Although the proposed changes by the Organization Adjudication Committee Review Commission are positive steps forward, I am wary that reforms are being made too quickly. Perhaps a better strategy than a hasty move to an all-student board would be the construction of a timetable whereby students can steadily earn the power to peer adjudicate. With such a system, students would be able to gradually learn the expertise, and garner the experience necessary, to make accurate and responsible decisions.Jasper Hicks '12
Student-run peer-review systems are trumped-up frauds that should be wholly distrusted. Inevitably, students end up handing out profanely lax punishments because they themselves, or their buddies, have done something similar, and they feel obliged to invent justifications to assuage their personal guilt. It sounds wonderfully democratic, but I have seen little since arriving on this campus to convince me that Dartmouth undergraduates are at all capable of policing themselves.Raza Rasheed '12
I believe that student groups are willing to try something new when it comes to conduct violations. Worries like those raised by the Editorial Board about student competence, out of fear of a "cat-and-mouse game if students are reluctant to hand out strict punishments," should not deter us from trying something new; with appropriate guidelines for disciplinary requirements, as opposed to the individual decision of a single administrator, we may hope for more appropriate disciplinary action in the future. Most importantly, students are more likely to accurately gauge intent in scenarios when things do go wrong, which seems much more in the spirit of judicial prudence.Zach Gottlieb '10I agree with the Editorial Board that the proposed reforms are a step in the right direction. Because a tremendous part of Dartmouth life is run by students, it makes sense that students should have a significant role on the committee. It is especially important that the adjudicators come from diverse backgrounds. In keeping with the spirit of diverse representation, I agree that it is a good idea to have at least one faculty member or administrator serve as an advisor on every judicial board.Blair Sullivan '10
I believe changes are certainly needed, but it remains to be seen if these changes will be effective. The key is to balance student and administrative power. Students, if left to themselves, would run a lax system, and administrators, as we have seen, tend toward authoritarianism. Hopefully, these changes will be a step to reaching a balance. Peter Blair '12
The College and its Greek organizations need to find a middle ground in their relationship. One will always think the other is being unfair. The Organization Adjudication Committee reforms, as they're proposed, sound likely to facilitate a more equitable judicial system.Ben Gonin '12
The idea of a student-run OAC is an excellent one, but we must tread carefully for two reasons: one, the potential for a crackdown from the administration; and two, perhaps more importantly, the potential for increasing tensions within the student body. Some of the decisions the committee will have to hand down may be weighty, and the members must be willing to take on that responsibility. Transparency is key, of course, so that everyone understands why decisions are made the way the are, thereby ensuring an element of consistency and fairness.
Billy Zou '12
