Queen’s detailed students’ bad behaviour in an annual misconduct report.
Between May 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023, a total of 132 reports of non-academic misconduct were processed through the Non-Academic Misconduct Intake Office (NAMIO), in a marked decrease from previous years. The numbers were published as a report at the Dec. 8 Board of Trustees open session meeting.
A total of 274 individual students were involved in 132 cases of Non-Academic Misconduct (NAM) reported to the NAMIO last academic year, along with three student groups. Though overall case numbers fell, cases reported to Athletics and Recreation rose from zero to five. Sixty-five per cent of respondents referred to the Student Conduct Office were found responsible for violations, with one student group found responsible for hazing.
In residence, reported NAM cases halved, falling from 85 in 2021-22 to 47 for 2022-23. First-year students were found responsible in 52 per cent of total Code of Conduct violations.
There were 1,099 breaches of the Residence Contract during the reported period with 26.1 per cent in October 2022. A fifth of violations involved alcohol. Malicious fire alarms pulls were reported 119 times in residence buildings, even as Residence Life and Services upped floor patrols, installed CCTV cameras, and communicated consequences for violators.
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Male students were found responsible in 79 per cent of Student Code of Conduct violations, despite ing for 39 per cent of the Queen’s student body. Forty-three per cent of student respondents were enrolled in the Smith Engineering and Smith School of Business programs, which for a combined 19 per cent of the Queen’s student body.
Of the 18 harassment and discrimination cases at Queen’s, 76 per cent were categorized as harassment. The report noted that as awareness of the Queen’s Harassment and Discrimination Policy was raised on campus, more students reported violations.
The NAMIO trialed a new restorative resolution for sexual violence policy violations, with eight students found referred to an ability specialist for one-on-one consent education, ability coaching, and personal growth. Of the 24 cases, 53 per cent of Sexual Violence Policy violations were categorized as sexual harassment, which was consistent with reporting numbers from 2021-22.
In instances of both harassment and sexual violence, the NAM report alleges the educational outcomes for offenders were common, including workshop referrals or consent education. This year, four cases in violation of the Harassment and Discrimination Policy followed an Early Resolution Pathway, taking an educational approach to resolving the case and addressing complainants’ concerns.
NAM cases are managed by the NAMIO, who assess the severity of the case and refer it to the appropriate investigation unit.
NAM cases evaluate breaches of the Student Code of Conduct, the Policy on Sexual Violence Involving Queen’s Students, the Harassment and Discrimination Prevention and Response Policy, the Residence Contract and Community Standards, and the Athletics and Recreation Non-Academic Misconduct Policy.
The report stipulates outcomes of NAM investigations can be educational, restorative, and corrective, balancing the needs of individual students with community safety and wellbeing.
The report noted NAM reporting periods peaked in September, October, and March, acknowledging the impact of the University District Safety Initiative (UDSI) on violations of the Student Code of Conduct.
“These peak intake times coincide with times when students have been more likely to engage in substance use and other risky behaviors, such as the start of the academic year, Homecoming, and St. Patrick’s Day,” the report read.
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