IMPORTANT — THIS IS A LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT
BY SIGNING THIS DOCUMENT, YOU ARE WAIVING IMPORTANT LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO BRING CERTAIN LEGAL CLAIMS AGAINST GCU AND OTHER RELEASED PARTIES FOR PERSONAL INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE, ILLNESS, DISABILITY, OR DEATH.
This Agreement applies to all events, activities, trips, tours, bus excursions, volunteer projects, community service activities, sporting events, conferences, educational seminars, member meetings, fundraising events, recreational activities, overnight travel, transportation arrangements, charitable activities, and all other programs sponsored, organized, promoted, hosted, supported, or facilitated by GCU and its affiliates.
Participation is entirely voluntary. Participant elects to participate with full knowledge that risks may exist whether known or unknown, foreseeable or unforeseeable. Participant knowingly assumes all risks including bodily injury, illness, communicable disease exposure, disability, emotional distress, property damage, theft, transportation incidents, weather conditions, acts of third parties, volunteer activities, athletic activities, crowd-related incidents, lodging risks, travel risks, and death.
RELEASE OF LIABILITY. Participant hereby releases, waives, and forever discharges GCU from any and all claims arising out of participation in any GCU-sponsored event. For purposes of this Agreement, “Released Parties” shall include GCU, its parent organizations, subsidiaries, affiliates, foundations, chapters, officers, directors, employees, volunteers, members, agents, contractors, sponsors, event coordinators, insurers, attorneys, representatives, successors, assigns, and any person acting on behalf of GCU. Participant further agrees not to commence, maintain, or participate in any legal action against any Released Party arising from participation in any covered event. PARTICIPANT EXPRESSLY AGREES THIS RELEASE APPLIES TO CLAIMS ALLEGING NEGLIGENCE OF ANY RELEASED PARTY TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.
INDEMNIFICATION. Participant agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Released Parties from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, settlements, judgments, costs, and attorney fees arising from Participant’s conduct or participation.
TRANSPORTATION AND VENDORS DISCLAIMER. GCU is not a transportation provider or common carrier and assumes no responsibility for transportation providers, vehicles, drivers, scheduling, maintenance, or operations. GCU is not responsible for the acts, omissions, conditions, security, operations, or safety practices of any venue, hotel, stadium, restaurant, charity, transportation provider, contractor, or vendor.
EVENT MODIFICATION OR CANCELLATION. GCU reserves the right to cancel, postpone, modify, reschedule, or terminate any event due to weather conditions, safety concerns, venue changes, transportation disruptions, acts of God, government action, public health concerns, insufficient participation, or other circumstances beyond its reasonable control. Participant releases GCU from claims arising from any such cancellation or modification.
PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBLITIES & FITNESS. Participant agrees to act responsibly and comply with all applicable laws and safety instructions. Participant assumes all risks arising from alcohol consumption, use of controlled substances, reckless conduct, or failure to follow event instructions. GCU reserves the absolute right to remove any participant whose conduct is deemed unsafe, disruptive, unlawful, intoxicated, or inconsistent with the safety or objectives of the event. GCU is not responsible for personal property that is lost, stolen, damaged, or misplaced.
Participant represents he or she is physically and mentally capable of participation and assumes all risks related to personal health conditions. Participant authorizes emergency medical treatment deemed necessary and accepts responsibility for all resulting expenses. GCU does not provide accident, health, disability, travel, life, or property insurance coverage unless specifically stated in writing.
NO DUTY TO SUPERVISE. Participant acknowledges that GCU may organize or sponsor events involving multiple participants, vendors, venues, transportation providers, or volunteers. Participant acknowledges that GCU is not responsible for supervising participant conduct at all times and assumes no duty to continuously monitor, supervise, or control participants, guests, vendors, or third parties.
MEDIA RELEASE. Participant grants GCU a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free right to use photographs, videos, audio recordings, likeness, image, voice, and statements for marketing, advertising, public relations, educational, fundraising, website, social media, and promotional purposes without compensation.
GUESTS. Members who register guests must ensure that each guest agrees to these terms before participating and that all required contact information is provided.
MINOR PARTICIPANTS. Parents or guardians signing for minors agree to all terms individually and on behalf of the minor and agree to indemnify the Released Parties against claims brought by or on behalf of the minor.
MEDIATION. To the extent any claim or dispute is not otherwise barred by the releases and waivers contained herein, Participant and GCU agree to first attempt in good faith to resolve such dispute through non-binding mediation conducted in Beaver County, Pennsylvania prior to initiating any legal proceeding.
JURY TRIAL WAIVER. PARTICIPANT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY DISPUTE ARISING FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR PARTICIPATION IN A GCU EVENT.
CLASS ACTION WAIVER. Participant agrees any claim shall be brought solely in an individual capacity and not as part of a class, collective, representative, or consolidated proceeding.
GOVERNING LAW AND EXCLUSIVE VENUE. This Agreement shall be governed by Pennsylvania law. Any action shall be brought exclusively in the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, or the applicable federal court with jurisdiction over Beaver County.
ELECTRONIC ACCEPTANCE. Electronic signatures, click-through acceptances, digital registrations, and electronic acknowledgements shall have the same legal effect as original handwritten signatures.
SEVERABILITY. If any provision is determined invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
SURVIVAL. All waivers, releases, indemnification obligations, jury trial waivers, venue provisions, class action waivers, and related protections shall survive the conclusion of the event indefinitely.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF LEGAL RIGHTS. Participant understands that by signing this Agreement, he or she is waiving substantial legal rights, including the right to recover damages for personal injury, illness, disability, death, property damage, and other losses arising from participation.
ONLINE REGISTRATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. BY CHECKING THIS BOX, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE READ THIS ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND VOLUNTARILY ACCEPT ALL TERMS CONTAINED HEREIN. I UNDERSTAND THAT I AM WAIVING IMPORTANT LEGAL RIGHTS INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE GCU, THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL, AND THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FOR PERSONAL INJURY, ILLNESS, DISABILITY, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR DEATH.