Code for Behavior

As members of the PLNU Forensics Team we are an extension of the campus community, representing the University to many people and organizations that may have no other contact with our school.  One of the major reasons the school has been so supportive of our program is that they know how valuable this type of public relations can be in improving the academic reputation of the University within the academic community.  It is very important, therefore, that you remember to always abide by the school's expectations regarding your behavior.

You will be placed in many situations where you will be invited and/or expected to participate in activities which you know to be counter to PLNU's expectations.  Resist that temptation.  You may even encounter some good natured ribbing or perhaps mild persecution from the competitors you will interact with socially on the forensics circuit. Since most of this peer pressure will exist at student parties thrown spontaneously, an easy solution would be to not place yourself in difficult situations.

You are certainly not prohibited from attending social functions at speech tournaments.  In fact, much of the fun of the activity centers on the personal relationships you develop with students and coaches from other schools.  But remember that you are expected and required to honor your behavioral understanding with the University, which clearly prohibits such activities as drinking, smoking, partaking in drugs, and all the other prohibitions which you've come to know and love.  If you respect those rules, I think you will find others respect your choices.

While we do not send Party Police representatives everywhere, you should know that there will be accountability.  For one thing, there is no such thing as a secret at a speech tournament. :-)   Everybody talks to everybody (not too surprising for speech people). Secondly, your coaches may be frequenting the same gatherings you are.  No individual is so valuable from a competitive stand point that they are more important than the squad as a whole, which they are endangering by disregarding PLNU requirements.  Know that any involvement in unacceptable activities (not only of a "partying" nature) will jeopardize your future in the organization and possibly the University.  Please treat this situation very seriously, since the school certainly will.