Students air opinions of Code

Only a handful of the University's 37,197 students attended a forum on the Student Code of Conduct last night sponsored by the Michigan Student Assembly.

"It was a good turnout considering most people on campus don't know about the Code," said Olga Savic, MSA Students' Rights Commission chair. "This is only the beginning of the discussion."

About 30 students participated in the open forum and discussed various aspects of the Code, including legal, moral and academic interests. The results of the forum and other research will be submitted to the University Board of Regents as part of the Code review in December.

"We need to know what students like about the Code, want in a code ... This is our chance to actually make an impact on the rules that govern our lives," Savic said.

The Code is the University's internal discipline system that imposes sanctions as severe as expulsion.

Several speakers emphasized the lack of student knowledge of the Code and its definition of "community standards."

"I came in freshman year, and they gave us this little novel of paperwork - we threw it out," said Abe Rafi, president of the University chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

"It's difficult to function when you have to live up to a community standard ... that hasn't been articulated to us as students," said Bram Elias, MSA treasurer.

Students also discussed the Code's length and difficult word usage.

"The problem with the Code is that I don't know what the punishments are," said Sarah Chopp, MSA vice president.

A few students spoke in support of the Code, praising the fact that it offers students certain protections.

The Code "ties in with the whole reason why we are at the University - for education," said Michelle Semins, an LSA sophomore.

Semins complained that much of last night's discussion was unbalanced.

"We're focusing on the accused student. We need to place equal attention on the complaining student," Semins said.

Attendees also debated legal aspects of the Code, such as the consistency of its sanctions, student representation during the trial process and the prospect of "double jeopardy." Double jeopardy refers to being tried twice for the same offense without new evidence being presented.

"It's hard to establish a precedent when the Code is still new," said David Votruba, an LSA junior. "I don't want a situation where there is no way for the University to sanction students for non-academic offenses."

MSA LSA Rep. Mark Sherer questioned the need to hold students to "higher standards" at the University.

"The Code ... should not be equated with civil criminal courts," Sherer said. "If someone is acquitted in the court system, they can be prosecuted under the Code."

Savic added other student concerns involve testimony given during Code hearings.

"I think the reason why people sometimes get upset is because things that are said in a Code hearing can be used in a court of law," Savic said.

LSA first-year student Lanni Lantto spoke about an acquaintance involved in a recent Code hearing, in which the sanctions for the student charged with sexual misconduct were not comparable to those in a recent similar case.

"She doesn't feel like the Code did anything for her ... like it worked," Lantto said. "There might be loopholes in the Code they want to work on."

Law first-year student Rachel Schwartz and Law third-year student Alessandra Murata attended the forum to collect information for the Law School Student Senate Honor Code Commission, which is working to create an honor code for the Law school.

"We're looking more in to what people's concerns are about forming a code," said Murata, commission chair.

MSA members will collect anonymous surveys about the Code in the Angell Hall Fishbowl and will hold two or three similar forums in January, Savic said.

11-12-98