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September 1, 2006 > News > Dean revives college courts

Dean revives college courts

By Risa Gordon and Sarah Baker | Thresher Editorial Staff

Changes to the Student Code of Conduct by Assistant Dean of Student Judicial Programs Don Ostdiek may revive college courts. Class II violations — minor violations that primarily concern breaking college rules or damaging college property — have been renamed “college infractions.” A college has the authority to determine how it adjudicates such infractions, which could be before the college court. Most colleges have a framework for a college court, but the courts are mostly inactive.

Students found to have committed a college infraction will be subject to a fine, restitution or loss of privileges within the college, but the finding will not be recorded on a student’s internal transcript. Graduate schools and employers often ask students to disclose such disciplinary records on their applications.

Assistant Dean of Student Judicial Programs Don Ostdiek said he made the changes after meeting with college presidents and chief justices in May. Ostdiek said students wanted the ability to better enforce discipline within the colleges and did not want college court rulings to be included on internal transcripts. The students thought the colleges would be more willing to impose sanctions if the sanctions were not included on an internal transcript, Ostdiek said. Giving the colleges more self-governance power is positive, Ostdiek said.

“I wouldn’t want to not do it because it might fail,” Ostdiek said. “[The college presidents and chief justices] came to me and said they want to do it, so I want to … support that.”

Ostdiek said each college will determine how it runs its college court and that he did not impose a uniform method of handling cases because each college has a unique way of operating. The Student Code of Conduct allows many of the same procedures for college courts as for University Court, such as the rights of a student in a proceeding. A student found to have committed a college infraction may first appeal the decision to the college master and then to Ostdiek. Student Judicial Programs can place a judicial hold on a student’s account if he or she does not abide by the sanction.

“The colleges need to come together and decide,” Ostdiek said. “It’s a good opportunity for the colleges as a community to decide what community they want to be. [This way,] the chief justices are enforcing what the college wants and not some arbitrary outside authority.”

With the exception of Brown College, which has a functioning college court, the other colleges are in the process of discussing how to implement the change. Many of the chief justices said they would like to set up a consistent fine structure across colleges.

Lovett College President Anish Patel, a senior, said the college leadership has been looking at Lovett’s Constitution. He said the college hopes to have a system in place within a few weeks.

Jones and Will Rice colleges’ leadership have begun talking about setting up a system for adjudicating college infractions, while other colleges have not yet begun the process.

Jones Chief Justice Johnny Hanson said he is pleased colleges will be able to enforce their sanctions.

Ostdiek said citations issued by Rice University Police Department officers will still be referred to Student Judicial Programs. He said in practice, the number and types of cases sent to his office will not change because Class II violations were not being reported previously. Ostdiek said similarly, he does not think University Court’s case load will change because most of their cases — which are initially referred to Student Judicial Programs — come from areas other than the colleges.

However, Ostdiek said he hopes giving college leadership the ability to enforce college rules and the Alcohol Policy will reduce RUPD involvement.

“If by doing this, they can prevent RUPD from even becoming involved, then we’ve been successful in my book,” Ostdiek said.

Ostdiek said he will meet with the college masters this week to discuss the changes. Creating functional college courts and adjudicating infractions within the colleges will be a work in progress this year, Ostdiek said.

“I’ve offered to help any of the colleges that want help, and I will offer again,” Ostdiek said. “But I don’t want it to be something I come in and impose. The colleges have to want to do it and have to decide themselves how to do it.”

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