The following Rules of Decorum are to be observed in all hearings and applied equally to all parties (meaning the Respondent, Complainant, Reporting Individual, Advisors, and Witnesses).
- Questions must be conveyed in a neutral tone.
- Parties and advisors will refer to others using the name and gender used by the person and shall not intentionally mis-name or mis-gender that person in communication or questioning.
- No party may act abusively or disrespectfully during the hearing toward any other party, witnesses, advisors, or decision-makers.
- No one may yell, scream, badger, or physically “lean in” to another person’s personal space. No one may approach another person without permission from the Hearing Board Chair.
- No one may use profanity or make irrelevant character attacks upon another person. Questions must be interrogative and may not include accusations within the text of the question.
- No one asking questions may ask repetitive questions. If the Hearing Board Chair determines a question has been “asked and answered” or is not relevant, the person must move on.
- No person may take action during the hearing that a reasonable person would see as intended to intimidate another person into not participating or modifying their participation in the process.
Warning and Removal Process
- The Hearing Board Chair has sole discretion to determine if the Rules of Decorum have been violated and will notify the offending person of any violation.
- Upon a second or further violation, the Hearing Officer may remove the offending person or allow them to continue participating. Reasonable delays, including temporary adjournment, may be considered if an advisor is removed.
- The Hearing Board Chair will document any decision to remove a person in the written determination regarding responsibility.