UA asks for forum on JIO role

In an attempt to revive campus debate over splitting the role of the Judicial Inquiry Officer, the Undergraduate Assembly has sent a letter to Judicial Charter Oversight Committee Chairperson David Pope asking for a campus-wide forum on the issue. The Oversight Committee is currently reviewing recommendations from a provost committee which voted last semester to reject a proposal to split the JIO position. The proposal called for the current position to be divided into a "settlement" JIO and a "prosecutor" JIO. The settlement JIO would investigate and propose sanctions for cases that are resolved before going to a panel hearing. The prosecutor JIO would investigate and prosecute cases that are not resolved by the settlement JIO. The UA voted unanimously earlier this semester to support the split, claiming that the provost committee's majority decision does not represent the undergraduate viewpoint. Currently, JIO Constance Goodman investigates allegations of violations of the codes of conduct and academic integrity and prosecutes any cases which are sent before a judicial panel. Goodman has come under fire from some students who charge that she acts as both a prosecutor and judge in her current role. Pope said earlier this week that the oversight committee will carefully consider the UA's request, but added that he does not want to rehash the debate of the judicial charter committee. "We have every intention of considering the minority report and listening to the concerns of undergraduates," Pope said. "But the decision whether or not to hold an open forum will have to be made by the entire committee." UA Chairperson Duchess Harris said that she expects other student groups with large constituencies, such as the Interfraternity Council, to take up the cause and support the UA. "Hopefully, by getting a large turnout we will show that a wide cross-section of undergraduates are united and concerned about this issue and are not pleased with the way the judicial process works," Harris said.

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