Had my dorm room searched by school officials...

[indoorsoccerfrea]

I checked into my college earlier today, and was immediately told to see my residence director. So I do so, and am informed that empty casings were found in my desk drawer by a maintenance worker fixing my phone (why the hell was he in my desk? It's about 10' from my phone...). He promptly called campus security, who came and confiscated said casings (He missed 3 .22 casings and a 12 ga. shell...efficient, no?) Then I was informed that they (school officials) had searched my room and found another two boxes of empty shotgun shells, which had been confiscated.

They claimed that under Ohio law, casings/shells are considered dangerous ordnance and are illegal to have on campus. Apparently they are being "gracious" and not charging me with anything, but are not allowing me to display my collections of various calibers' casings in my room. So I got the phone number of the person in charge of campus policy, and am going to arrange a meeting with them tomorrow.

I searched the Ohio legal definitions and found this:
2006 Ohio Code - 2923.11. Definitions. - Ohio 2923.11. Definitions. :: Justia -- US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases -- Justia

(L) "Dangerous ordnance" does not include any of the following:

(5) Dangerous ordnance that is inoperable or inert and cannot readily be rendered operable or activated, and that is kept as a trophy, souvenir, curio, or museum piece.

So basically, this whole ordeal was over a maintanance worker freaking out and many people, including campus security, who don't know jack-crap about the laws they are spouting off. This really irritates me...

 

[Principal Skinr]

Freakin Nazis. The liberal world of a college campus is a good window into what life in general in the USA will be like if these clowns get their way. Pretty soon a fart will be declared a threat to the environment and will lead to a body cavity search.

Let us know how the meeting goes. I think I'd speak with a lawyer first. It sounds like an illegal search, to me.

 

[tuoder]

I checked into my college earlier today, and was immediately told to see my residence director. So I do so, and am informed that empty casings were found in my desk drawer by a maintenance worker fixing my phone (why the hell was he in my desk? It's about 10' from my phone...). He promptly called campus security, who came and confiscated said casings (He missed 3 .22 casings and a 12 ga. shell...efficient, no?) Then I was informed that they (school officials) had searched my room and found another two boxes of empty shotgun shells, which had been confiscated.

They claimed that under Ohio law, casings/shells are considered dangerous ordnance and are illegal to have on campus. Apparently they are being "gracious" and not charging me with anything, but are not allowing me to display my collections of various calibers' casings in my room. So I got the phone number of the person in charge of campus policy, and am going to arrange a meeting with them tomorrow.

I searched the Ohio legal definitions and found this:
2006 Ohio Code - 2923.11. Definitions. - Ohio 2923.11. Definitions. :: Justia -- US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases -- Justia
So basically, this whole ordeal was over a maintanance worker freaking out and many people, including campus security, who don't know jack-crap about the laws they are spouting off. This really irritates me...

First, make sure there isn't a school rule against it.

If it isn't, work your way up the chain of command with the quoted law. Ask them how much they'd like to spend in court to defending taking away some brass. Get your parents to ask them the same. They will fold.

 

[moischmoe]

I searched the Ohio legal definitions and found this:
2006 Ohio Code - 2923.11. Definitions. - Ohio 2923.11. Definitions. :: Justia -- US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases -- Justia

Good job. Do as much research as you can. If they say something is the law, make them show you.

 

[jontheturboguy]

Hire a mouth piece and own the school. /story

 

[96firephoenix]

haha yea... this is the school that likes to be our mother... (I live in the same dorm as the OP)

time to hide my hunting knife. and my other pocket knives... I bet the wrenches I brought are prolly big enough to be considered cudgels or something else illegal.

 

[jontheturboguy]

haha yea... this is the school that likes to be our mother... (I live in the same dorm as the OP)

time to hide my hunting knife. and my other pocket knives... I bet the wrenches I brought are prolly big enough to be considered cudgels or something else illegal.

Sounds like having a brain there is illegal. You and your dorm mate need to run!

 

[rmabrey]

This is why I prefer to bust my ass 40+ hours a week working to live off campus while i go to school

 

[rambone]

What country did this take place in?

 

[INGunGuy]

What country did this take place in?

Komrad, this took place in the United Socialist States of Amerika.

vy do you ask? Maybe ve should come zee you very very zoon...

INGunGuy

 

[CorvetteTom]

What about the illegal search of your desk by the 'repairman'?? I'd call a lawyer, I believe you have a case.

 

[Bond 281]

What about the illegal search of your desk by the 'repairman'?? I'd call a lawyer, I believe you have a case.

I'm almost 100% certain that at any given college, when you do your paperwork to live on campus you basically sign away all of your rights to privacy etc. One school I went to even had it in the fine print that they were allowed to store any and all information you accessed while using campus internet. I do know for a fact that they've used that to hack into people's facebook accounts, and I can only imagine they would have no issues doing the same for email accounts and the like.

Unfortunately because they've covered their bases in paperwork, you can't sue because you've signed away your rights. God bless America.

 

[Hotdoger]

I checked into my college earlier today, and was immediately told to see my residence director. So I do so, and am informed that empty casings were found in my desk drawer by a maintenance worker fixing my phone (why the hell was he in my desk? It's about 10' from my phone...). He promptly called campus security, who came and confiscated said casings (He missed 3 .22 casings and a 12 ga. shell...efficient, no?) Then I was informed that they (school officials) had searched my room and found another two boxes of empty shotgun shells, which had been confiscated.

They claimed that under Ohio law, casings/shells are considered dangerous ordnance and are illegal to have on campus. Apparently they are being "gracious" and not charging me with anything, but are not allowing me to display my collections of various calibers' casings in my room. So I got the phone number of the person in charge of campus policy, and am going to arrange a meeting with them tomorrow.

I searched the Ohio legal definitions and found this:
2006 Ohio Code - 2923.11. Definitions. - Ohio 2923.11. Definitions. :: Justia -- US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases -- Justia
So basically, this whole ordeal was over a maintanance worker freaking out and many people, including campus security, who don't know jack-crap about the laws they are spouting off. This really irritates me...

Call campus police and file a report on the "repairman'" for the search of your belongings.. Tell them you want to file charges against him. If they won't do it call the local sheriff and file a report.

 

[Armed Eastsider]

What a joke

 

[shibumiseeker]

Other folks have said it, but it bears repeating: When you signed up for campus housing you most likely signed a lot of stuff that said that they could do these types of searches and that you would abide by their rules. Basically these places have it set up so that no matter what you do, if they want to get rid of you they can find a way.

Rather than go in guns blazing (figuratively speaking!!!) with lawyers and threats, it would be a much better strategy to do your research into not only Ohio law, but all school rules. Then go in, outline that your actions were not illegal (be firm about this), but that if they inadvertently violated school rules that you were unaware of those rules and that you will toe the line in the future. Also file a complaint against the worker who was in your desk drawer, and make SURE nothing of value was missing, if it was, make a stink about it. I'm SURE you can find something of value that is missing...

I know it's an outrage to have them do this crap, but like gambling in a casino, the house always sets the rules to be in their favor, and getting kicked out of college is not worth it. Then, when you graduate, make sure you let the alumni committee, the president, and whoever else will listen, just why you won't ever give them any money or support. That's about the only real recourse you have.

 

[CVMA544]

Tell the college they were given to you by your minority gay lover while on a harrassment raid at a local gun range to protest the use of weapons, on the way back from protesting a Tea Party rally while driving your new Govt Motors Volt and singing give peace a chance, and that you see them a trophy and a statement against firearms and educational material to inform your fellow students as to how many evil types of guns there are in the hands of those people known as Tea Partiers that are clinging to their guns and religion.


Also inform them if they search your room again you will stage a sit in protest in front of the student union about the harassment from the establishment and "The Man", while wearing your tie-dye, beads, Ho Chi Minh sandals, and all the while unbathed for about 2 weeks.

 

[Armed Eastsider]

Some people are so ignorant. The telephone repairman (which I thought went out with the milkman btw) saw spent shells/casings and assumed what, you were planning on shooting up the school based on this?

I understand the poster may have signed something saying that the campus can search the dormroom, but I think that is a JOKE.

 

[grimor]

the "repair guy" was looking for stuff to steal in your room. File a complaint.

In Indiana you do have certain rights as a tenant. some of these include them not being able to enter your room without notifying you first and also not going through your stuff. I would guess that whatever you signed waiving your right to privacy also includes something about notifying you. If you really want to pursue it, you might have a case. Of course the school will then make life for you hell so choose your battles....

 

[mcolford]

Is this a state or "private" school? With a state school, I would assume you would have a much better bet at getting somewhere, but in either case, the "repairman" who was there to "Fix something" had no reason to be in your desk. Even if they were to make a big deal about some empty casings, it can be dismissed on the technicality that he had no damn reason to be in your desk.

That would be my standpoint.

But as mentioned, go in to the meeting, keep your attitude in check, but be firm. Dont go in there and just flip out on them, but stick to your point that he had no reason to do anything other than fix the phone.

Good luck! And keep us updated.

-MColford

 

[Hotdoger]

Other folks have said it, but it bears repeating: When you signed up for campus housing you most likely signed a lot of stuff that said that they could do these types of searches and that you would abide by their rules. Basically these places have it set up so that no matter what you do, if they want to get rid of you they can find a way.

Rather than go in guns blazing (figuratively speaking!!!) with lawyers and threats, it would be a much better strategy to do your research into not only Ohio law, but all school rules. Then go in, outline that your actions were not illegal (be firm about this), but that if they inadvertently violated school rules that you were unaware of those rules and that you will toe the line in the future. Also file a complaint against the worker who was in your desk drawer, and make SURE nothing of value was missing, if it was, make a stink about it. I'm SURE you can find something of value that is missing...

I know it's an outrage to have them do this crap, but like gambling in a casino, the house always sets the rules to be in their favor, and getting kicked out of college is not worth it. Then, when you graduate, make sure you let the alumni committee, the president, and whoever else will listen, just why you won't ever give them any money or support. That's about the only real recourse you have.

I have don't doubt the "repairman " was contractor and the search policy does not give him authority to do the search of the desk.

I smell a good and profitable lawsuit here.