In the week since Richard Smith filed a $1.25 million lawsuit against the University, administrators, faculty and students have issued their support for both President John T. Casteen III and student self-governance.
Casteen suspended Smith in June for two years for his involvement in the Nov. 21, 1997 assault on then first-year College student Alexander "Sandy" Kory.
Board of Visitors Rector John P. Ackerly III, a defendant in the suit, said the filing of the lawsuit "will have zero effect on student self-governance. The Board of Visitors and the administration are solidly behind student self-government."
Ackerly said the University "certainly" will defend the students who were named in the suit.
Larry J. Sabato, government and foreign affairs professor, said there is University-wide backing for Casteen.
"President Casteen made an excellent decision that is strongly supported by most faculty, administrators and students," Sabato said. "I talked to many, many faculty in quite a number of departments and the view was almost unanimous that they should be punished very severely. This was not a close call."
He said he hopes students are not intimidated by the lawsuit and that it does not have a negative effect on participation in student government.
Rising third-year Law student Sam Waxman said lawsuits provide a chilling effect on the University's student-run systems.
"We live in a litigious society," Waxman said. "What it comes down to is the University's response. The University needs to let the students know that it will protect them, not just the system."
He said students involved in the UJC should have no doubt that the University will support and defend them in the event of a lawsuit.
"In my opinion, those doubts are more damaging than any lawsuit," he added. "All you need is $100 and a two-bit lawyer to file a lawsuit. That's the beauty of America."
Faculty Senate Chairman David T. Gies said he hopes the University will learn from this "painful" case.
"It is a shame Smith thinks this is what his next step needs to be because all of this undermines the willingness of students to govern themselves," Gies said.
Student leaders agreed with Gies and also voiced their support for the student judges who were named in the lawsuit.
"It's frightening if all they did was what they were supposed to do," said Brooke Brower, Jefferson Literary and Debating Society president.
Student Council leaders said the lawsuit could discourage students from becoming actively involved in student organizations.
"I think it could possibly deter a lot of qualified students from running for office that fear in tough cases against students who have connections in high places that they could get dragged into something bigger than their respective organizations," Executive Vice President Ronnie Washington said.
"The real determining factor will be the support the University shows for" the sued students, Vice President for Organizations Jamey Thompson said.
Read More
Honor Committee plans Dorm Talks and finals week initiatives
By Lexie Stadler | YesterdayIn an effort to enhance student outreach and introduce incoming students to the Honor System, the Committee will reintroduce Dorm Talks in the Fall 2024 semester.
BREAKING: Two fraternities suspended, one terminated after hazing allegations
By Ford McCracken | 2 days agoThe University’s chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha is the founding chapter of the fraternity, which was founded in West Range room 47 in 1868.
From the archives: April 22 – April 28
By Maisy Callahan and Grace Franklin | 2 days agoThose opposed to the Mall feared closing Main St. would create inconvenience and traffic, which would in turn decrease the income made by merchants.
