WASHINGTON
A former student who was barred from the campus of George Washington University and threatened with expulsion after checking into a hospital with depression has settled a lawsuit with the college, both sides announced Tuesday.
The school told Jordan Nott that his 2004 hospitalization violated the school’s code of conduct because it demonstrated dangerous behavior. He says he hadn’t tried to kill himself before the hospitalization, but had been thinking about it because of the suicide of another GW student.
Nott was barred from campus and threatened with suspension or expulsion unless he withdrew. He decided not to fight the charges and transferred to another school a few months later.
Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. University officials say they are reviewing and revising their policies on involuntary mental health withdrawal and hope to have a new plan in place by the end of the semester.
“Currently, the way we handle involuntary withdrawals is a judicial one,” said university spokeswoman Tracy Schario. “We’re looking at how to make it an administrative process.”
Karen Bower of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, which represented Nott, says the group was pleased the university is considering changes.
