Nothing ruins the celebration of a Tigers home game win more than getting a DWI at the end of the night. If you get a DWI, know that you’re not alone — every year there are over 20,000 arrests for drunk driving in Louisiana.
Getting a DWI has serious legal and financial consequences, but if you’re a student at Louisiana State University, it can have academic consequences as well. You don’t want to lose all the time and hard work you’ve put into your degree because of one mistake.
Read on to learn about the potential academic consequences of a DWI for students at LSU.
Is Getting a DWI a Violation of the Code of Student Conduct?
Yes. LSU’s Code of Student Conduct has a broad provision of conduction that potentially applies to a DWI arrest. LSU considers it a violation for a student to violate the law on school property or in other locations that substantially affect the University’s interest.
So if you are arrested at a home football game or even an away game, you could be in violation of the Code because the home game is on school property, and the away game has the potential to substantially affect the University’s interest.
If you get a DWI after a night of partying in downtown Baton Rouge, the University may argue that that location also substantially affects the University’s interest as an academic institution.
A DWI is less likely to be a violation of the Code if you get it back home.
What are the Consequences?
The type of punishment you’ll receive, if any, depends on the circumstances of the DWI.
LSU Consequences
The type of sanction you receive for a violation of the Code of Student Conduct depends upon the outcome of an investigation by the Dean of Students Office. You may receive something small, like probation, but violations also have the potential for suspension or expulsion.
Students who live on campus face removal from on-campus housing.
Finally, the University may require you to complete a mandated educational intervention program in addition to any disciplinary actions.
Student-Athletes
Students who attend LSU on an athletic scholarship face steep consequences if they get a DWI. The LSU Athletic Department has its own substance abuse policy that prohibits alcohol at all LSU sanctioned events, and considers a DWI a violation.
Depending on the circumstances of the DWI, student-athletes face removal from the team and the loss of their scholarship.
Graduate, Medical or Law School
On top of any potential consequences from LSU now, your DWI can also impact your ability to get into graduate school. This is particularly true for students who wish to attend law school.
Nearly every law school requires applicants to fill out a Character and Fitness disclosure when they apply that details all past criminal charges and convictions. Depending on the details of the DWI, you may not be able to attend law school. Even worse, you could attend law school but may not be permitted to sit for the bar.
Check Out Our Blog for More Advice
Getting a DWI is one of the most stressful events in an LSU student’s academic career. The potential for both criminal and academic consequences can make your situation feel overwhelming. In these times, it is best to hire an attorney to represent you in both a criminal and academic capacity.
Navigating the LSU Code of Student Conduct is an entirely different process from criminal courts. It is important that you hire an attorney who has knowledge of both systems in order to minimize the impact of your DWI.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.
