Residence Halls Association seeks Judicial Board members

As the school year winds down, amid final projects and last lectures, changes are taking place in student government. The Residence Halls Association is seeking new members for its Judicial Board.

The deadline to apply is today.

The RHA Judicial Board is different from individual residence hall boards. It has primary jurisdiction on cases brought up in the residence halls, from issues of personal student misconduct to matters of the entire RHA, such as residence hall elections.

Jon Riveire, assistant director for student conduct at Residential Programs and Services, noted the various roles on the board.

“All positions are required to be filled by students,” Riveire said. “The chair leads the board. Other members are responsible for explaining processes, consulting with each other to determine responsibility and sanctions and making sure established procedures are followed.”

Riveire explained the reasons students might wish to join the board.

“Most students say they want to join to get the experience and leadership opportunity on campus,” Riveire said.

Students can also use the experiences of the Judicial Board to move to other parts of student government.

“There’s a natural connection for anyone who would be interested in being part of IUSA or another leadership opportunity on campus,” Riveire said.

Board members can also use the experience in their futures.

“Students who are interested in going to graduate or law school see it as a resume-builder and some good experience,” Riveire said.

The chair of Judicial Board receives a $1,500 yearly stipend from the University.

To become a member and reap these benefits, students must be living in a residence hall and have submitted an application. Riveire said many applicants have served on their residence hall’s specific judicial boards previously. After today’s deadline, candidates will be chosen to be interviewed by the chair and the RPS advisor to the board, and following judicial history and GPA checks, new members will be selected by the chair and advisor. Appointments to all judicial boards are for one academic year.

Laura Guthrie Eads, advisor to the RHA Judicial Board, said she seeks strong, reliable candidates.

“I look for students that understand the important role accountability plays in a healthy community and how this will translate to their lives outside of IU,” Eads said.
“Students that are able to focus on education and growth for students who violate policies while balancing the need to hold them accountable are best suited for the position.”

The selections process is competitive, with eight to nine slots open on the coming year’s board. More than 50 students have applied for the Judicial Board. New candidates will have to compete with old members for the openings.

“Students are given the option to re-apply each year as long as they will still be a student,” Riveire said. 

Candidates can expect to be interviewed before the end of the semester, and decisions will be made by the end of finals week. Those who are selected will go through a centralized Judicial Board workshop Sept. 23.

The RHA Judicial Board makes students accountable to their peers.

Priscilla Massey, a sophomore living in Ashton Center, said she would like to answer to the University, not fellow students.

“I’d be more comfortable if the University had more control,” Massey said. “They have more experience and background than my peers.”

Riveire said he still feels the Judicial Board is an important part of the student government and the IU community.

“I think it’s a mix of respect and intimidation,” Riveire said. “Knowing you’ve violated a policy and having to answer to your peers can be extremely intimidating.”

Eads said she feels that having to answer to students is a way to build a better campus.

“IU trusts our students to create the community they want and to hold each other accountable,” Eads said. “I think that is very powerful and continues the tradition of educating our students on how to be good citizens.”