Philosophy Of Student Judicial Affairs
The basic issue concerning violations of rules and regulations of the university is failure of students to realize and appreciate that certain fundamental rules and regulations are necessary in any community. The solution to this problem - the realization on the student of the demands of society - is in part centered on the fact that discipline should be internal, an internal mechanism that comes from within.
To arrive at this desired state, discipline must be used as a tool, in conjunction with mature guidance, rather than a threat or punishment, for punishment's sake. Primarily, discipline should be educative and preventative. Of course certain sanctions or restrictions are employed. We, as education disciplinarians attempt to find out why the student misbehaved. Thus after finding their motive, we explain the reason the regulation or rule exists (why such rules exist and how their behavior disregards the Student Conduct Code). We appeal to the students' sense of reason and responsibility.
Our goal in the Office of Student Judicial Affairs is to re-educate the student and help him or her see that this kind of behavior/actions is not a part of the campus community. This a process in which the student LEARNS! This is the function of the Office of Student Judicial Affairs.
When a student disregards a regulation or policy of the university, they have reasons for doing so. The primary purpose of re-education is to uncover the reasons, show them that the university is not the place for this kind of behavior, assist them in realizing the need for rules in any society, and as a member of the society that they must abide by the rules and accept the consequences that may result from not doing so, or go through the necessary channels to change them. In other words, we are assisting students to re-orient and re-train their attitude with respect to their social, ethical, personal development.
Excerpts from:
NASPA V&VI Judicial Affairs and the Legal Issues Academy. Pre-Conference Workshop Resource Guide.