1.2 University-wide Conduct Regulations
1.2.1 Respect for Others
Respect for the rights, privileges, and sensibilities of each other are essential in preserving the spirit of community at Mesarya Technical. Actions which make the atmosphere intimidating, threatening, or hostile to individuals are therefore regarded as serious offenses. Abusive or harassing behaviour, verbal or physical, which demeans, intimidates, threatens, or injures another because of personal characteristics or beliefs or their expression, is subject to University disciplinary sanctions as described above. Examples of personal characteristics or beliefs include but are not limited to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, and disability. Making tolerance of such behaviour or submission to it a condition of employment, evaluation, compensation, or advancement is an especially serious offense. Procedures for resolving complaints or grievances on such matters are discussed under section 1.3 and section 1.7.
Mesarya Technical University strives to be an intellectual and residential community in which all members can participate fully and equally, in an atmosphere free from all manifestations of bias and from all forms of discrimination, harassment, exploitation, or intimidation. As an intellectual community, it attaches great value to freedom of expression and vigorous debate, but it also attaches great importance to mutual respect, and it deplores expressions of hatred directed against any individual or group. The University seeks to promote the full inclusion of all members and groups in every aspect of University life.
Mutual respect requires special sensitivity to issues of bias based on personal characteristics. Expressions of bias directed at individuals or groups undermine the civility and sense of community on which the well-being of the University depends. They devalue the distinctive contributions of the individuals affected and impair their ability to contribute their views and talents to the community and to benefit fully from participating in it. By alienating those individuals, they harm the whole community. The University calls on all its members to display the appropriate sensitivity and to challenge expressions of bias based on personal characteristics whenever they encounter them.
1.2.2 Discrimination or Harassment (Based on a Protected Characteristic)
Mesarya Technical University is committed to creating and maintaining an educational, working, and living environment free from discrimination and harassment based on a protected characteristic. Mesarya Technical University’s Policy on Discrimination and/or Harassment prohibits such discrimination and harassment and applies to all members of the University community.
When the University becomes aware that a member of the University community may have been subjected to or affected by discriminatory and/or harassing behaviour based on a protected characteristic, the University will take prompt action, including conducting a review of the matter and, if necessary, an investigation and appropriate action to stop the discrimination and/or harassment. The action taken by the University, including any remedial measures will depend on the particular facts and circumstances involved.
Protected characteristics are those personal traits, characteristics and/or beliefs that are defined by applicable law as protected from discrimination and/or harassment. They include race, creed, colour, sex, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, ancestry, religion, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital or domestic partnership status, affection or sexual orientation, and/or other characteristics protected by applicable law.
Discrimination is adverse treatment of an individual based on a protected characteristic, rather than individual merit. Examples of conduct that can constitute discrimination if based on an individual’s protected characteristic include but are not limited to:
- Singling out or targeting an individual for different or less favourable treatment (e.g., more severe discipline, lower salary increase) because of their protected characteristic.
- Failing or refusing to hire or admit an individual because of their protected characteristic.
- Terminating an individual from employment or an educational program based on their protected characteristic.
Harassment is unwelcome verbal or physical behaviour which is directed at a person based on a protected characteristic, when these behaviours are sufficiently severe and/or pervasive to have the effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s educational experience, working conditions or living conditions by creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. Examples of conduct that can constitute harassment if based on an individual’s protected characteristic include but are not limited to:
- Unwelcome jokes or comments about a legally protected characteristic (e.g., racial or ethnic jokes).
- Disparaging remarks to a person about a legally protected characteristic (e.g., negative or offensive remarks or jokes about a person’s religion or religious garments).
- Displaying negative or offensive posters or pictures about a legally protected characteristic.
- All communications, including those conveyed electronically, such as by e-mail, telephone or voicemail, text messaging, social media or other internet use, that violate this policy.
Retaliation is prohibited against any individual or group of individuals involved in filing a complaint or report under the Policy on Discrimination and/or Harassment, filing an external complaint, participating in a disciplinary process, or opposing in a reasonable manner an action believed to constitute a violation of the policy.
The full text of the Policy on Discrimination and/or Harassment, including examples of prohibited conduct, resources, and options for addressing concerns, can be viewed online at: https://www.mesarya.university/Administration-policies/
1.2.3 Peaceful Dissent, Protests, and Demonstrations
Free speech and peaceable assembly are basic requirements of the University as a centre for free inquiry and the search for knowledge and insight. These rights involve a concurrent obligation on the part of all members of the University, guests, and visitors to maintain on the campus an atmosphere conducive to scholarly pursuits and to respect the rights of all individuals.
In view of Mesarya Technical University’s obligation to promote the free expression of all views, the campus is open to any speaker whom students or members of the faculty have invited and for whom official arrangements to speak have been made with the University. The right of free speech in a university also includes the right to acts of peaceful dissent, protests in peaceable assembly, and orderly demonstrations which include picketing and the distribution of leaflets. These are permitted on the Mesarya Technical campus, subject to approval as to schedule and location, unless, or until, they disrupt regular and essential operations of the University or significantly infringe on the rights of others, particularly the right to listen to a speech or lecture.
All individuals and groups planning to engage in activities of the sort described in the previous paragraph should seek approval from the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students. Locations generally approved for these activities include the following:
- the area in the vicinity of the north entrance to Student Union on Yediler Street.
In asking groups and individuals to seek prior approval for schedule and location, the University’s goal is not to restrict free speech or peaceable assembly. Rather, it is to give the University the opportunity to provide space that accommodates the reasonable needs of both the University community and those engaged in acts of speech or protest. The University reserves the right to determine the time, place, and manner of all such activities.
Whenever appropriate, the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students, with assistance from and in consultation with the North Cyprus Department of Public Safety, will designate clearly marked areas for protests and demonstrations from among the list that appears above. In addition to those on this list, other locations may be designated because of particular circumstances associated with a protest or demonstration (for example, to schedule a protest in the vicinity of a campus public lecture held in a location not near those on the list). To the extent practicable, the marked areas will be within reasonable sight and sound of the speaker’s and the audience’s ingress to and egress from the location of the event. The University reserves the right to refuse permission to use a particular area for protests or demonstrations, including those on the designated area list. When such a decision is reached, the University will provide reasons when asked.
It is a violation of these policies whenever any individual prevents, or wilfully attempts to prevent, the orderly conduct of a University function or activity, such as lectures, meetings, interviews, ceremonies, and public events; or blocks, or wilfully attempts to block, the legitimate activities of any person on the campus or in any University building or facility.
Whenever a member of the University community, that is a member of the faculty, staff, or student body, violates these policies, that individual may be subject to University-imposed sanctions, including being barred from campus and/or arrest. Whenever a non-member of the University community violates these policies, that individual may be barred from campus and/or arrest. Decisions to invoke University disciplinary action or arrest in the course of a protest or demonstration will be made after due warning and, wherever possible, such decisions will be made by officers of the University (see the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees).
All members of the press and media, both those affiliated with the University and those with no affiliation to the University, are fully subject to these provisions unless special arrangements for press coverage have been authorized by the University’s Office of Communications. Ordinarily, arrangements of some kind to permit press coverage will be made when circumstances allow, and will be administered by the Office of Communications.
More detailed information about University policies and practices pertaining to Peaceful Dissent, Protests, and Demonstrations can be found on the website https://www.mesarya.university/policies/
1.2.4 Distribution of Written Materials by Members of the University Community
Free inquiry, free expression, and civility within this academic community are indispensable to the University’s objectives. Inclusion of the name, telephone number, and/or e-mail address of the University sponsoring organization or individual member of the University community on material resembling petitions, posters, leaflets distributed on campus, including materials disseminated using campus information technology resources or University Internet access is encouraged, since such attribution promotes and facilitates civility as well as vigorous debate in the academic community. Anonymous public postings without sponsorship of a registered University organization or individual shall be removed or deleted if a complaint by a member of the University is lodged with the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students or the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School.
1.2.5 Personal Safety
Actions that threaten or endanger in any way the personal safety or security of others will be regarded as serious offenses.
The following offenses will be regarded as extremely serious:
- Deliberate participation in a riot or general disturbance that threatens the safety, or seriously threatens the property, of either University members or members of the local community.
- Intimidation by violence, by a threat of violence, or by property damage, which seeks to interfere with the free expression of ideas, or attempts to punish such free expression.
- The possession, storing, or use on campus (including in any University housing) of (a) firearms (including antique firearms and imitation firearms); (b) any guns that shoot projectiles (including paintball, BB, air); (c) ammunition for any firearm; or (d) any explosive or incendiary device (including firecrackers and other fireworks). The use of prop guns in theatrical productions and the like requires advance written permission from the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students. (Easily identifiable toys, such as brightly coloured or clear water guns, are not covered by this provision.)
- The possession of weapons or the use or threatened use of weapons or objects capable of being used as weapons. (Students may possess small pocket-knives or kitchen implements and may use them for their intended purposes only.)
- Any physical assault committed in the course of any University function or activity, or on the premises of the University or in the local vicinity, especially when unprovoked and/or when injury results.
- Any other act that seriously endangers human life, or threatens serious physical or psychological injury.
1.2.6 Programs Involving Minors
The University is dedicated to the welfare and safety of all individuals who participate in its programs and activities, with particular concern for minors, who are defined as individuals who are under the age of 18 years old and are not a matriculated college student at Mesarya Technical University or elsewhere. Members of the University community who interact with minors are expected to be acquainted with and abide by the University’s Policy for Programs Involving Minors. For more information about this policy, see the following website: https://www.mesarya.university/policies/
1.2.7 Quiet
Activities that take place in the vicinity of University residences, classrooms, the library, the chapel/mosque/faith centre, and similar facilities must be conducted in such a way as to respect the necessity for maintaining a reasonable degree of quiet in such areas. (See “Noise” under section2.2.1 for more information.)
1.2.8 Owlcards (ID Cards) and Other Identification
Owlcards are issued to eligible members of the University community and are intended for campus use only. Members of the community are asked to carry their cards while on campus. Owlcards are non-transferable and must be presented on request to authorized University representatives. Owlcards should not be lent or given to others even for short periods of time.
Possession, manufacture, sale, or transfer of false identification of any sort is a violation of the law and of University policy.