 and 27 February 2018 the Ashesi Judicial Committee (AJC) adjudicated a case of alleged disorderly conduct and harassment.
The AJC arrived at the conclusion that the student was guilty of disorderly conduct and harassment due to an email and a post shared on social media, both of which made claims that the student was unwilling to substantiate or sufficiently retract.
As stated in Ashesi’s student handbook,
Students at Ashesi University have the right to express their views, feelings, and beliefs inside and outside the classroom and to support causes publicly. These freedoms of expression extend so far as conduct does not impinge on the rights of other members of the community or the orderly and essential operations of the University. Disorderly conduct is not permitted. – Section 10.1.
Harassment can take many forms, and its needs to be emphasized that harassment can be and often is nonphysical, including words, pictures, gestures and other forms of expression. To count as harassment, such expression must be reasonably regarded as (a) taunting, vilifying, or degrading whether (b) directed at individuals or groups..... - Read entire Section 10.11
After deliberating, the AJC came up with the following sanction:
The student will be suspended for the remaining of this semester (January - May 2018)
The AJC would like to remind the Ashesi community of the following:
- Students should remember that OSCA is always available to help resolve issues amongst them when needed.
- Students should manage the kind of information they put on social media. Social media can be a safe space, however, when posted information is in reference to someone without cause or the person posting is not willing to support claims made with evidence thereof, know that it is likely to have negative repercussions.
- Let us all be good stewards of our community by being willing to share enough information when called upon to help in resolving issues.
- Students should also note that there are effective ways of resolving issues, by respectfully engaging with the relevant members of the community.
- As a community, let’s continue to be each other’s keeper. We have a responsibility to look out for our colleagues and serve as positive influences on others around us.
We trust that this case will serve as a learning experience for our community. As reflected in our mission, may we work harder to develop our concern for others and the courage it will take to transform our continent.
