College students are using a legal tactic to block people in real life

Colleges across the United States are experiencing a new epidemic of in-person blocking on campus, as ‘No-Contact Orders’ become a familiarity among students.

Carnegie Mellon University, Lafayette College and Georgetown University, are just a handful of institutions that adopted the ‘No-Contact Order,’ which keeps students in conflict from interacting. 

NCOs became more widely available in 2011 as a way to protect students who were victims of sexual harassment or assault without having to endure the legal system. 

Now, students are using NCOs far differently as the relaxed phrasing standards have made them easily accessible for a range of relationship troubles. 

Roommate spats, failed friendships, or bad breakups have become the new targets of the orders. 

Howard Kallem, a former attorney at the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and administrator at both Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill, told the Wall Street Journal: ‘At least at Duke, it wasn’t hard for a student to request a no contact order and get one.

‘They were considered non disciplinary, and the standards weren’t particularly high.’ 

At Carnegie Mellon, for example, a student can get an NCO by claiming to be ‘the recipient of persistent unwanted or harassing contact by another student,’ including ‘indirect contact through third parties.’ 

Carnegie Mellon University, Lafayette College and Georgetown University, are just a handful of institutions that adopted the ‘No-Contact Order,’ which keeps students in conflict from interacting

Now, students are using NCOs far differently as the relaxed phrasing standards have made them easily accessible for a range of relationship troubles. Roommate spats, failed friendships, or bad breakups have become the new targets of the orders

At Tulane University, the orders are ‘based on the right of every Tulane community member to avoid contact with another community member if such contact may be harmful or detrimental.’ 

And while the orders are not disciplinary, it is noted that ‘a violation of this Order could result in an immediate interim suspension and against [sic] conduct charges to you.’ 

One Tulane student received notice that an order had been placed against her, and she was sent into a panic. 

May, who asked to be identified by her middle name, told the WSJ that she and her roommate hadn’t got along well. 

Her roommate, May said, told her that it was her ‘life goal to sabotage someone.’

But after hearing through a mutual friend that May didn’t like her, the roommate posted a note telling her to change rooms immediately. 

Several days later she received the order, which resulted from her ex-roommate telling administrators that she feared for her safety. 

For their next four years, they stayed well clear of each other. 

At Carnegie Mellon, for example, a student can get an NCO by claiming to be ‘the recipient of persistent unwanted or harassing contact by another student,’ including ‘indirect contact through third parties’

Sociology professor, David R. Karp, told the outlet: ‘Schools hand them out like candy. We generally know that students are increasingly fragile and conflict-averse, which leads to an increased desire to request a no contact order’

 ‘It was like a bad breakup,’ May told the outlet. 

‘This person used a system that is supposed to do good in the world and used it against me,’ she added. 

Some schools, such as Bentley University, cite ‘psychological harm’ as a valid reason for an order. Others, such as Carnegie Mellon, say ‘problematic interactions’ can constitute grounds for an order. 

Sociology professor, David R. Karp, told the outlet: ‘Schools hand them out like candy. We generally know that students are increasingly fragile and conflict-averse, which leads to an increased desire to request a no contact order.’ 

One administrator at a public university said that the new generation of students tend to view other people as either hurtful or helpful with very little wiggle room. 

Younger generations have also become much more accustomed to therapeutic buzzwords and ‘self-care,’ often leading to an increased culture of black and white labels and quick reactions with shallow understanding. 

Many have said the increase in NOCs have come in the last eight to ten years, as political polarization, social justice movements and increased discussions on mental health and societal issues has increased. 

Several schools have seen many NOCs being created in relation to race, ethnicity, religion and political issues. 

Some schools, such as Bentley University, cite ‘psychological harm’ as a valid reason for an order. Others, such as Carnegie Mellon, say ‘problematic interactions’ can constitute grounds for an order

One student, Dylan Jacobs, said he received an order in 2024 which kept him from contacting any member of the campus Students for Justice in Palestine.

According to Jacobs and the Anti-Defamation League, which filed a letter on his behalf, the order put Jacobs at risk for disciplinary action as he had no way of knowing every member of the organization, WSJ reported. 

Many have grown concerned that the new use of the orders could create the ‘weaponization’ of Title IX policies. The fears grew after two student journalists were served NCOs after covering pro-Palestinian protests.

Brian Glick, the president-elect of the Association of Student Conduct Administration, told WSJ: ‘I’ve been in this field for 20 years, and the desire for administrative intervention has increased just as the number of students saying, “I am feeling unsafe” has increased.’ 

Caroline Mehl, co-founder and executive director of Constructive Dialogue Institute said: ‘This generation of college students grew up in an echo-chamber world where they could block or filter out voices they disagree with.

‘They’re bringing online communication norms to the real world.’