Non-Discrimination

Northern Kentucky University believes that student organizations play a vital role in every student's education. Therefore, every student shall have the right to participate in the student organization of his or her choice regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, handicap, age or ancestry.

Northern Kentucky University encourages students to join and actively participate in all registered student organizations. Additionally, NKU encourages students to recruit new members for their organizations and to create new organizations when needs are not met by existing groups.

A criterion for registration as an organization on NKU's campus is the requirement that the organization shall have a policy that every student shall have the right to actively participate in that student organization regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, handicap, age, or ancestry and shall have equal opportunities for membership in all registered student organizations.

The exception shall be the recognized social fraternities and sororities whose right to remain single sex organizations is guaranteed under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Every other provision of this statement applies to those organizations as it does to all student organizations.

Therefore, no student organization shall refuse membership to a student on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, handicap, sexual orientation, age or ancestry. Nor shall any student organization discharge a member without just cause or otherwise illegally discriminate against that person with respect to privileges and promotions within that student organization.

Furthermore, no student organization shall limit or classify its members on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, handicap, age, or ancestry.

No student organization shall have any subordinate members or subordinate organizations affiliated with it that are discriminatory on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap or ancestry. Every member of every organization shall be a full member entitled to all of the rights and privileges of said membership. Those organizations with an initiation period for new members must have this initiation period approved by the University. The existence of said initiation period and organizational policy and procedures must not violate any University policy.

Further, no student organization shall print, publish, cause to be printed or published any material that is discriminatory on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, handicap, age, or ancestry. Nor shall any student organization conduct any activities that tend to harass, embarrass or generally disturb any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, handicap, age, or ancestry.

Any violation of this statement by any student organization shall result in disciplinary action. Students may file a complaint with the Student Engagement Office, the Affirmative Action Coordinator of the University, a representative of Student Government Association, or a member and of the Faculty or the Dean of Students. Penalties for violations of this policy may result in suspension or probation of the organization and loss of privileges associated with registered student organizations.