University of Virginia Library

Judiciary Committee Expands
But Remains In Background

News Analysis

By CINDI STUART

Compared with the aw and
mystery associated with the
Honor Committee, the
Judiciary Committee for many
years has remained a rather
unproductive and unheard of
student organization.

With the rise in student
enrollment and, therefore, in
offenses under its jurisdiction,
the Judiciary Committee has
become increasingly active, yet

remains, strangely, in the
background.

A committee that bears the
authority to expel a student
from the University should
perhaps, not be taken so
lightly.

Although the Judiciary
Committee was established in
1954, it is only within the past
two years that it has become a
working body, according to
Judiciary Chairman, David
Schlitz.

Five to Ten Trials

Whereas, it now handles
from five to ten trials a
semester, the committee
previously averaged only one
or two a year. Due to the
committee's inactivity and
student ignorance of its
functions, most cases were
handled exclusively by the
Office of Student Affairs.

Mr. Schlitz credits the
committee's anonymity to the
impressive nature of the Honor
Committee. Operating under a
single sanction of dismissal, the
Honor Committee often
receives more respect than a
committee which may deliver
merely an oral or written
reprimand.

Frazier King, a third-year
law student and committee
chairman for the fall semester
explained the committee's lack
of renown by the fact that
"the University is not that
undisciplined."

Greater Exposure

Craig Landauer, last
semester's vice-chairman, said
however, this was the the first
year the Judiciary Committee
received space in Orientation
Week activities.

Vice-Chairman Mike
Gordon stressed the need for
greater exposure of the
committee to students. "We
want the name of the Judiciary
Committee to be known,
not for personal publicity, but
to let students know there's a
body other than the Honor
Committee to serve them."

Mr. Schlitz added, "We
don't go looking for business,
yet everyone knows that these
offenses do occur."

Offenses under the
jurisdiction of the committee,
according to "The
Colonnades" include "all cases
of student misconduct,"
except those handled by the
Honor Committee. Accusations
range from shooting with a
rifle to tearing a pay phone
from the wall.

The Judiciary Committee
also hears many cases in the
"gray area," those that could
go to the Honor Committee
but are presented to the
Judiciary Committee instead.
The misuse of student
identification cards to obtain
tickets to sports events is just
one example.

Handles Misdemeanors

The Judiciary Committee
has responsibility because cases
of students accused of
misdemeanors involving the
University are brought to the
committee rather than to the
city police. City
Commonwealth's Attorney
John T. Camblos decides which
cases are sent to the
committee This is designed to
save a student from a police
record which could later have
harmful effects.

Mr. Schlitz, Mr. Gordon,
and Committee Secretary
Maeschall Smith have
spear-headed efforts to reduce
formality during Judiciary
trials. They have adopted an
informal hearing procedure
whereby an accused student
may request settlement
through a round-table
negotiation.

"The potential for greater
accomplishment exists through
this procedure." Mr. Schlitz
said. "We want to get away
from the idea of a real court
case like Perry Mason."

More Option to Student

According to Mr. King,
initiator of the informal
hearing, this process generates
flexibility in giving the student
a greater option. "It gives the
student the alternative to sit
down and work everything
out by talking with his
accusers. This is what the
student wants."

The committee has added a
new investigator so a defense
and prosecution investigator
are assigned to the same case.