Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 31
LETTER
The
L AW
By D on a l d D . G e hr ing , E d . D .
Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part series on legal issues that affect college and university housing professionals. The second article, appearing in the Talking Stick’s November+December 2010 issue, will address tort liability and contracts. Several legal cases are cited throughout this story, and space does not permit extensive details for each. Readers can view full details of state and federal Supreme Court cases through LexisNexis Academic, a database widely available through college and university libraries. Within LexisNexis, open the Easy Search page and use the middle panel labeled “Look Up a Legal Case.” Enter the case number or parties involved in appropriate search boxes. Also, some circuit courts offer their opinions online. United States codes can be found at www.gpoaccess. gov/uscode/index.html. For additional assistance you can contact ACUHO-I Librarian Emily Glenn at emily@acuho-i.org. Unfortunately, when the subject of the legal system is broached, people may throw up their defenses or feel overwhelmed. However, one doesn’t need to be a lawyer to operate a college or university housing program, though there are some basic legal parameters with which professionals should be familiar in order to avert legal problems. Armed with basic information, most housing officers can identify relevant legal issues. While the following information should not be construed as legal advice, it is the result of many years of research and experience as a former housing director. In the spirit of this topic, please consider the disclaimer that policies and actions with legal implications should be reviewed with legal counsel before being implemented. When discussing the law, it only makes sense to begin at the national or federal level. These are the wide-sweeping laws that trickle down and affect individuals and institutions in a number of different
september + october 2010
of t he
T
here is no doubt that we live in a world of rules and laws. For college and university housing officers, many legal issues directly and indirectly affect how they approach their operations. Taxes, construction codes, human resources, health, and safety, to mention only a few, all have their own collection of regulations to be navigated.
1
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/uscode/index.html
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/uscode/index.html
Talking Stick - September/October 2010
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - September/October 2010
Talking Stick - September/October 2010
Contents
Online Now
Vision
Just In
Your ACUHO-I
Transitions
Res Life
Special Focus
Calendar
Providing the Essentials
The Letter of the Law
Conversations
First Takes
Reporting Out
Welcome
Snapshot
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Talking Stick - September/October 2010
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Cover2
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 1
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 2
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Contents
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Online Now
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 5
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Vision
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 7
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Just In
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 9
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 10
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 11
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 12
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Your ACUHO-I
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Transitions
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 15
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Res Life
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 17
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 18
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 19
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Special Focus
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 21
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 22
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Calendar
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Providing the Essentials
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 25
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 26
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 27
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 28
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 29
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - The Letter of the Law
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 31
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 32
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 33
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 34
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 35
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 36
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 37
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Conversations
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 39
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - First Takes
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Reporting Out
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 42
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 43
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 44
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Welcome
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 46
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Snapshot
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - 48
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Cover3
Talking Stick - September/October 2010 - Cover4
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