The lack of transparency in Judicial Board elections has prompted the Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) to try to change the committee's policies.
Members of BSG voiced concerns that neither BSG nor the campus community as a whole has enough say in the elections, especially when the board makes decisions that impact students' lives.
"It needs to be a more holistic process, if any committee affects diverse groups on campus," said Vice President of Student Government Affairs Dustin Brooks '08.
Currently, the Judicial Board chooses its own members during closed proceedings. The only non-member to take part in the meetings is BSG President DeRay Mckesson '07, who is present, but cannot approve candidates.
"I cannot participate and cannot vote. It's pointless," Mckesson said. "More people should be included in the process."
BSG then approves Judicial Board candidates, but there is no room for debate when the Judicial Board comes before it.
Members of BSG are seeking to increase both BSG's role in the election process, and that of the entire campus community, especially in the early stages of the process.
"There should be public time early in the process...if you know something that would bring the character of any candidate into question, bring it forward. I think that could be important," said At-Large Representative Sophia Seifert '09.
Clark Gascoigne, Class of 2008 representative, advised the BSG to take an active role.
"Maybe we should be appointing them. We are the elected body on campus," he said.
Brooks said that although he thought BSG should have a role in the process, the College should not use a "majority rule" system.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Burgess LePage '07 suggested forming a committee of "two [members] from BSG, three from the J-Board, some faculty and staff" to monitor the progress of the Judicial Board elections.
In an e-mail, Class Representative Sam Dinning '09 questioned the merits of opening Judicial Board proceedings to the public for fear of character assassination, citing "the potential for this forum to be used as a way of personally attacking an individual."
Click here for more coverage from Wednesday's student government meeting.