Brown University (College Hill)

Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards
E-mail: student-conduct@brown.edu
Phone: (401) 863-2653
Website: www.brown.edu/offices/student-conduct/

Off-Campus Incident Reporting Form — Used to report information to the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards regarding students at an off-campus address violating the Code of Conduct and request that Brown implement its Student Conduct Procedures.1

To submit feedback on your experience with the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards or Brown University’s student conduct policies, contact the director of the Conduct Office, Yolanda Castillo-Appollonio, at yca@brown.edu. (Please “cc” the Noise Project so we can track the issue and any response.)

The text in grey below is noise-related information about Brown University’s policies regarding students excerpted from its Code of Student Conduct and website. We have added italics, underlining, and bold formatting for emphasis. Our comments on the substance of the excerpts is found below each excerpt.

Code of Student Conduct

On Campus (including university buildings, facilities, and student dormitories)

Noise and Quiet

All members of the University Community have a right to reasonable peace and quiet during normal hours of rest. Creating undue noise or disturbance in or adjacent to residential units is prohibited between 12:00 midnight and 7:00 AM on weekdays and between 2:00 AM and 9:00 AM on Saturdays and Sundays. Also, undue noise or disturbances at other times of the day or other actions that violate the rights of members of the University Community to reasonable peace and quiet are prohibited.

These prohibitions include the use of audio and music equipment, televisions and video equipment, and other devices in a manner to disturb any member of the Community. They also include other noise-making such as singing, dancing, shouting, running, moving furniture, etc. at a disturbing level. Violations of this rule reported by any member of the University Community will be reviewed for discipline.

Comment: Note the specificity of on-campus regulations stipulated above — including times of day, sources of noise (audio equipment, shouting, etc), and the use of the word “rights” to describe the university community’s expectation of peace and quiet on campus — in contrast to the far more generalized off-campus prohibitions directly below.

Prohibited Conduct (both on and off-campus)

3.4.5 Disruption of Community

Actions that are unreasonably disruptive to the University community and / or its neighborhoods. Examples include, but are not limited to, off-campus disturbances or nuisances in residential and commercial areas surrounding Campus, any disturbances that interfere with the quiet use and enjoyment of Campus or nearby properties, and behaviors that require the deployment of significant Campus resources.


3.4.23 Violations of Law

Violation of any federal, state or local law, as determined by a court of law.

Comment: Note the language in the first item above indicating that the neighborhoods surrounding the university are part of its community. The reference to a court in the second item implies that the conduct has been both cited and adjudicated by a governmental body external to Brown, which is exceedingly rare. This latter section seems intended primarily to support administrative action against a student on the basis of a criminal conviction, rather than for the benefit of other residents.

In addition to its Code of Student Conduct, Brown also offers what can be described as “advice”
to students living off campus about how to comport themselves within the broader community:

Representing Brown and Being a Great Neighbor

[T]he vast majority of Brown students and neighbors in the community enjoy positive, supportive relationships ... An important way Brown students are great neighbors is by managing noise, trash disposal, and gatherings in accordance with Providence ordinances and policies. Any Brown student residing off campus may face both disciplinary action at the University and legal action from the city if they or guests visiting their residence violate these expectations.

Things to keep in mind include:

1. Noise: The City of Providence has a noise ordinance. This noise ordinance stipulates that noise must be greatly reduced between the hours of 8:00 PM to 7:00 AM. The Providence Police and Brown University Police enforce the law and will respond to complaints from your neighbors. Providence Police will issue noise citations to individuals who create disturbances. Families living in the neighborhoods around our campus have a right to enjoy a reasonable level of peace and quiet, including nights and weekends.

4. Parties: Neighbors on the [Hill?] expect some social activity from students. However, late night rowdiness, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and large groups of people outside with loud amplified music are not respectful to other members of the community. A host or hosts assumes all the risks associated with state and city laws regulating consumption of alcohol, noise ordinances, and public safety when they sponsor a party in their home. Brown University students are also subject to the University’s disciplinary system if a serious incident occurs off campus.

5. Registering your off-campus address: The University must have up to date contact information available on file. Please ensure that your student contact information is up to date with the University. Failure to do so will block your Spring Registration Process and may result in a meeting with Student Conduct.

6. Standards of Student Conduct: The principles of the Brown University Community and the Standards of Student Conduct apply to students in their off-campus lives. Complaints from our neighbors will result in a Providence Police and / or Brown Police response, as well as consideration of University disciplinary action.

Comment: This section “buries the lede” by stating the applicability of conduct standards off-campus last rather than first. In addition, the first item seemingly mis-states the residential overnight interval of the current municipal noise ordinance, which is 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

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1 If Brown University students are making noise right now, you can call the Brown Department of Public Safety (campus police) non-emergency number at (401) 863-3322. We have conflicting information on whether they will respond to reports of off-campus violations. You can also use its Silent Witness form to report violations of city noise ordinances and other laws anonymously. Reporting incidents can potentially provide information needed to address ongoing cases or to prevent further violations in the future.