Two University committees intended to bring student voices to the disciplinary process are falling out of use.
The Peer Community Standards Board, which comprises 10 undergraduate students who are advised by an administrator, hears minor, first-time violations of the standards for student conduct. Another committee, the University Disciplinary Committee, considers cases that could result in expulsion or transcript notation. But neither has heard cases this academic year.
During peak times, the PCSB meets as often as twice a week, hearing between one and four cases per session. Britt Eichner '06.5, who was a member of the PCSB for two years, said the number of hearings decreased in her second year on the board.
Lately, the board has suffered greatly from declining membership, as replacements for departing members have not been appointed. This year the membership of the PCSB has dropped to five. Assistant Dean of Student Life Yolanda Castillo-Appollonio, who advises the board, said if neither she nor the Undergraduate Council of Students succeed in recruiting new members, she "really might not be able to do PCSB this semester."
Castillo-Appollonio is responsible for assigning new disciplinary cases for review by either the PCSB or a dean. But recently, she has had no choice but to direct all cases - even those she thinks ought to appear in front of the PCSB - to a dean.
"There were quite a few cases that I would have liked to refer to the PCSB instead of having deans hear them," she said.
The UDC has also fallen dormant.
Veronica Lowe '09 was appointed to the committee for the 2006-07 academic year, but the UDC has yet to hear a single case during her term. When facing disciplinary review, students can choose to be heard by the UDC or a dean, and students usually choose the dean, Lowe said.
"Most people choose the dean because the UDC is a little more intimidating, and there are more people to convince," she said.
Positions for new appointments on both the PCSB and the UDC are available. UCS Appointments Chair Drew Madden '10 said the positions would be filled during the spring appointments process.
