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Student Handbook - Community Standards: Code of Conduct

This section details the policies to which all students enrolled at the Rome Center are expected to adhere, and it describes standard sanctions that may be applied for violations of those policies. Judicial administrators may use their discretion in imposing the most appropriate sanction. The existence of a prior judicial history could make a sanction more severe than those described below.

Reference is made to Categories A, B and C, and examples are provided of typical responses by the University to violations of policy within each category. A violation of a policy within Category A is considered less severe than a violation of a policy within Categories B or C. This distinction may affect how a case is adjudicated. Sanctions are applicable throughout the entire academic term, including the time following final examinations while students remain on campus.

A student found responsible for three offenses, regardless of the level of policy violation (Category A, B or C), may be immediately dismissed from the Rome Center, with consequent forfeiture of academic credit for the term. In addition, the Rome Center Director reserves the right to dismiss a student prior to accumulating three offenses, if the student exhibits behavior that places the student, the Rome Center, or the outside community at risk.

Aggression and/or Bodily Harm

Aggression can be body and/or verbal language that may be perceived as threatening or intimidating to another person.

Inflicting bodily harm upon any person, taking any action for the purpose of inflicting harm upon any person, taking any reckless but accidental action from which bodily harm could result to any person, causing any person to believe that the respondent or his or her agent may cause harm to that person or any member of his or her family or any other person, inflicting or attempting to inflict bodily harm to oneself or any action that results in the death of any person is prohibited. Any student who engages in a physical or verbal altercation on or off campus will be held accountable for his or her actions.

Examples of aggressive behavior include, but are not limited to: entering another's room or office without permission; failing to leave a room or office when asked to do so; making threatening physical gestures; using threatening language or otherwise implying harm.

The Associate Dean will meet with a student who inflicts or attempts to inflict injury or harm to him- or herself in order to help determine the most appropriate response in the best interests of the student and the Rome Center.

Standard sanctions for violation of policy may include:

  1st Offense 2nd Offense
Category B
Aggression		 10 hours of disciplinary service work and/or €100 fine 15 hours of disciplinary service work and/or €150 fine or dismissal from the Rome Center
Category C Bodily Harm 20 hours of disciplinary service work and/or €200 fine or dismissal from the Rome Center Dismissal from the Rome Center

Alcohol

Loyola University Chicago and the Rome Center are deeply concerned about students' engaging in self-destructive behaviors. Using alcohol inappropriately is itself a self-destructive behavior, which leads frequently to other destructive actions. Students unused to alcohol consumption may overindulge and experience severe, even life-threatening, reactions. Students are reminded that, while they are of legal drinking age in Italy and throughout most of Europe, Europeans typically consume alcohol in moderation, usually as part of a meal. If students choose to partake of alcoholic beverages, they should conduct themselves with similar decorum.

The Rome Center will not retain students whose drinking patterns compromise the environment of academic achievement and high community standards to which it is committed. Excessive consumption of alcohol on or off campus, within or outside Italy's borders, that leads to hospitalization may result in immediate dismissal from the Rome Center upon release from the hospital. Moreover, students who exhibit patterns of excessive drinking, as determined by the Rome Center Director in consultation with the Associate Dean of Students and the Student Life Assistants, may be dismissed prior to acquiring three judicial offenses.

Drinking alcoholic beverages in residence hall rooms is restricted to private consumption that involves no more than the resident and two guests. Thus, the room of two Rome Center students, each hosting two guests, may contain a maximum of six persons (two residents plus four guests total) for parties or group gatherings at which alcohol is being consumed. Alcoholic beverages may not be consumed in public or common areas such as hallways, stairwells, administrative offices, library, study halls, main lobby, garden areas or classrooms, nor are open containers allowed in any of these areas.

Designated areas on campus have been established for the purposes of parties and special events where alcoholic beverages will be served. Specific regulations must be followed. Permission must be secured from the Associate Dean before a party or gathering involving alcohol may take place. Admission is restricted to the Rome Center community and those guests approved by the Director or Associate Dean.

The sale of alcoholic beverages by anyone anywhere on the Rome Center campus is strictly prohibited. Consequently, the serving of alcohol at approved social functions is permitted on a host basis only. This means that it must be the host who purchases and serves the alcoholic beverages at no cost to the guests. Non-alcoholic beverages and food must be available at all events where alcoholic beverages are served, and they should be featured as prominently as alcoholic beverages. There must be established time limits for the serving of alcohol at any event. Hours of service will be shorter than the duration of the event. At no time should alcohol be served to persons who appear to be intoxicated. Drunkenness or loud, disruptive behavior will be subject to disciplinary action by the administration of the Rome Center.

Any Rome Center student who engages in any form of alcohol consumption shall hold harmless the Loyola University Rome Center, the Loyola University of Chicago and its Board of Trustees from any and all claims and causes of action for damage to or loss of property, personal illness or injury, or death arising out of activity conducted while alcohol was present.

Category A Violations

  • Transportation or consumption of alcohol in open view in public or common areas.
  • Being under the influence of alcohol while at a Rome Center event.
  • Hosting an unapproved party or gathering at which alcohol is present.

Category B Violations

  • Excessive consumption of alcohol that requires hospitalization
  • Sale of alcohol on campus.

Standard sanctions for violations of the alcohol policy may include:

  1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd Offense
Category A 5 hours of disciplinary service hours or €50 fine 10 hours of disciplinary service hours or €100 fine and probation Dismissal from the Rome Center
Category B Dismissal from the Rome Center Dismissal from the Rome Center  

Alteration of Residential Rooms and Common Areas

The Rome Center administration reserves the right to enter any room unannounced for inspection.

Category A Violations

  • Detaching fixed furniture, paint or wallpaper room surfaces, removing Rome Center furniture from rooms, adding permanent fixtures and/or making structural changes to rooms.
  • Taping or tacking signs onto painted walls within the Rome Center. (Informational posters may ONLY be posted on metal doors. Residents may place posters in their individual rooms, but only removable tape/gum that will not damage the walls should be used.)
  • Removing and/or possessing furniture or equipment from any common area.

Standard sanctions for violations of the policy may include:

  1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd Offense
Category A 5 hours of disciplinary service hours or €50 fine 10 hours of disciplinary service hours or €100 fine and probation Dismissal from the Rome Center

Arson

Attempting to burn any public or private property is considered arson. Arson involves conduct endangering human life and offending security of habitation or occupancy.

Standard sanctions for violation of the arson policy may include dismissal from the Rome Center.

Bathroom Privacy

Individuals are prohibited from entering bathrooms and restrooms designated for members of the opposite sex.

Standard sanctions for violations of the policy may include:

  1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd Offense
Category A 5 hours of disciplinary service hours or €50 fine 10 hours of disciplinary service hours or €100 fine and probation Dismissal from the Rome Center

Dangerous Objects

The possession, display or use of dangerous objects including, but not limited to, firearms (including BB or pellet guns) and other weapons, fireworks, smoke bombs, explosives, ammunition, hunting knives, swords and sabers, or anything else that could be perceived or misrepresented as a weapon is prohibited on Rome Center property.

Any object projected out of a window that could cause harm to a person or damage to property is considered to be a dangerous object, whether there was anyone or anything in immediate danger. This includes, but is not limited to, bottles, cans, food, and water balloons.

Category B Violation

  • Possession of a dangerous object

Category C Violations

  • Use of or intent to use a dangerous object

Standard sanctions for the dangerous object violations may include:

  1st Offense 2nd Offense
Category B 10 hours of disciplinary service work and/or €100 fine and probation or dismissal from the Rome Center Dismissal from the Rome Center
Category C Dismissal from the Rome Center  

Drugs

All students attending the Rome Center must have submitted the signed Affidavit of Agreement and Acceptance regarding Illegal Drug Use and Possession to the Rome Center office in Chicago prior to arriving on campus in Rome. Students who fail to submit this form will not be allowed to participate in the program.

Possession, use, transfer or sale of drugs, controlled substances, narcotics or hallucinogens without a medical prescription or appropriate authority is prohibited. Students may not possess any form of drug paraphernalia on or off campus. Violation of the Rome Center's rules and regulations regarding drugs is cause for immediate dismissal from the Rome Center. Any student removed on a drug violation will be required to pay for his/her travel cost on the next available flight from Rome to the United States.

All Mediterranean countries apply severe penalties for drug abuse. Italian law prohibits the possession, sale, or use of marijuana, narcotics, and hallucinogens, except under medical supervision. It should be clearly understood that, in Italy, the mere possession of marijuana constitutes a felony. Students should inform themselves about and understand the severity of laws regulating drugs in Italy, in particular, and govern their actions accordingly.

The American Embassy and Consulates can do very little for Americans arrested on drug charges. Consular officers can visit detainees a few days after their arrest to inform them of their rights and provide them with a list of lawyers from which they can select their own defense counsel. They can contact the prisoner's family or friends and ask their assistance. They can deal with Italian authorities to ensure that the American receives the same treatment as would be received by an Italian arrested and charged with the same offense. Consular officers cannot act as lawyers or give legal advice. United States Government funds cannot be used to pay legal fees or other expenses of arrested Americans.

Standard sanctions may include immediate dismissal from the Rome Center.

Exterior Areas and Fire Escapes

Students are not permitted on any roof, building ledge, overhang, or fire escape (except during an evacuation), nor may they prop open any secured exterior door.

Standard sanctions for being in unauthorized exterior areas and fire escapes:

  1st Offense 2nd Offense
Category B 10 hours of disciplinary service work and/or €100 fine and probation Dismissal from the Rome Center

Facility Usage

Activities such as rollerblading, roller skating, skate boarding, bicycle riding, and unauthorized sports are not permitted in campus buildings. Unauthorized access to, presence in, or use of Rome Center facilities or grounds is prohibited.

Category A Violations

  • Rollerblading, roller skating, skate boarding, bicycle riding, or playing unauthorized sports in a campus building.

Category B Violations

  • Unauthorized access to Rome Center facilities or grounds.

Standard sanctions for violations of the facility usage policy may include:

  1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd Offense
Category A 3 hours of disciplinary service work and/or €30 fine 10 hours of disciplinary service work and/or €100 fine and probation Dismissal from the Rome Center
Category B 10 hours of disciplinary service work and/or €100 fine and probation Dismissal from the Rome Center  

Falsification of University Records

Engaging in forgery, alteration, unauthorized use or fraud involving University records, documents or instruments of identification is prohibited.

Standard sanctions for violations of the falsification of university records policy may include probation or dismissal from the Rome Center.

Failure to Comply

Failure to comply includes, but is not limited to, failing to comply with:

  • The directions of a Rome Center staff or faculty member acting in the performance of his or her duties
  • The University Ethos Statement
  • Applicable laws
  • The terms of a judicial decision

Standard sanctions for violations of the failure to comply policy may include probation or dismissal from the Rome Center.

Fire Safety

Improper Use of and/or Tampering
The improper use of and/or tampering with fire information and/or safety equipment or failing to follow fire drill or other emergency procedures is prohibited.

  • Tampering with emergency equipment (fire alarms, smoke detectors, fire hoses, fire extinguishers, alarmed emergency exits, fire doors and emergency PA systems) or creating situations that endanger the quick evacuation of a room or building (tampering with locks or obstructing an exit) is prohibited and will result, minimally, in a €100 fine.
  • Using fire escapes or fire exits in non-emergency situations is prohibited and will result, minimally, in a €100 fine.
  • Fire doors at any location may not be opened except in case of emergency.

Residence Hall Regulations

  • Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the Rome Center facility.
  • Use of candles, incense, incense burners, and other lighted, flaming devices or flammable liquids is prohibited.
  • No electrical cooking appliances are to be used.
  • No natural vegetation of a combustible nature, including live Christmas trees or evergreen boughs, is permitted.
  • The electrical capacity of outlets provided in the room must not be exceeded, nor should circuits be overloaded or the capacity of any type of extension cord exceeded.
  • Decorations or displays must not be placed in a manner that blocks or obstructs an exit door, hallway, circuit breaker panel, fire hose cabinet, or fire extinguisher.

Fire Evacuation

It is the responsibility of each student to respond to every alarm as if it were an actual emergency, using the stairs to leave the building or affected area in a quick and orderly manner. Under no circumstances should students take the elevator to evacuate the building. Fines may be levied for failure to evacuate promptly and properly. Staff may be present to provide assistance, but they will not reenter a building to evacuate residents.

Standard sanctions for the fire safety violations may include:

Category B 1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd Offense
Improper Use or Tampering 10 hours of disciplinary service work or €100 fine and probation Dismissal from the Rome Center  
Violation of Residence Hall Regulations 3.5 hours of disciplinary service work or €35 fine 5 hours of disciplinary service work or €50 fine and probation Dismissal from the Rome Center
Failure to Evacuate €25 fine €50 fine and probation Dismissal from the Rome Center

Good Neighbor Policy

Rome Center students are to conduct themselves in a civil manner at all times. As representatives of a U.S.-based university abroad, it is expected that they will model respect, humility, decency, and basic concern for others whenever they are outside the Rome Center.

Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to: public drunkenness, loudness, vandalism, theft, failure to pay fines and fees, verbal aggressiveness, physical fighting, obscene gestures, and failure to comply with local laws and/or authorities.

Standard sanctions for violations may include:

  1st Offense 2nd Offense
Category B 10 hours of disciplinary service work and/or €100 fine Dismissal from the Rome Center

Guest Policy

The right of a student to live in reasonable privacy takes precedence over the desire of his or her roommate to entertain another student in their room. In the practical application of determining when guests should be invited to the room, common sense and mutual respect should prevail.

Non-resident guests must register at the porter's desk in the presence of their host, and they must be accompanied by their host at all times while they are on campus. Guests are permitted only in the reception area and in Rinaldo's Bar. They are not allowed in other areas, including the dormitory, the computer labs, or the library. Students who wish to show visiting family members their room must first obtain permission from an SLA before bring them into the dormitory area. No guests may be on campus after 11:00 p.m.

Only individuals on official business with the Rome Center are permitted to stay on campus overnight by prior arrangement with the administration. See the list of moderately-priced lodging options to find housing for others who may wish to stay near the Rome Center.

These policies will be applied without exception, in the interests of the safety and security of the Rome Center campus. A €150 fine will be charged to any student improperly harboring a guest. The fine must be paid to the Rome Center's Business Office within 24 hours of the violation. In the event the violation occurs during the weekend, the fine must be paid in full no later than 3:30 p.m. on the following Monday.

Standard sanctions for violations of the guest policy may include a fine and/or probation.

Harassment, Discrimination and Abuse (see Special Procedures)

It is unacceptable and a violation of policy to harass, discriminate against or abuse any person because of his or her race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion or age. Such behavior threatens to destroy the environment of tolerance and mutual respect that must prevail for the Rome Center to fulfill its educational mission. For this reason, every incident of harassment, discrimination or abuse undermines the aspirations and attacks the ideals of our community.

Discrimination is adverse treatment of a person or group based on race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion or age and not individual merit. Discrimination may be classified into two categories: personal discrimination and institutional discrimination.

  • Personal discrimination encompasses individual expressions, attitudes and/or behaviors supporting a value system against a person or group based on the person's or group's race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion or age.
  • Institutional discrimination arises from established social patterns and customs legitimizing, implicitly or explicitly, a value system against a person or group based on the person's or group's race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion or age, where unfair treatment of an individual or group on these bases is justified.

Abuse is defined as oral, written or physical conduct directed at a person or group based on one's race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion or age, where the offensive behavior is intimidating and/or demeaning. It may include verbal slurs, invectives or epithets referring to an individual's race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion or age.

Harassment differs from abuse insofar as it is repeated and persistent behavior of a similar nature. Harassment includes unwanted physical advances or intimidations and the display in public or common areas of visual materials that defame, demean or humiliate. (See "Sexual harassment" for the specific sexual harassment policy.)

Discrimination, abuse or harassment may also result in emotional, physical or other injury.

Standard sanctions for violations of the harassment, discrimination and abuse policy may include probation or dismissal from the Rome Center.

Health and Safety While Traveling

Participants in the Rome program, as in any study abroad program, may impact their own health and safety through their day-to-day choices and behaviors. The Rome Center subscribes to the Health and Safety Guidelines promulgated by NAFSA: The Association of International Educators, noting that participants have a responsibility to:

  • Read and consider carefully all materials given to them by, or shared with them at, the Rome Center, particularly those which concern safety, health, legal, environmental, political, cultural, and religious conditions in Italy and other countries to which they may travel
  • Consider their health and other personal circumstances when applying for or accepting a place at the Rome Center
  • Make available to the Rome Center accurate and complete physical and mental health information and any other personal data that is necessary in planning for a safe and healthy experience
  • Assume responsibility for all the elements necessary for their personal preparation for the program and participate fully in orientations
  • Obtain and maintain appropriate insurance coverage and abide by any conditions imposed by the carriers
  • Inform parents/guardians/families and any others who may need to know about their participation in the Rome Center program, provide them with emergency contact information, and keep them informed on an ongoing basis
  • Understand and comply with the terms of participation, codes of conduct, and emergency procedures of the Rome Center, and obey the laws of Italy
  • Be aware of local conditions and customs that may present health or safety risks when making daily choices and decisions and promptly express any health or safety concerns to the Associate Dean or student life assistants
  • Behave in a manner than is respectful of the rights and well-being of others, and encourage others to behave in a similar manner
  • Accept responsibility for their own decisions and actions
  • Become familiar with the procedures for obtaining emergency health and law enforcement services in Italy and other countries to which they may travel.

Before undertaking any overnight journeys, students should leave written notice of their contact information and intended itinerary with the Student Life staff. They should keep abreast of news regarding the country in which they will be traveling, especially any hazardous situations that might have an impact on their safety. They should always heed travel warnings and public announcements issued by the U.S. Department of State and review the consular information sheets issued by the Department of State. The department also issues "Tips for Students" who plan to travel and/or study abroad. Department of State travel tips and information can also be found on their website:

Identification

Every registered student of the Rome Center is required to carry Loyola University identification at all times while on campus and to surrender it upon the request of University personnel in the performance of their duties. Refusal to surrender identification is cause for disciplinary action.

Standard sanctions for violations of the identification policy may include fines or probation.

Information Services

The Rome Center is committed to providing reliable, secure and equitable access to and use of its computing, networking, telephony and information resources. These resources are intended for the use of Loyola students, faculty, staff and administrators in support of the University's missions of education, research, patient care and community service.

Student responsibilities as they relate to technology resources are described in several University policies that detail what constitutes acceptable use of University computing, networking and information resources. These documents are available from the Loyola Web pages or in hardcopy at campus computing centers. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with and abide by these policies. Access and use of University computing resources implies that the student knows of and is in compliance with all policies that govern that access and use, as well as with Italy's frequently more restrictive laws governing fair use, peer-to-peer file sharing, and the like, policies pertinent to which may be posted from time to time at the Rome Center.

Use of Technology Resources
The following access and acceptable use policies exist to ensure that the university can provide reliable, secured and equitable access to computing, networking, telephony and information resources and to protect these resources as well as the people who use them.

  • Access and Acceptable Use of Public Access Computing and Networking Facilities and Services
  • Access and Acceptable Use of University Computing, Networking, Telephony and Information Resources
  • Electronic Mail and Voice Mail Use and Disclosure Policy
  • Network Capacity and Policy Issues Arising from the User of Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Programs and Services
  • Ownership and Use of Data
  • Policy and Guidelines Regarding Use of University Electronic Mail Systems for Electronic Mass Communications
  • Policy Regarding Access and Responsible Use of University Electronic Mail Systems
  • Rights and Responsibilities for the Access and Use of Computing, Networking, Telephony and Information Resources
  • University Digital Millennium Copyright Policy

Each of these policies can be found in printed version at any open-access computing center and they are on the Web at http://www.luc.edu/its/policies.

Standard sanctions for violations of the information services policies may range from temporary suspension of computing privileges to dismissal from the Rome Center.

Keys

Upon arrival at the Rome Center each student will be issued a room key and a mailbox key. In the interests of safety and security, it is imperative that dormitory rooms be locked at all times when the resident is not present. Students may not tamper with existing locks or door mechanisms, or add any locks to university doors, nor may they loan, duplicate or transfer the use of any key.

In the event a student is locked out of his or her room, the Student Life Assistant on duty should be contacted to gain admittance. A €5 fee will be charged for re-entry. The staff will respond as soon as possible. Under no circumstances will a staff member admit anyone other than the occupant into the room.

Lost, stolen keys or broken keys are to be reported immediately to the Student Life Assistant. The replacement fee is €20. Transcripts will be withheld for anyone who fails to return keys and/or to pay any outstanding lost key fees at the end of the semester (or year).

Standard sanctions for violations of this policy may include fines.

Motorized Vehicles

For reasons of safety, the purchase or rental of motorbikes, motorcycles, and mopeds is absolutely forbidden at the Rome Center. Therefore, the Rome Center assumes no responsibility for any accident and/or injury that might result from the aforementioned purchase or rental. It also assumes no responsibility for any damage done to vehicles parked in its vicinity.

Noise

Noise or sound that infringes upon the rights of members of the Rome Center and its surrounding community to reasonable peace and quiet is prohibited.

Quiet Hours
Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. The campus should be kept especially quiet, so that residents may study and sleep without interruption.

  • Residents are required to maintain low levels of conversation even in their own rooms during quiet hours.
  • Residents are asked to not converse in the hallways during quiet hours and to keep their voices low during telephone conversations. (Community rooms such as Rinaldo's Bar and the floor lounges offer the most appropriate places for late night conversations.)
  • The acoustics in the central courtyard are particularly live, and that noise carries throughout the campus. Since one third of the Rome Center's students, as well as some of its faculty and staff, have windows facing the courtyard, conversations there should be kept to a whisper during quiet hours.
  • Noise is also covered by the Rome Center's "Good Neighbor" Policy. Rome Center students are required to maintain low noise in the surrounding community, especially on Via Massimi when returning to campus late at night. This is a quiet area, in which the residents expect to be able to sleep undisturbed. Students may be fined for making excessive noise in the neighborhood.

Other Hours

  • Noise-making items deemed disruptive to the community may be required to be removed. This includes, but is not limited to, large stereo systems, amplifiers, and speakers.
  • Speakers and P.A. systems must be kept out of windows and must not be played in a manner that disturbs campus or the community at large.
  • Students are not permitted to play loud musical instruments in their rooms or in common areas.

Standard sanctions for violations of the noise policy may include:

  1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd Offense
Category A €10 fine 3 hours of disciplinary service work or €30 fine and probation Dismissal from the Rome Center

Objects out of Windows

  • Students are prohibited from projecting anything from any window of a campus building.
  • Projecting objects that could cause harm to a person or damage to property will be considered use of a dangerous object.

Standard sanctions for violations of the objects out of windows policy may include probation or dismissal from the Rome Center.

Official Notices

All students should check the official bulletin board near the porter's desk once a day. Notices posted for twenty-four hours are considered officially promulgated.

Signs, notices, and announcements may be posted in the Rome Center by members of the University community. Such signs may be posted only on bulletin boards; none are to be posted on walls, doors, glass surfaces, or trees. All notices must have the approval of the Associate Dean or the Director. Notices that do not conform to the above standards will be removed.

Permit to Stay (Permesso di Soggiorno)

Prior to departing from the United States, students carrying a U.S. passport are required to secure a student visa for Italy. Upon arrival in Italy, ALL students, whatever their nationality, must complete the legal process by registering for a Permit to Stay (permesso di soggiorno) at the neighborhood police station. Under Italian law, all persons studying in Italy must obtain official permission to stay (the permesso di soggiorno) within eight days of arrival in the country. The Rome Center has been granted special permission to extend the eight-day deadline, in order to lighten the caseload for the local police and to shorten the amount of time in line for its students. (It is common for non-Americans seeking a Permit to Stay to wait in line for ten or more hours at the police station, while this unique arrangement normally reduces Rome Center students' time in line to one to three hours.)

Within the first five days of students' arrival at the Rome Center, they will be instructed to sign up for an appointment with the police. This appointment time CANNOT subsequently be changed. The sign-up sheet will be clearly posted in the cafeteria (Mensa). Once a student an appointment time has been assigned, he/she MUST appear at the police station as scheduled, in order to complete the requisite paperwork and be finger-printed. Failure to do so means that the student is in Italy illegally—an unsustainable situation, since the Rome Center cannot house illegal residents.

Standard sanctions for failure to attend the scheduled appointment with police are:

  1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd Offense
Category A €50 fine 5 hours of disciplinary service work and €50 fine and probation Dismissal from the Rome Center

Pets

Students may have no pets in any part of the campus.

Standard sanctions for violations of the policy may include:

  1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd Offense
Category A 5 hours of disciplinary service work or €50 fine 10 hours of disciplinary service work or €100 fine and probation Dismissal from the Rome Center

Plagiarism

Students of the Rome Center are called upon to know, to respect, and to practice a high standard of personal honesty and integrity. Plagiarism is a serious violation of this standard. Plagiarism is the appropriation for gain of the ideas, language, or work of another without sufficient public acknowledgement that the material is not the student's own. All forms of academic dishonesty will be reported by the faculty member involved to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will be responsible for determining any further sanctions.

For more specific information about policies and procedures pertaining to academic dishonesty, see the Loyola University of Chicago Undergraduate Studies Catalog online or in the Rome Center Library.

Property Damage

Tampering with or defacing campus property or equipment or causing other damage to private or University property is prohibited.

Sanctions may include restitution for any damage caused.

Room entry and Search

The University reserves the right to allow authorized personnel to enter student rooms. When such entry is deemed necessary, the University will seek within all reasonable bounds to protect the student's privacy. Such actions, when they are warranted, are taken on behalf of all residents to guarantee both their safety and welfare. Authorized Rome Center personnel may remove items that are in violation of Italian or University regulations. A reasonable effort will be made to have the students in question present if their rooms are to be searched. The student will receive written notification from a Rome Center official after such an entry is made and will be advised if the authorized personnel have discovered any violations.

Safety and Security

The Rome Center, although providing a relatively secure and secluded environment at its campus on Monte Mario, cannot guarantee absolutely the health and safety of participants in its study abroad program in Rome or eliminate all risks from the study abroad environment. It cannot monitor or control all of the daily personal decisions, choices and activities of individual participants. It cannot prevent participants from engaging in illegal, dangerous, or unwise activities, nor can it ensure that U.S. standards of due process apply in overseas legal proceedings or provide or pay for legal representation for students.

Loyola University Chicago will not assume responsibility for the actions of individuals who are not employed by Loyola, for events that are not school-sponsored or that are beyond the control of the school and its subcontractors, or for situations that may arise due to the failure of a student to disclose pertinent information. Loyola cannot assure that one's home country cultural values and norms will apply in Italy. All students enrolling at Loyola University Chicago's Rome Center are required to sign an Acknowledgment of Risks and Release of Responsibility Form in order to participate in the program.

The protection of personal property is the individual's responsibility. The Rome Center cannot accept responsibility for damages, theft, or loss of money, valuables or other personal property. Students are encouraged to obtain insurance on the property and possessions they bring to the campus. Serial numbers on negotiable articles such as stereos, computers, CD or cassette players, etc., should be recorded. To guard against loss, it is advisable to keep all doors locked. Students should make special arrangements for the protection of valuables when they are absent for extended periods. Valuables such as jewelry, money, traveler's checks, etc. may be kept in special envelopes in the Business Office, according to conditions set by the Rome Center. Any loss or theft should be reported immediately to the Associate Dean.

Emergency Contact Information
The main campus switchboard (011.39.06.355881 from the U.S., 06.355881 within Italy, 0039.06.355881 from most of the rest of Europe) is staffed twenty-four hours a day. The porter on duty will be able to contact one of the individuals listed below or another responsible member of the Rome Center administration.

  • Todd Waller, Associate Dean of Students, cell phone 340.4946452
  • One of the Student Life Assistants for 2005-2006: Michael Beazley, Carla Gini, Sean O'Neill, Elizabeth Platt, Catherine Rabenstine

Sexual Assault

Loyola University will not tolerate any form of coercive sexual behavior including sexual assault against any of its students.

Sexual assault is defined as any actual or attempted non-consensual sexual activity that injures or threatens to injure another person including but not limited to rape, attempted intercourse, sexual touching, exhibitionism or sexual language of a threatening nature. Non-consensual activity shall include, but not be limited to, situations where the victim is unable to consent because he/she is mentally incapacitated or is physically helpless due to drug or alcohol consumption or is unconscious.

Consent is the mutual, deliberate and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity. Consent is a clear YES to the sexual act in question. Consent is an on-going process and should be obtained for each level of sexual contact. If a victim does not fight back or escape or endanger his/her life by resisting the attack, the law does not presume that the victim consented. Also, if the victim knows the offender, the law does not presume consent.

All complaints are taken seriously, and no one reporting sexual assault, including third parties, will suffer retaliation or reprisal. Formal complaints of sexual assault will be treated in confidence to the extent feasible, given the need to conduct a thorough investigation and to take corrective action. If it is determined through an appropriate and prompt investigation that sexual assault has occurred, effective corrective action will be taken to attempt to ensure that it does not recur. Depending on circumstances and the severity of the conduct, corrective action could range from an oral or written warning to dismissal from the Rome Center and/or expulsion from the University.

Standard sanctions for violations of the sexual assault policy may include expulsion from the university. Note that an immediate course of action by the Associate Dean, upon learning of a complaint of sexual assault, may be to move or remove a student temporarily from his or her campus residence.

Sexual Harassment


Loyola University Chicago will not tolerate sexual harassment by or of its students, faculty and employees. To the extent practicable, Loyola University will attempt to protect the Loyola community from sexual harassment by vendors, consultants and other third parties who interact with the Loyola community. Loyola University is promulgating this policy to reaffirm its opposition to sexual harassment and to emphasize that learning opportunities and employment opportunities must not be interfered with by sexual harassment.

Loyola University will attempt to take prompt corrective action against any sexual harassment by or of its students, faculty and employees. This policy is designed to encourage persons who believe that they have been harmed by sexual harassment to bring the conduct to the attention of appropriate individuals within the University so that the University can take prompt corrective action.

Examples of hostile environment harassment include, but are not limited to: persistent sexual slurs, repeated requests for an unwelcome sexual relationship, continual sexually suggestive jokes, gestures or sounds directed toward another, the open display of pornography or suggestive materials offensive to others, or unwelcome touching such as pinching. A hostile environment can exist by virtue of a combination of individual incidents that would not individually constitute sexual harassment. In order for these examples or other behaviors to constitute hostile environment harassment, the effect of the harassment must be to create an abusive or hostile environment, usually over a period of time.

All complaints are taken seriously and no one reporting sexual harassment, including third parties, will suffer retaliation or reprisal. Formal complaints of sexual harassment will be treated in confidence to the extent possible, given the need to conduct a thorough investigation and to take corrective action. If it is determined through an appropriate and prompt investigation that sexual harassment has occurred, effective corrective action will be taken to eliminate the sexual harassment and to attempt to ensure that it does not recur.

Standard sanctions for violations of the sexual harassment policy may include dismissal from the Rome Center.

Smoke-Free Environment

Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the Rome Center facility. The administration reserves the right to enter any room unannounced, where smoking is suspected.

Standard sanctions for violations of the policy may include:

  1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd Offense
Category A 5 hours of disciplinary service work or €50 fine 10 hours of disciplinary service work or €100 fine and probation Dismissal from the Rome Center

Stalking

Stalking involves any unwelcome behavior or activities occurring on more than one occasion that place another person in reasonable fear of non-bodily or bodily harm or threaten his or her mental health and/or are intended to cause emotional distress. Such unwelcome behaviors or activities may include, but are not limited to:

  • Communications of any type, including face-to-face, telephone calls, voice messages, electronic mail, written letters or notes, or gifts
  • Use of threatening words or conduct or both
  • Pursuing or following or both
  • Observing or surveillance

Standard sanctions for violations of the stalking policy may include dismissal from the Rome Center.

Theft

Theft of personal or University property and the sale, receipt or possession of stolen articles, including theft of services, such as telephone service, equipment or products of a non-University contractor, is prohibited.

Category B Violations

  • Under €500

Category C Violations

  • Over €500

Standard sanctions for violations of the theft policy may include:

  1st Offense 2nd Offense
Category B Restitution and probation Restitution and dismissal from the Rome Center
Category C Restitution and dismissal from the Rome Center  

Trash Disposal

Students are expected to dispose of their trash in the appropriate receptacles.

Standard sanctions for violations of the trash disposal policy may include:

  1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd Offense
Category A 5 hours of disciplinary service work or €50 fine 10 hours of disciplinary service work or €100 fine and probation Dismissal from the Rome Center

Unauthorized Signs

Signs that obviously have been removed from off-campus locations without permission—for example, road signs, name plates, etc.—will be confiscated.

Categories of Violations of the Code of Conduct

Category A
Category A offenses include minor violations that do not normally lead to university probation, suspension or expulsion, unless they are repeated. A Category "A" offense may result in more severe sanctions when warranted by the circumstances or facts of the case. The standard of proof for a Category "A" offense is that it is more likely than not that the student violated the Community Standards.

  1. Aiding, abetting or inciting another to engage in a category A violation
  2. Alcohol
    1. Transportation or consumption of alcohol in open view in public or common areas
    2. Under the influence of alcohol while at a Rome Center event
    3. Hosting a party or gathering at which alcohol is served
  3. Alteration of a residence hall room or apartment
  4. Bathroom privacy
  5. Facility usage
    1. Rollerblading, skating, skateboarding or playing unauthorized sports in a campus building
  6. Noise
  7. Pets
  8. Property damage - Under €100
  9. Posting and distribution
    1. Only staples, tacks or masking tape may be used to post flyers
    2. Materials may be posted only on bulletin boards in hallways and classrooms designated for general use
    3. Postings may not cover, deface or remove the posted materials of another organization
    4. Posting in the residence halls must be approved by the Associate Dean
  10. Quiet hours
  11. Smoke Free
  12. Trash disposal
  13. Unauthorized signs

Category B
Category B offenses include those violations that may result in University probation or suspension, or removal from the Rome Center. A Category B offense may result in more severe sanctions when warranted by the circumstances or facts of the case. The standard of proof for a B offense is that it is more likely than not that the student violated the Community Standards.

  1. Aiding, abetting or inciting another to engage in a category B violation
  2. Alcohol
    1. Sale of alcohol on the Rome Center campus
    2. Excessive consumption of alcohol that requires hospitalization
  3. Dangerous objects
    1. Possession of a dangerous object
  4. Disruption
  5. Drugs
  6. Exterior areas
  7. Facility usage
    1. Unauthorized access to Rome Center facilities
  8. Falsification of university records
  9. Failure to comply
  10. Fire safety
  11. Guest
  12. Harassment, discrimination and abuse
  13. Identification
  14. Information services
  15. Keys and swipes
  16. Objects out of windows
  17. Posting and/or distributing unapproved materials
  18. Property damage - €100-499
  19. Sexual harassment
  20. Theft - Under €500

Category C
Category C offenses include those that may be classified as felonies and/or those for which a student may be suspended or expelled from the university. Students charged with a Category C violation may choose to exercise their right to a hearing before the University Judicial Board. The standard of proof for a Category C offense is that it is more likely than not that the student violated the Community Standards.

  1. Aiding, abetting or inciting another to engage in a category C violation
  2. Arson
  3. Bodily Harm
  4. Dangerous objects
    1. Use of or intent to use a dangerous object
  5. Drugs
    1. To manufacture or produce a counterfeit or controlled substance
    2. To manufacture/produce or possess a counterfeit or controlled substance with the intent to distribute
    3. To transfer, distribute and/or sell a counterfeit or controlled substance
  6. Hazing
  7. Property damage - Over €500
  8. Sexual assault
  9. Stalking
  10. Theft - Over €500