Committee proposes new judicial charter

Glen Rock High School '93 Glen Rock, N.J. A Student Judicial Charter is in the making which advocates sweeping changes for the University's entire judicial system. The proposed changes will involve a Student Judicial Council, which will include 17 students and a hearing board of four students. Additional students will be involved in other parts of the process as well. The current system allows for no student involvement in the judicial process itself. Another large section of the Student Judicial Charter is devoted to "mediation and resolution." "The outcome of mediation will influence if and how the case proceeds through the judicial system," said College junior Beth Hirschfelder, the co-chairperson of the Student Judicial Reform Committee. The Student Judicial Reform Committee also put together drafts of the Code of Conduct and the Code of Academic Integrity. The final draft of the Code of Conduct has been sent to Interim Provost Marvin Lazerson and will then go on to Interim President Claire Fagin for ultimate approval and institution. Hirschfelder and College senior Kirsten Bartok, along with many other students, began the entire process last fall, as members of the Student Task Force on Academic Integrity. According to Vice Provost in the Provost's Office Kim Morrisson, the Student Judiciary Charter's purpose is to "insure fair and efficient determinations on questions of possible student misconduct." Faculty will serve in each part of the proposed system. The Judicial Advisor, the current Judicial Inquiry Officer, will be in charge of the Mediation Center and will hear all minor cases. The Judicial Officer will also serve as the settlement officer in those minor cases. Hirschfelder said she hopes the new system will increase mediation, expedite hearing processes, and allow for the possibility of dismissing charges before they materialize. The final draft of the Student Judicial Charter will be ready this fall and the new administration will be responsible for approving and implementing it.