The University Judiciary Committee created a new ad hoc committee for hate crimes last week in response to the overwhelming support for harsher sanctioning of these crimes in the spring ballot referendum.
The new committee will be chaired by first-year Law student Eli DeJarnette and first-year College student Mai Hassan.
According to UJC Chair Tim Ormsby, the UJC voted to form the ad hoc committee to investigate possible sanctioning changes for hate crimes.
"A lot of the motivation for forming the ad hoc committee came from the referendum on the spring ballot," Ormsby said.
During spring elections, 70 percent of voters favored UJC creation of specific and severe punishment guidelines for crimes motivated by hate.
"The ad hoc committee doesn't have a specific mandate from the UJC," Ormsby said. "A lot is up to the discretion of the new chairs."
According to DeJarnette, the ad hoc committee plans to look at all options for changes in hate crime sanctioning before presenting a proposal to the UJC, and ultimately, a referendum to the student body.
"I'd like to present some true alternatives to the students so they can make an informed decision," DeJarnette said.
The ad hoc committee will consider a variety of changes to UJC procedure. Ormsby said he thinks, however, a change to the UJC Standards of Conduct might not be the best course of action.
"It wouldn't really fit with the other Standards of Conduct," Ormsby said. "There would be a lot of overlap."
In addition, a hate crimes Standard would force judges to examine motive in a trial for guilt, traditionally reserved for the investigation of the event itself. Currently, motive, character references and mitigating circumstances are brought forward in the trial for sanction.
"Whether or not it's a hate crime seems more appropriate for the trial for sanction to decide," DeJarnette said.
DeJarnette added that the ad hoc committee will also look into other options including a change in UJC by-laws, a change in trial procedure or maintaining the status quo.
The ad hoc committee plans to meet regularly throughout the next year, and its meetings will be open to the public.
"We are going to look at all aspects of the issue and hear from all student groups," Hassan said.
According to Ormsby, UJC has not imposed a specific timeline for proposals from the new committee.
"I'd love to have something on the table for the fall elections," DeJarnette said.
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