In response to ongoing concerns about the legality and efficiency of the University's honor system, two Honor Committee members have proposed forming a commission to review and potentially overhaul current procedures and policies.
Vice Chairwoman for Trials Terra Weirich and Vice Chairman for Services Cordel Faulk worked together on the proposal, which was presented formally to the Committee at its Sunday night meeting.
"Current procedures ... are overly complex and too closely analogous to the procedural requirements that govern criminal cases," the proposal states.
Weirich said the Office of the General Counsel has drafted recommendations for reform, but she said she also thought a proposal should come from the Committee itself. She added that a Committee-developed commission would allow more student control over the members, purpose and function of the commission.
Weirich said the commission would bring together past and current Committee members, as well as University alumni with legal expertise, which may help give another legal defense to the Board of Visitors.
But all Committee members are not pleased with the idea. Vice Chairman for Investigations Carter Williams said he thinks the plan is in opposition to the ideals of student self-governance.
"My problem with it is ... while I appreciate legal concerns ... I wonder what we're going to end up with," Williams said.
He said the current Committee has carried out a review of policies.
"That's what we were elected to do. I don't know why we need [another] panel," he added.
Committee Chairman Hunter Ferguson said he supports the proposal.
"I think the reform commission is a good idea," Ferguson said. It will be "helpful to have a different perspective" other than just Board or Committee members.
"The responsibility rests with students" to reform the system, he said.
Currently, former University student Ayola Greene - whose degree was revoked - has a $10.5 million lawsuit pending against the University and the Committee, alleging there was racial bias in her post-graduation trial and that the Committee did not grant her due process.
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