Community Responsibilities

The Malone Community

Malone is more than just an organization; it is a community of persons which includes administrators, faculty, support staff, and all students enrolled in any of the classes offered by the University on its campus.

We recognize that our students represent a wide range of backgrounds, attitudes, needs, and goals. Therefore, as a distinctively Christian university in the liberal arts tradition, Malone views each person as an individual with certain responsibilities to the University community.

These responsibilities are based upon three assumptions to which we are firmly committed.

First, individuals are Christian by virtue of the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8,9) and their commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord.

Second, while Christians have a sincere desire to mature both in insight and behavior, we recognize that there exist levels of maturity in a Christian academic community such as Malone.

Third, some students who choose Malone may not agree with some of these stated community responsibilities. However, since all students are part of the community, all are expected to act responsibly toward the community.

If the conduct of any member of the Malone community is found to be detrimental either to his/her own personal development or to that of other members of the community, we will seek to aid that member. However, if that member shows serious or continued violation of responsibility, the University will dismiss that member from the community.

Malone strives to help its students develop into mature Christian men and women who are equipped to meet all of life head-on. While we seek to strengthen each member of the community, we realize that not all, whether Christian or not, can fit into the Malone community. For those who cannot, there are educational opportunities elsewhere. For those who can, the opportunity here can be of unlimited value.

General Principles

While we realize that it is impossible to create an academic community whose behavioral norms will be acceptable to every person, we believe that it is important to formulate certain behavioral expectations so that the objectives of Malone University can be met.

It is therefore assumed that an individual who has voluntarily chosen to join the Malone community will strive to exhibit the following modes of behavior characteristic of a mature person.

Malone students will:

1. seek to develop as whole persons by growing academically, physically, socially, and spiritually.
2. pursue excellence in their work and study, will use resources and will take advantage of enriching opportunities with diligence and perseverance.
3. continually assess their growth and will strive for positive change within the community.
4. be free to consider the broad range of human opinion and ideas without engaging in the whole range of human behavior.
5. assume responsibility for their behavior and its effect on other persons.
6. be concerned about the welfare of other persons within the community and the welfare of the community as a whole.
7. realize they are part of a community with a strong Christian tradition and they must respect that tradition while exercising freedom to review and evaluate it.

Biblical Principles

Malone University recognizes that biblical principles are the standard for individual behavior and community life.

1. We are commanded to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37).
   1. A person enters into relationship with God through a personal commitment to His Son Jesus Christ (John 14:6, I Timothy 2:5).
   2. Life within a Christian community must be lived to the glory of God in all things (I Corinthians 10:31).
   3. Love for and accountability to God are the primary motivation for Christian conduct. The forgiving character of His love and grace provides the model for forgiveness in the growth process (John 14:15, I Peter 2:24).
   4. Each member individually and the community collectively are responsible for the effective stewardship of abilities, opportunities, and institutional resources (Matthew 25:14-30, Romans 12:3-8).
       
2. We are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39).
   1. Consistent with the example and command of Jesus Christ, love must be the determining factor in a Christian’s relationships with others. This love will vary in its expression - compassion, service, rebuke, discipline, etc. - with a view to the recipient’s ultimate welfare (Romans 12, Galatians 6:1-10).
   2. While Christians must ultimately decide what behavior is appropriate for them individually, the limiting of some individual liberties is necessary to attain common goals and ensure harmonious community life (Romans 14:1-13, Matthew 7:12).

Student Code of Conduct

In addition to the preceding biblical principles, all members of the Malone University community are expected to read, understand, and live up to the behavioral expectations as stated in the Student Handbook.

Community Agreement

Core Values Guiding Community Life at Malone

We believe that personal growth, relationships guided by love, and responsible participation in community are lifelong characteristics of a faithful and fulfilling life. Students at Malone become full participants in an academic community that embodies these core convictions.

Intellectual, Spiritual, and Social Growth

We take the holistic view that intellectual growth cannot be separated from moral and spiritual growth, and that adhering to communal responsibilities and spiritual disciplines frees us to grow in Christ and into the people we were created to be.

Concern for Others

We believe that learning to love God with our whole selves and to love our neighbors as ourselves is a lifelong participation in the redemptive work of the gospel. We cultivate concern, accountability, respect, humility, and grace in our relationships with one another.

Learning in a Community

We believe that people learn and grow not just as isolated individuals but as responsible participants in an academic community. Each of our actions may contribute to or take away from the health and well-being of that community.

Statement of Community Responsibilities

The purpose of education is to help people develop in deliberate and constructive ways. At Malone University we affirm the deep interrelatedness of mind, body and spirit, and we understand that people are formed by habits and relationships as well as by classroom learning. Members of the Malone community become participants in a safe, loving, supportive academic community in which we grow together in love of God and neighbor, toward the people we were created to become.

As participants in this community each of us is called to play an active role in maintaining this supportive environment, and to participate in communal and spiritual disciplines that free us to grow in Christ. We do this primarily by teaching, modeling, and encouraging one another in all areas of our lives. We also do this by establishing rules and boundaries that guide and protect both the work of our community and our development as individuals.

Malone welcomes into our community students who share our Christian convictions, students who do not, and students who are still trying to figure it all out. But all members of the Malone community commit themselves to active and responsible participation in the disciplined life of our community. It is our conviction and our experience that living within the boundaries established by these Community Responsibilities strengthens our shared life and helps create space for God to work in and among us.

Violations of Persons

We are called to build up others in love, but life with others inevitably brings about conflicts that call for self-control, forgiveness, and thoughtful discernment. Malone prohibits:

• Conduct which substantially infringes on or invades the rights of others, including theft, willful damage to, or vandalism of personal or university property.
• Intentionally or recklessly endangering or threatening the life or physical safety of others or self.
• Directing any kind of demeaning gesture, threat of violence, or physical attack toward a person.
• The practice of “hazing” of any form for the purpose of initiation into any recognized or non-recognized Malone team or organization.
• The possession or use of guns, knives, explosives, dangerous chemicals or noxious devices, and other dangerous weapons on all premises owned by Malone, or while engaging in Malone-related activities.

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Illegal Drugs

Abuse of and addiction to alcohol and drugs are extremely harmful to people’s health and relationships, and intoxication breeds irresponsible behavior toward others. Malone prohibits:

• The possession, use, distribution, purchase or sale of illegal or unauthorized drugs or controlled substances, or being under the influence of any such substance. Drug-related paraphernalia is also prohibited.
• Using or being under the influence of alcohol while on Malone property, while conducting Malone business, while engaging in Malone-related activities, or while operating or riding in any vehicle owned or supplied by Malone. Malone officials may conduct drug and/or alcohol testing of students without prior notice. For further details, refer to the Malone University “Substance Use and Abuse Policy for Employees and Students.” (Appendix B)
• Malone discourages the use of tobacco or alcoholic beverages for all members of the Malone Community.

Language

Language is a primary means by which we build up or tear down other people, and it helps shape the way we understand our world. Concern with language mirrors the thoughtful concern for “careful speech” that is a part of Malone’s Quaker heritage. Malone prohibits:

• Dishonesty, both in academic work and in interpersonal relationships.
• Profanity, obscenity, vulgarity, and other forms of speech that dishonor God, people, or creation.

Sexual Conduct

Our sexuality can draw us into loving intimacy in ways that give us glimpses into the love of God. Our misuse of this gift breeds alienation and abuse. The sexual practices of the early church were counter-cultural, reflecting God’s holiness and love in a world in which sexual conduct had become exploitive and degraded.

• Sex should be exclusively reserved for the marriage relationship, understood as a legal, lifelong commitment between a husband and wife.
• Possession, participation in, or viewing of pornography in any form is forbidden.
• Modesty of dress and the display of affection in public and/or lounges must reflect limits defined by consideration for others.

Compliance with the Laws of the Land

• Members of the Malone community are expected to uphold the laws of the local community, the State of Ohio, and the nation, except on those rare occasions when obedience to the governmental authorities would require behavior in direct conflict with the teaching of Scripture. In this latter case, the individual generally would submit voluntarily to the legal penalty for the behavior. Criminal violations of any kind occurring on or off campus are subject to review within the Malone community for potential disciplinary action.

Compliance with Malone Authorities

• Conduct which substantially disrupts, impedes or interferes with the operation of Malone is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, disobedience of, or noncompliance with a directive or order of a member of the administration, faculty, peace officer, school safety officer, or other school authority when such disobedience or noncompliance can reasonably be anticipated to result in disorder, disruption, or interference with the operation of Malone, or adversely affect the good standing and reputation of Malone.

By living within the preceding statement of community responsibilities we mirror the calling of Christians to “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) in the love of Christ.

Conclusion

As an educational institution, Malone University seeks to fulfill its mission of developing the whole person. In so doing:

1. We affirm our dignity and worth as creatures of God.
2. We accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ as ultimate authority.
3. We value the uniqueness and benefits of the Christian academic community.
4. We express a deep concern for individual growth and view discipleship as the highest calling.