1. As used in this section: a. "Protected activity" means an expression of free speech or freedom of the press. b. "School-sponsored media" means any material that is prepared, substantially written, published, or broadcast by a student journalist at a public institution of higher education, distributed or generally made available to members of the student body, and prepared under the direction of a student media adviser. The term does not include any media intended for distribution or transmission solely in the classroom in which the media is produced. c. "Student journalist" means a student of a public institution of higher education who gathers, compiles, writes, edits, photographs, records, or prepares information for dissemination in school-sponsored media. d. "Student media adviser" means an individual employed, appointed, or designated by a public institution of higher education to supervise or provide instruction relating to school-sponsored media.
2. Except as provided in subsection 3, a student journalist has the right to exercise freedom of speech and of the press in school-sponsored media, regardless of whether the media is supported financially by the institution or by use of facilities of the institution or produced in conjunction with a class in which the student is enrolled. Subject to subsection 3, a student journalist is responsible for determining the news, opinion, feature, and advertising content of school-sponsored media. This subsection may not be construed to prevent a student media adviser from teaching professional standards of English and journalism to student journalists. A student media adviser may not be dismissed, suspended, or disciplined for acting to protect a student journalist engaged in a protected activity or for refusing to infringe on a protected activity. 3. This section does not authorize or protect expression by a student that: a. Is libelous, slanderous, or obscene; b. Constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy; c. Violates federal or state law; or d. So incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of an unlawful act, the violation of institution or state board of higher education policies, or the material and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the institution. 4. An expression of free speech or freedom of the press made by a student journalist under this section may not be construed as an expression of school policy. A school, school official, employee, or parent or legal guardian of a student journalist may not be liable in any civil or criminal action for an expression of free speech or freedom of the press made by a student journalist, except in the case of willful or wanton misconduct.
15-10-56. Disciplinary proceedings - Right to counsel for students and organizations - Appeals. 1. Any student enrolled at an institution under the control of the state board of higher education has the right to be represented, at the student's expense, by the student's choice of either an attorney or a nonattorney advocate, who may fully participate during any disciplinary proceeding or during any other procedure adopted and used by that institution to address an alleged violation of the institution's rules or policies. This right applies to both the student who has been accused of the alleged violation and to the student who is the accuser or victim. This right only applies if the disciplinary proceeding involves a violation that could result in a suspension or expulsion from the institution. This right does not apply to matters involving academic misconduct. Before the disciplinary proceeding is scheduled, the institution shall inform the students in writing of the students' rights under this section. 2. Any student organization officially recognized by an institution under the control of the state board of higher education has the right to be represented, at the student organization's expense, by the student organization's choice of either an attorney or nonattorney advocate, who may fully participate during any disciplinary proceeding or during any other procedure adopted and used by the institution to address an alleged violation of the institution's rules or policies. This right only applies if the disciplinary proceeding involves a violation that could result in the suspension or the removal of the student organization from the institution. This right applies to both the student organization that has been accused of the alleged violation and to the accuser or victim. 3. a. Any student who is suspended or expelled from an institution under the control of the state board of higher education for a violation of the rules or policies of that institution and any student organization that is found to be in violation of the rules or policies of that institution must be afforded an opportunity to appeal the institution's initial decision to an institutional administrator or body that did not make the initial decision for a period of one year after receiving final notice of the institution's decision. The right to appeal the result of the institution's disciplinary proceeding also applies to the student who is the accuser or victim.
b. The right of the student or the student organization under subsection 1 or 2 to be represented, at the student's or the student organization's expense, by the student's or the student organization's choice of either an attorney or a nonattorney advocate, also applies to the appeal. c. The issues that may be raised on appeal include new evidence, contradictory evidence, and evidence that the student or student organization was not afforded due process. The institutional body considering the appeal may consider police reports, transcripts, and the outcome of any civil or criminal proceeding directly related to the appeal. 4. Upon consideration of the evidence, the institutional body considering the appeal may grant the appeal, deny the appeal, order a new hearing, or reduce or modify the suspension or expulsion. If the appeal results in the reversal of the decision or a lessening of the sanction, the institution may reimburse the student for any tuition and fees paid to the institution for the period of suspension or expulsion which had not been previously refunded. 5. For purposes of this section, "fully participate" includes the opportunity to make opening and closing statements, to examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to provide the accuser or accused with support, guidance, and advice. This section does not require an institution to use formal rules of evidence in institutional disciplinary proceedings. The institution, however, shall make good faith efforts to include relevant evidence and exclude evidence which is neither relevant or probative. 6. This section does not affect the obligation of an institution to provide equivalent rights to a student who is the accuser or victim in the disciplinary proceeding under this section, including equivalent opportunities to have others present during any institutional disciplinary proceeding, to not limit the choice of attorney or nonattorney advocate in any meeting or institutional disciplinary proceeding, and to provide simultaneous notification of the institution's procedures for the accused and the accuser or victim to appeal the result of the institutional disciplinary proceeding.