BFC approves revised student rights code

The Bloomington Faculty Council approved without opposition Tuesday a revised version of the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct, which includes a provision that will allow the use or possession of alcohol by of-age students in any supervised IU residence.\nThe council broke out into a round of applause following the vote, signifying relief that its role in the revision process -- a nearly two-year-long effort spearheaded by the council's Student Affairs Committee -- is now complete. The new code still needs to go to the University Faculty Council for consideration at its April 12 meeting in South Bend. If approved there, the code must be approved by the IU board of trustees by the summer before it is printed for the fall semester.\nAt nearly 15 printed pages, the revised code is considerably shorter than the original code, which is a 65-page book. \nSimplifying the code was meant to address University-wide concerns and become a broad statement that applies to all IU campuses, said Mary Popp, co-chairwoman of the Student Affairs Committee. All student rights, conduct and responsibilities were retained for the code, and the shortened length is a result of removing the legal procedures and due-process punishment sections, which will appear in a separate code.\nOne of the code's newer provisions includes a minor change to the campus's alcohol policy. Modeled after a proposed amendment by council member and telecommunications professor Herb Terry, Section 23-b of the code allows the "use or possession of alcoholic beverages by persons who are of lawful drinking age" in greek houses, residence halls and apartments.\n"However," the code reads, "use or possession under this section shall be permitted only in residences supervised by a live-in employee specifically charged with policy enforcement."\nAlcohol permission in residences is subject to approval by the dean of students.\nUnder the current code, use or possession of alcoholic beverages in most undergraduate residences, including fraternities and sororities, is prohibited. Designated housing restricted to those who are 21 or older can be approved by the dean of students. Eigenmann Hall, Willkie Quad, family housing and on-campus apartments presently allow those of legal age to have alcohol.\nAdditionally, against the urging of the University Counsel's office, the council deleted a suggested provision from the code that would have barred attorneys from participating or being present at any stage of student disciplinary procedures.\nBecause the code's procedures are only administrative, and not legal, some council members believed lawyers would be unnecessary for any proceedings.\nThe board eventually voted by a large margin in a voice vote to delete the line. Council member Robert Kravchuk proposed the deletion after it became clear that student judicial proceedings are kept on record and could possibly be the target of a subpoena.\n"Students should have comparable counsel to avoid going on the record about something that could possibly be subpoenaed," Kravchuk said. "There should be the option of having one present."\nTerry said barring any attorneys from the proceedings could prove problematic, especially if a student's parents -- who are sometimes known to attend student judicial hearings -- have a law degree, or if a professor with lawyer privileges must be present for the hearing.\nLaw professor and council member Craig Bradley said he thought the provision was "perfectly reasonable" to ensure some students who can afford an attorney do not get a different hearing than those who cannot. But Bradley said deleting the provision seemed unobjectionable considering the code still prohibits any adviser or support person from participating in the hearing, only serving as counsel.\n-- Contact Senior Writer Tony Sams at ajsams@indiana.edu.