Tufts Community Union Judiciary (TCUJ) Chair Michael Ferenczy led a general information session Monday night for students interested in becoming Student Advocates, as part of a system designed to assist peers involved in University disciplinary disputes.
In February, the TCUJ approved an amendment to its bylaws that created a Student Advocate System, an effort spearheaded by Ferenczy and former TCU President David Moon.
Ferenczy explained to prospective advocates the need he perceives for such a system. "In two years with the Judiciary, I've noticed some students were at a disadvantage when they didn't know the rules of the disciplinary system as well as others," he said.
Students involved in disciplinary issues have always had the right to a student advocate or attorney representation, but not all students have been aware of their right. The new system will provide students involved in disciplinary disputes with a list of their peers who have been trained in the details of the University disciplinary system.
Student Advocates will act like public defenders. Ferenczy conducted a pilot program this semester, in which he advocated for three students, one of whom was among the 12 students placed on Probation I for academic dishonesty in Astronomy 10. The student's punishment was lowered from Probation II to Probation I when Ferenczy argued that he saw no mention of Probation II as a punishment for academic dishonesty in Tufts' disciplinary code.
"This is imperative for our disciplinary system...I've really seen the difference it makes between people who know the system and those who don't," said junior Alison Clarke, current Vice Chair of the TCUJ. Clarke hopes to continue to be involved in the program at an advisory level next year.
In the past, the Dean of Students Office has always made students aware of their advocacy options, but the Student Advocate System is intended to improve the effectiveness of that communication. "Advocates will know the rules just as well as the Dean of Students," Ferenczy said. He added that the program will "even out the judicial system for everyone who doesn't have connections."
TCUJ member Adam Biacchi said that advocates will help students deal with a generally complex set of disciplinary rules.
"[Tufts' Guide to Disciplinary Procedures] isn't the easiest thing to understand...[but] having someone who is very knowledgeable of it who can help you navigate the judicial system at Tufts will be a major help to students at the University," Biacchi said.
Of every 100 cases referred to the Dean of Students office each year, only five to ten actually go to a hearing. The rest go to mediation, an area in which Ferenczy said Student Advocates can have the most impact. "Some students don't know what they're signing away [in mediation]...once it comes to a hearing, people inform themselves better," he said.
He also believes the program will be helpful in dealing with rape and sexual assault incidents on campus. He will work with Peggy Barrett of the Women's Center in an attempt integrate Student Sexual Assault Response Assistance (SSARA) rape counselors into the Student Advocate System. Ferenczy believes there is an underreported number of rapes and sexual assaults on campus because of the intimidating nature of the system. "We're working to make the complaint and judiciary systems easier for victims," he said.
Defendants will have equal access to student advocates, and advocates will have the ability to turn down any case. Like most judiciary procedures, advocates' actions will be kept confidential, and they will have to sign a confidentiality agreement.
Students wishing to become official Student Advocates will be trained extensively. The first round of training will begin later this semester, coordinated by Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, Dean of Judicial Affairs Veronica Carter, and Ferenczy. The training will cover the intricacies of University disciplinary policies, and will make use of skits and role-play. "The best way to learn about the judicial system is by going through it," Ferenczy said.
Starting next year, one member of the TCUJ will be internally elected as Student Advocate Chair. He or she will be responsible for training programs, along with the Dean of Students Office, and for monitoring the activities of Student Advocates. In order to prevent a conflict of interest, the chair will not hear any cases involving Student Advocates.
The chair will be elected through an in-house election at the next meeting next Thursday. Officially, ELBO has to call the meeting to have the election.
