With annual reports from the Student Judicial Board and the Sexual Assault and Misconduct Board, a discussion about the pending Health Center investigation, and a contentious vote to extend the mandatory adjournment time, Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) representatives had their hands full at Wednesday's meeting.
After introducing Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Judicial Board Advisor Laura Lee, Judicial Board Chair Mark Newman '09, and Advisor to the Sexual Assault and Misconduct Board Meadow Davis, BSG President Sophia Seifert '09 opened the floor to questions from BSG representatives. Many of the questions fielded by the three visitors focused on procedures followed by the two boards. Referring to a specific case in which a student accused of sexual assault accepted responsibility for his actions, Representative Nyle Usmani '12 asked if any "plea bargain system" existed.
Both Lee and Davis asserted that an admission of guilt does not prevent a student from receiving a sanction for his or her actions.
While the topic of sanctions has its basis in official policy, some BSG representatives questioned their visitors on issues more open to interpretation.
Representative Ian Yaffe '09 asked Lee if she believed that class-specific honor codes undermined the strength of the college honor code. While Lee did not condemn individual honor codes, maintaining that "professors have the latitude to do it," she did say that reiterating part of the college honor code "would be redundant."
Through further questioning by BSG representatives, Lee revealed that college administrators hold a "Week-in-Review" meeting every Monday morning at 9:15 a.m. to discuss student infractions and their severity. Administrators then decide if and how to take action based upon the nature of the offense. Often, they refer the most severe cases to the Judicial and Sexual Assault and Misconduct Boards. In terms of sanctions passed down by these bodies, Newman asserted that "nothing is set in stone" and that his Board considers sanctions, guided by precedent, on a case-by-case basis.
At the end of the meeting, Seifert announced that President Mills will join BSG for its November 5 meeting and hopes to co-sponsor an economic forum with BSG in the future.