[Oliviaforever]

Here is the OU policy?

Do you believe OU has the right to maintain such policies?

Abusive conduct: Unwelcome conduct that is sufficiently severe and pervasive that it alters the conditions of education or employment and creates an environment that a reasonable person would find intimidating, harassing or humiliating. These circumstances could include the frequency of the conduct, its severity, and whether it is threatening or humiliating. This includes physically abusing a person or holding a person against his or her will. Simple teasing, offhanded comments and isolated incidents (unless extremely serious) will not amount to abusive conduct.

[HiTech RedNeck]

A sacred cow got gored... probably it is being viewed in the “extremely serious” category.

[TontoKowalski]

That's an interesting question. Most of the examples of "abusive conduct" cited in the policy are, in fact, illegal activities... threats, physical abuse, holding a person against their will. No problem at all with those.

There are some less clear examples that may not be purely criminal in nature. I suppose that, even if one concedes all of these examples are valid, there would be some question if a private fraternity event with invited guests... not open to the general public... would be an atmosphere where "conditions of education or employment" would be in play.

Is this from their Employee Manual? Because it sounds like the type of thing that would be related to their HR standards.

[boop]

If that's their policy, then the University does NOT have a case.

AFAIK, this happened on a bus, probably chartered, by a private group.

They weren't on school grounds when they sang this, and no actual person was "threatened" in any way.

The students are idiots, regardless.

Criminally stupid, but not guilty of a "crime".

[PapaBear3625]

Do you believe OU has the right to maintain such policies?

Abusive conduct: Unwelcome conduct that is sufficiently severe and pervasive that it alters the conditions of education or employment and creates an environment that a reasonable person would find intimidating, harassing or humiliating. These circumstances could include the frequency of the conduct, its severity, and whether it is threatening or humiliating. This includes physically abusing a person or holding a person against his or her will. Simple teasing, offhanded comments and isolated incidents (unless extremely serious) will not amount to abusive conduct.

Unless it can be shown that this was routine behavior by the frat brothers in question, conducted in the presence of targeted individuals, the by OU's own standards ("Simple teasing, offhanded comments and isolated incidents (unless extremely serious) will not amount to abusive conduct"), the bus incident was not actionable.