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Frequently Asked Questions About the University’s |
After an incident Feb. 21, 2000, a number of students wanted to know how changes can be made in the University's disciplinary system. This document responds to some of those questions and to issues raised by that specific incident.
Does the Office of Student Life have to wait until the disciplinary process is complete before taking action?
No, the Office of Student Life (OSL) can and does intervene in cases almost immediately. In cases where a student has been harmed or threatened by another student, OSL issues a no-contact order to separate the parties and prevent further difficulties. In more serious cases, OSL can move students to different residence halls.
These actions depend on the judgment of OSL, based upon its assessment of the situation and the parties involved. No-contact orders or relocations are not matters of discipline and do not prejudice any party’s case should the incident become a matter for the disciplinary process.
Can the University remove violent or dangerous people from campus?
Yes, but that authority is available to the president and senior deans only in extraordinary circumstances. A no-contact order or a relocation is sufficient to insure community safety and well-being in the vast majority of incidents handled by OSL.
Why all the secrecy? Can’t the campus community be informed about progress in a given disciplinary case?
It is not a matter of secrecy, but a matter of respecting the privacy rights of all students and the confidentiality that is legally required by the Family Educational Right to Privacy Act (FERPA). Although it may at times be difficult for the wider campus community to withhold judgment, any allegations by one student against another must be fully investigated and resolved through the disciplinary process.
The Providence Police arrest reports provide names. Can the University do the same?
In addition to FERPA’s limitations on disclosure, the University chooses not to pattern itself after the civil or criminal courts. It is important to remember that the University’s disciplinary system is not a court. We cannot subpoena documents. We cannot compel testimony. We must maintain an atmosphere in which persons are encouraged to come forward and contribute to the process and in which the deans and UDC members can consider cases on their merits without undue external pressure.
Our interest in all cases is in assuring the safety and well-being of the community. Releasing names of persons involved in the discipline would not, in and of itself, enhance community safety and well-being.
Why does the disciplinary process take so long?
The speed of Brown’s disciplinary process varies with the complexity of cases and the number of persons involved as complainants, respondents and witnesses. The University is committed to fairness for all parties and will take whatever time is necessary to assure balance and fairness.
Can a student’s prior disciplinary records be part of the process?
A student’s prior disciplinary records are, in fact, taken into account, but only after a finding has been made in a given case. When a dean or the UDC has determined that a violation of the Tenets of Community Behavior has occurred, they are informed about prior records before determining the appropriate penalty.
How can the University community bring about changes to the non-academic disciplinary code?
OSL and the vice president for campus life and student services are available to discuss any proposed changes and to help formulate specific proposals. The disciplinary code is described in The Student Handbook. Any proposed changes to the code must be approved by the Corporation.
Can the University add a specific provision for “hate crime” offenses?
As noted above, the Corporation can consider any reasonable proposal. Offense IV (harassment) of Brown’s code currently speaks to bias-related behavior, including actions “based on race, religion, gender, handicap, ethnicity, national origin or sexual orientation.” Administrators from the Office of the General Counsel, OSL and the Office of Campus Life and Student Services will be meeting with students in the near future to discuss the provisions of our code and how these relate to municipal and state statutes related to hate crimes.
Can Brown police crime reports be posted daily?
Brown recently increased its postings from weekly to twice a week. The vice president for administration, the chief of Police and Security Services, the vice president for campus life and the vice president for Computing and Information Services met recently to review our procedures for informing the community about crimes and incidents on campus. By the start of spring break, they will have met with students to discuss ways to improve our system of communication with the campus.
Could the entire campus be emailed at least weekly?
Anyone in the Brown community can register to receive crime alerts by email (Campus Watch), and anyone can review campus crime reports online via the “brown.bboard.police” newsgroup. Although Brown has the technology to email all 10,000 members of the campus community, there is no clear consensus that a program of regular campuswide emails is advisable.
What progress has been made in addressing the concerns raised in a forum on February 27th?
Safety Issues. We have increased the postings of crime reports to twice a week. The Office of Police and Security Services has written a full description of services, programs and protocols. That document is available on the OSL Web page and on the Police and Security Web page. Vice President Holmes, Chief Verrecchia and others will meet with a group of students during the week beginning March 19 to discuss safety issues on campus.
Review of the University’s response to the recent incident. Vice President Montero has begun a review of the University’s response to the incident of February 21. She has conducted one meeting with the staff of OSL and will be meeting with students in the very near future. She has also had several conversations with Vice President Holmes and Chief Verrecchia regarding Police and Security’s communications about that incident.
Review of Counselor Training. Dean of Student Life Robin Rose has asked Dean Leonard Perry to conduct a review of counselor training to determine whether all peer counselors are adequately prepared to deal with difficult situations in the residence halls, including alcohol-related incidents, verbal and physical assaults and other violations of the Tenets of Community Behavior.