Summary:

SDC considered and deliberated against complaints of misconducts by some SU Exco members on three incidents: namely 1) organizing a memorial event on May 8, 2020 and 2) repainting the Frog Road on June 12, 2020 against the instructions of the Acting Dean of Students out of public health concerns, as well as 3) putting up postings at unauthorized venues on June 20 and 30, 2020.  Gradated sanctions were eventually imposed on all subject students involved.  SU put up a Facebook posting regarding the disciplinary outcome on Jan 23, 2021 and took subsequent media interviews.  Inaccurate and misleading information have since been circulated on different media and social media channels, which the University seeks to clarify below.

Misrepresentation in the media:

1. The subject students were penalized for breaching 1-HKUST value
2. Appeal of the SDC ruling will be handled by the SDC
3. Unfair treatment to the subject students in this case, as other student groups have also held unauthorized gatherings before but received no similar penalty.

Clarification:

1. In a statement issued by SDC to the HKUST community on Jan 27, 2021, it was explained that the final verdict and sanctions rendered by SDC are all based on (i) violation of the instructions of the Acting Dean of Students not to hold the events because of public health concerns; and (ii) misapplication of the University’s properties.
    
2. The appeal, if any, will be reviewed by the President or his delegate, and will be considered and deliberated following due process in accordance with the Regulations for Student Conduct and Academic Integrity.  The students will be given an opportunity to explain the grounds for the appeal and present any new evidence. The decision of the appeal will be final.
    
3. The University handles unauthorized use of venues according to its severity. Usually if the students are willing to admit and correct the mistake, only written or verbal warning will be issued.  Such principle applies to every single student and has been a common practice of the University for years.  However, the disciplinary hearing mentioned herein involved multiple misconducts, namely misapplication of the University’s properties by using the Atrium and the Frog Road for unpermitted events, as well as posting of materials at unauthorized campus venues, despite repeated verbal and written warnings from the University.  The Academic Registrar therefore referred the case to SDC for deliberation.  
   
   SDC is an independent body consists of representatives from faculty, staff and students.  All subject students are given an opportunity to respond to allegations made against them and present any evidence they deem relevant to the Committee.
   
   (updated on Jan 28, 2021)