Rights group navigates IU

Students who are facing disciplinary action, academic misconduct or just looking to appeal a grade they received don't have to face the situation alone. The Department of Student Rights offers students guidance and advice on dealing with those issues and problems. \nLocated within the IU Student Association branch, the Student Rights organization has been working hard to make their services readily available for students who need guidance. Student Rights is the only student-run organization in the Big Ten that offers peer mediation with fellow students.\nSenior Matt Dattilo, associate director of public relations for Student Rights, wants students to know that the services provided by the department are easily accessible.\n"This year we are making a special effort to make ourselves more visible for students," Dattilo said. "We want students to take advantage of the services we offer because we are here to help students navigate the University's judicial process."\nSenior Chris Maher, director of Student Rights, said the department is making an extraordinary effort to help students with their questions, problems and concerns.\n"In years past, we provided the same services," Maher said. "In the last two years, we have become more visible for students. Students can turn to us for their problems." \nSenior Patrick Beeman, deputy director of Student Rights, said the group has a very strong working relationship with Dean of Students Richard McKaig.\n"(Dean McKaig) is always there to sit down with us for a meeting and listen to our point of view," Beeman said.\nMaher said some students who become case managers, who guide students through the judicial process, also have taken on the responsibility of being a peer mediator. Altogether, the group consists of 25 peer mediators and case managers, Maher said.\n"The group of case managers who are peer mediators go through 32 hours of training," Maher said. "We take this very seriously; we hold our organization to a higher standard."\nDattilo said the University is using Student Rights as a way to gain student input on issues affecting them.\n"The University chooses to use student rights to gain student perspective on policy procedure," Dattilo said. "We are representing the student interest on campus by creating a more visible department."\nBeeman said the department has handled a lot of student cases in the past ranging from alcohol violations to academic misconduct.\nThe two major categories that students fall under are academic or disciplinary misconduct. Academic misconduct includes plagiarism, cheating on a test, among others, while disciplinary misconduct involves drugs and alcohol violations and sexual harassment.\n"Last year we handled approximately 100 cases," Beeman said. "The biggest concern students have when they arrive on campus is getting into trouble."\n-- Contact staff writer Eric Tash at etash@indiana.edu.