Bylaws

Rutgers University Debate Union Code of Conduct

1. All members of the Rutgers University Debate Union are expected to abide by the University Code of Student Conduct at all RUDU sponsored events, and both the University Code and the APDA Code of Conduct at all APDA sponsored events.University Code of Student Conduct
   University Student Life Policy Against Verbal Assault, Defamation and Harassment
   APDA Code of Conduct
2. Any violation of the Code during a RUDU sponsored event is subject to be punished by the University following the guidelines established in the Code.
3. All RUDU members reserve the right to make a complaint to the Executive Board before, or instead of reporting the incident to the Dean of Students of the college of the student’s registration or to the Director of Judicial Affairs.
   1. It is the responsibility of the complainant to report the issue to a member of the Executive Board or to an appointed Complaint Officer. If the complaint involves a member of the Board or an appointed Complaint Officer, that person will not be part of the committee investigating or reviewing the complaint. If the entire Executive Board is involved in the complaint, this avenue of resolution is not available, and the matter will have to be brought before the University.
   2. Only the Board, Complaint Officers and parties affected will be informed of the complaint. Any action taken by the Board in response to the complaint will also remain confidential.Any request of anonymity will be respected by the Board when investigating the complaint, whenever possible.
   3. The veracity and severity of the complaint will be determined and responded to solely by the Board, based on information provided by all affected parties and the Complaint Officers, following these guidelines:Conflict Resolution: If appropriate, the Board will mediate a resolution between all affected parties.

      If punishment is necessary the following penalties have been established:

      First Offense: A notice, given orally or in writing, that continuation or repetition of prohibited conduct, or a new offense will result in additional disciplinary action.

      Second Offense: Based on the recommendations of the Executive Board, a second offender shall be punished with a disciplinary probation period lasting a minimum of one semester (15 weeks) of the active RUDU and APDA season, or with the permanent exclusion from all RUDU sponsored programs. Additional restrictions or conditions may also be imposed. Violations of the terms of disciplinary probation, or any other violation of this Code during the period of probation, will normally result in taking the matter before the Dean of Students of Rutgers College.

      Note: The Board reserves ultimate discretion when determining and administering punishments.

APDA Code of Conduct

Purpose
1. APDA must give effect to the principle that all participants at events organized by its members should have an opportunity equal with other individuals to have their needs accommodated, consistent with their duties and obligations as participants in such events, without being hindered in doing so by discriminatory practices based on race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, or disability, and to be free from harassment and intimidation in the performance of these duties and obligations.Prohibited grounds of discrimination or harassment
2. All participants at a tournament hosted by an APDA member shall not engage in any behavior that will undermine or attack the goals and purposes of APDA including:
   1. making denigrating comments on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, or disability;
   2. harassing, threatening, assaulting or intimidating other participants; or
   3. damaging, destroying, or stealing any property that does not belong to them.

Complaints Officer

3. All sanctioned tournaments hosted by APDA members shall appoint a Complaints Officer to investigate any complaints, including those under section 2. At the member’s discretion, this officer may be affiliated with the APDA member, or an outside party (such as an EOF).
4. Prior to a tournament’s commencement, the APDA member hosting the tournament shall outline and publicize the procedures for investigating and resolving complaints made to the Complaints Officer.
5. All procedures for investigating and resolving complaints must include the following:
   1. a process for the making of anonymous complaints;
   2. a process for the accused persons or persons to make a written statement responding to the allegation against him or her;
   3. a process for investigating whether prohibited actions have been taken;
   4. a process for determining the appropriate punishment in the event of a prohibited action; and
   5. a process for informing all affected parties.
6. The APDA board shall provide guidelines and offer assistance to APDA members for the investigation and resolution of complaints.
7. The duties of the Complaints Officers include, but are not limited to:
   1. Being aware of all security resources of the institution at which the tournament is hosted;
   2. Being visible and available for the duration of the tournament, including attendance at social events;
   3. Acting in a responsible manner and being prepared to deal with any eventuality at all times;
   4. Investigating all complaints; and
   5. Issuing a report to the EOF Secretary at the close of the tournament.

Recommendations For The EOF Program

8. The EOF’s should work with APDA member institutions’ to understand their schools complaint arbitration procedures and how they might be applied to teams and tournaments.
9. The EOF’s should take active steps to provide tournament directors with the names of individuals who have been removed from their teams because of violations.
10. The EOF’s should work to help member institutions implement the above procedures.