University of Virginia Library

Ad Hoc Committee Drafts Changes
In University Code Of Conduct

By Mark Pirrung
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

D. Alan Williams Corners Bob Strand In Conduct Code Discussion

Mr. Williams, Mr. Strand, And Robert Canevari Conferred Yesterday In Newcomb Hall

Changes in wording and in format
characterized the rewritten Code of
Conduct issued yesterday by the Ad Hoc
Committee on the Code of Conduct.

The Committee, formed by student
referendum in November and chaired by
Bob Strand and Mike Cohen, released a
version of conduct rules that notably
include a bill of Student Rights and
exclude the "interim suspension" clause.

Public hearings will be held today
through Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Honor
Committee Room to allow all interested
students and faculty to make suggestions for
further changes before the rewritten rules go
before a vote of the student body.

The proposed rules will be presented to the
students as a referendum during elections next
week, Dec. 16.

If the referendum is passed by the students
the rewritten code will be taken to the Board of
Visitors to represent the opinion of the
majority of students as to how the rules of
conduct should read.

Bob Strand, co-Chairman of the Ad Hoc
Committee and first year Law student at the
University, told The Cavalier Daily of the
interest the Committee held in making the rules
acceptable to the students.

Mr. Strand said that the Committee had no
way of inducing the Board of Visitors to even
consider the revised rules. He stressed that the
revision could only be considered a petition of
those governed as to specific changes that the
majority thought imperative.

The Committee objected in particular to a
variety of items. In the Preamble to the revised
rules the Committee has added the sentence.
"The Student Judiciary Committee has final
jurisdiction within the University community
regarding General Accountability and Sanctions
(two sections of the new rules.)"

In the present rules the President or his
'delegated representative' which is not the
University Committee on Students has the final
jurisdiction over the Judiciary Committee
actions.

Subsequent changes in wording received
disfavor from University officials in an informal
"first reaction" session, Mr. Strand said
yesterday.

On Right Ten, Mr. Strand heard comment
yesterday that the Federal Bureau of
Investigation already held the right to conduct
surveillance on United States citizens and
neither students nor University administration
could uphold this right.

Administrators also commented to Mr.
Strand that the words "fullest extent" in Right
Fifteen were not in keeping with University
tradition and policy. Trials held on the grounds,
they said, should not necessitate the attorneys
and formal processes that are implied by 'the
fullest extent of due process.'

It was stressed yesterday by the University
officials that these reactions did not represent
the administration's final reaction to the new
rules. D. Alan Williams, Vice President for
Student Affairs, told The Cavalier Daily
yesterday that he would have some University
lawyers look over the changes and determine
their implications before the University would
make an official response. Mr. Strand said that
the lawyers would meet with the Committee
later this week.

Mr. Strand pointed out finally that the
Committee exists on feedback from the
students and faculty. The hearings set for the
next three days are designed to enable all
members of the University community to voice
their opinions on the rewritten rules and
changes to the revision will be made before the
copy goes to the student vote.