Many central Ohio colleges ban people from campus for being disruptive, disobeying rules or breaking laws, including burglary, domestic violence and even deer poaching.
Oberlin College in northeastern Ohio made national headlines last month when an activist group complained that the school’s no-trespass list is so secret that some people don’t know they’re on it or how they got there.
Nine local schools contacted by The Dispatch said people barred from their campuses shouldn’t be surprised; they’re notified in person or sent a certified or hand-delivered letter.
However, that doesn’t mean that the public can see all of the names on the lists.
Oberlin refused to share its list, but a nearby newspaper got the names of 323 people banned from the school from records at the Oberlin Police Department.
Of all of the schools contacted by The Dispatch, only Columbus State Community College provided the names of students who have been banned. Others said they were involved in disciplinary hearings that are protected by federal privacy laws.
