New Paltz Student Leaders Win Injunction

Inside Higher Ed

A federal judge has issued an injunction ordering the State University of New York at New Paltz to reinstate two student government leaders who were suspended because of allegations (which they deny) that they harassed a university administrator. The judge ruled that the students had a substantial chance of winning their challenge the university’s judicial process in their case because they were denied the right to have a lawyer present at hearings. While the decision noted that this is not a general right in student disciplinary hearings, it could be a requirement for fair due process when the charges could also lead — as in this case — to criminal charges. New Paltz issued a statement that it was disappointed with that part of the ruling, pleased with the other parts (which did not find violations of due process) and was studying its options.

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