Syracuse University: Student Found Responsible for Threatening Another Student’s Mental Health

In December 2021, Syracuse University found student Samantha Jones responsible for threatening another student’s mental health when she asked him at an off-campus party about rumors of his prior sexual misconduct and status as a sex offender in Canada. The university disciplined Jones under a broad provision of its student code of conduct that punishes “conduct . . . which threatens the mental health . . . of anyone.” On January 14, 2022, FIRE wrote to Syracuse asking it to reverse its decision and reminding the university that merely asking questions does not rise to the level of harassment.