University of Virginia Library

Judiciary Enforce
Disciplinary Rules

Donn Kessler
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

In a report issued
Wednesday, September 10, to
the University community
Edgar F. Shannon, Jr.,
President of the University,
clarified the standards of
conduct to be applied to all
University students through
the Judiciary Committee.

Unlike many other schools,
the University has long
delegated authority to
discipline students to the
student elected Judiciary
Committee. One problem has
been, however, that the only
standards of conduct to be
under the committee's control
was conduct "casting discredit
upon the University" of
"conduct unbecoming of a
lady or gentleman."

To clarify and amplify these
standards of conduct, Mr. Shannon
members of the Board of Visitors,
and various students, faculty, and
administrators discussed specific
rules and standards of conduct to
be applied to all students.

The list of rules issued
Wednesday includes the physical
abuse of any person on any
University property, damage to
University property or property of
members of the University
community, and unauthorized
entry into or occupation of any
"University facilities which are
locked, closed to student activities,
or otherwise restricted as to use."

Intentional disruption or
obstruction or teaching, research or
discipline, the "unlawful blocking
or impeding of traffic on or
adjacent to University property"
disorderly conduct on University
property of at University sponsored
functions, and violation of
University regulations, are also
included in the new rules.

Also included in the President's
report are the various sanctions that
can be imposed upon students for
violating the standards of conduct.
These sanctions range from oral
admonition to expulsion from the
University.

In commenting upon the new
position of the Judiciary
Committee Tom Bod chairman
of the committee, stated that this is
"a showdown year for the judiciary
committee. If we want to keep the
discipline of students in student
hands and to insure a trial by ones
peers, we must have student
support."

Mr. Boyd also commented on
further changes concerning the
committee. In the past, the
administration or any student could
accuse a student of misconduct
with little supporting evidence.
Now, however, some evidence must
be obtained and presented to the
committee for investigation.

According to Mr. Boyd, the
committee's investigators will now
only "gather information from
both sides of the accusation."

Mr. Boyd also intends to bring
certain reforms before the
committee during the year. One of
these changes is prosecutorial
discretion in trying cases. Before
this time, almost any case brought
before the committee under its
jurisdiction had to be tried. Mr.
Boyd however wants to allow the
judges of the committee more
ice-way in deciding which cases to
ear.

A second reform that Mr. Boyd
plans to suggest is that accused
students will be allowed counsel
from outside the University
community for their committee
trial. As of now, counsel must come
from the community itself.

As Mr. Boyd stated, the purpose
of these changes would help to
"insure due process, fair hearings,
and fair trials by one's peers in the
trials held by the Judiciary
Committee."