student conduct policy

OPINION: Legal representation hinders the goals of student conduct process

Dear Editor:

Thank you for the invitation to provide an opinion on HB 1123, a bill that has been proposed in the Virginia legislature. that The proposed bill would allow attorneys to actively participate in student conduct hearings at public institutions by representing students who are involved in cases that could result in suspension or expulsion from the institution.  As a professional educator, I am concerned about HB1123 for several reasons.

OPINION: Student conduct policies are archaic, dangerous

It is a real shame when a university that prides itself on innovative thinking refuses to follow policy recommendations that can and will save student lives. As you can read in Ellen Glickman’s article, Mason’s own expert on public health has recommended that the university adopt a Good Samaritan policy.

Despite growing support for amnesty clause, student conduct policy remains unchanged

Across the nation, some 240 universities implement a version of the Good Samaritan policy.

Mason, however, does not.

A Good Samaritan policy states a person shall be immune from punishment if they call 911 for someone else while they are intoxi­cated or high on an illegal substance.

“Amnesty policies can mean different things for many schools,” said Dr. David Anderson, director of the Center for the Advancement of Public Health at the university. “[But] a lot of campuses spend time developing this...The point is to avoid injury.”