Spartan Debate Institute Program Handbook

Contents

Notification and Contact Information

Rules for Students

Housing Policy

Disciplinary Procedure

Revised: October, 2013

Notification and Contact Information

Parents of any participant at the Spartan Debate Institutes will be notified as soon as possible in the case of an emergency, including medical or behavioral situations. Contact will be first attempted to the phone numbers listed on the Medical Information form and the Student Application. Contact may be initiated by the Institute Director and/or members of the Institute Office.

Contacting the SDI: the camp office will be located in a lounge in Bryant Hall. The office can be reached at (517) 798-6269. This is also the number students should use in an emergency; someone will be available to answer the phone at all times. Please do NOT call the MSU Debate Team Office number (517 432 9667) as it is not staffed during the summer program. You can also reliably contact the SDI Office by emailing us: .

Contacting a student during the SDI: many students at the SDI bring a cell phone and this is the quickest and most reliable way to contact them during the camp. If your student did not bring a phone or is not answering, please contact the SDI Office and will contact them on your behalf and direct them to call home. If they do not have a phone, one can be provided for their use in the SDI Office. If you would like to contact your student via mail, their generic mailing address will be listed on our website (debate.msu.edu). You’ll need to fill in their name and room number. Room numbers are assigned to each student on the day of registration for the camp.

Visiting parents/coaches are always welcome. The best times are weekends. Please notify us in advance if you are planning to take a student off campus. We can be reached by phone at 517-798-6269 or email () if you need to make such arrangements. Also, students leaving campus for any duration must be checked out through the institute office. Anyone other than parents must be pre-approved by parents in order to check out a student.

Rules for Students

You are subject to all of the rules pertaining to the use of the MSU residence halls and other facilities, as well as certain special rules of the Spartan Debate Institutes. Violations of Institute rules may result in the removal of the student from the program. The following is a partial list which includes some of the most important rules:

1. USE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES IS PROHIBITED: Campus and Institute regulations strictly forbid any possession or use of drugs, tobacco, fireworks, or alcohol. Violations will result in immediate expulsion from the camp without refund. Students involved in such activities may also face legal action.

2. DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR AND HARASSMENT OF ANY TYPE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED: No violence of any kind will be tolerated. Destructive behavior such as tampering with or defacing fire equipment, elevators, halls, rooms, equipment, etc. is forbidden. Harassment—including but not limited to physical, verbal, sexual, or racial harassment—of students or staff of the SDI or MSU is forbidden. This includes any violations of the University Anti-Discrimination Policy.Sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and other sexually inappropriate conduct will not be tolerated. Violations will result in immediate dismissal from the camp without refund. Students involved in such activities may also face legal action. Hazing and bullying (physical, verbal or cyber-bullying) will not be tolerated.

3. WEAPONS OF ANY KIND ARE NOT ALLOWED.

4. DAMAGE FEES: Misuse or damage of University property is prohibited. You will be financially responsible for any lost keys, meal ID’s, or damage that you do to your room or other university property.

5. CURFEW: The dormitories lock at 10:00pm. Students must be in the building at that time. Bed checks will be used to verify students’ presence.

6. HOUSING: Each camper will have a roommate. If you have a roommate preference let us know as early as possible and remind us at registration. For security, you will be issued a key to your room and we ask you not to be in other people’s rooms without their permission. Everyone should be in their own rooms at bed check.

7. DRIVING: Students are not allowed to drive themselves to the institute. Parents/Guardians are asked to pick up and drop off their children at registration and check out. Should this present an insurmountable difficulty, contact Casey Harrigan.

8. RESIDENCE LIFE ASSISTANTS: In addition to the SDI staff, MSU provides their own trained residence life staff that is there to assist campers and to enforce hall regulations. Their instructions are also to be obeyed.

9. PETS: Pets are not allowed. Please do not bring any to the institute.

10. PRIVACY: Use of cameras and other digital recording devices in showers, restrooms, locker rooms, and other areas where privacy is expected by participants is prohibited.

Housing Policy

All participants at the Spartan Debate Institute are required to be in their assigned Residence Hall by no later than 10:00pm on all days of the program. All participants at the Spartan Debate Institute are required to be on their assigned floor of the Residence Hall by no later than 11:00pm on all days of the program.

Separate accommodations are provided for all SDI staff living in the Residence Halls. No staff may room with any student at the Spartan Debate Institute.

Non-participant guests may visit during the program, but must depart prior to the 10:00pm curfew.

Disciplinary Procedure

Students, group leaders, or any other individual associated with the Spartan Debate Institutes that are in violation of the Institute’s rules are subject to a disciplinary process that may include:

Meeting with immediate instructors to discuss the situation and possible remedies

Meeting with Office staff members to discuss the situation and possible remedies

Referral to the Institute Director to discuss the situation and possible remedies

All cases involving possible dismissal and removal from the program will be referred to the Institute Director. The Institute Director’s judgment is final. Students who are dismissed from the program before its completion are not due any refund and are responsible for arranging their own return travel.

In the case of dismissal, the Institute Director will contact the parent, legal guardian, or other adult responsible for the affected student to arrange for return transportation / pick-up of the participant.