Disruptive Activity

The Carolina Community defines “Disruptive Activity” as:

5.18. Disruptive Activity: No person or organization may interfere with, disrupt normal activity and operations of, or promote the interference or disruption of students, faculty, administration, staff, or the educational mission of the University, or of the University or its buildings, equipment or facilities. Any form of expression that materially interferes with such activities and operations or invades the rights of persons may be proscribed or prohibited.

Noncompliance with reasonable time, place, or manner restrictions on expression is considered a violation of this section. Such activity includes, but is not limited to, behavior in a classroom or instructional program that interferes with the instructor or presenter’s ability to conduct the class or program, or the ability of others to profit from the class or program.

NOTE: To remain in the vicinity of activity which threatens to disrupt or is disrupting normal University functions may have serious legal and disciplinary implications. Bystanders, if their presence incites or adds to the disruption, as well as more active participants in the disruptive activity may be charged with jointly engaging in an enterprise which is prohibited by law. Students should accordingly avoid the scene of any disruptive or potentially disruptive action. In any case, failure to leave when asked to disperse by University or law enforcement officials will result in disciplinary and/or legal action.

NOTE: In any case wherein students of the University of South Carolina are involved in action which is disruptive of the normal activities of the institution or its personnel, or which exceeds the bounds of normal internal discipline in its impact, the Board of Trustees may exercise its right to name a Special Hearing Board, Committee, or Officer to investigate the questioned action and to initiate appropriate disciplinary or other measures.

Examples of disruptive activity (in and out of the classroom) include, but are not limited to:

• Talking in class, but not about course content
• Sleeping in class
• Fighting
• Yelling/cursing
• Threats