No easy answer
\nUJC should take into account the fundamental issues inherent to the recent FYJC proposalThe ideal of students being tried by a jury of their peers is paramount at the University. It is a value that is at the heart of student self-governance and the missions of both the Honor Committee and the University Judiciary Committee. Sunday night, UJC members reviewed a proposed amendment that raises some important questions about the proper extent and application of the trial-by-peers principle.
The proposal deals with a precise, almost technical aspect of the system. The amendment, proposed by outgoing First Year Judiciary Committee Chair Halley Epstein, formally defines the annual term length for the FYJC. Most important, it also specifies who will adjudicate first-year trials during the lame-duck period extending from August to October, before new FYJC members are chosen but after outgoing FYJC members have officially become second-years.
Under the current system, cases involving first-year students that arise during the first two months of the academic year are generally deferred until the new FYJC takes office. Such cases are usually not tried until October. The proposed amendment suggests that outgoing FYJC members handle any case that is brought forth before the new committee is chosen.
The proposal is relatively straightforward, but it touches on some fundamental issues. The most apparent of these considerations is the underlying tension between offering expedient trials and ensuring that first-years are judged by peers who can best relate to their circumstances. The spirit of the FYJC rests on the assumption that the University's first-year experience is unique - so distinct from the rest of the time students spend here, in fact, that only a panel of first-years is best suited to hear the cases and determine the sanctions. Clearly, the notion of an outgoing FYJC comprised of second-years adjudicating these cases might conflict with this ideal.
That said, it is also necessary for trials to be timely. For an offense committed early on in the academic year, first-years might have to wait two months or more to have their cases heard. Moreover, deferring those cases until the new FYJC is in place leads to a substantial backlog of proceedings and makes for a challenging transition period.
There is no simple solution to either of these problems, and it would behoove UJC to consider fully the ramifications of each approach before reaching a decision on the proposal at hand.\n
Poll party
\nVoting is only the first step toward responsible, effective governmentToday Virginians are heading to the polls to elect the commonwealth's next governor, either Republican Bob McDonnell or his Democratic opponent Creigh Deeds. Also on the ballot today are races to decide Virginia's next lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Many students have already filled out absentee ballots, and some are registered to vote in their home states and thus are not eligible to participate in today's election. Still, we strongly encourage all students who can feasibly vote today to do so. Though many University students are broadly interested in politics, state issues are often neglected in favor of local, national and international affairs. As past editorials have argued, state politics have more of a bearing on the University than most students would care to realize, and it is important for students to have a say in the process.
Even for those not voting today, Election Day serves as an important reminder of our civic responsibilities that make democracy functional. This spirit, of course, should be preserved throughout the year. The system does not work well if citizens are ill-informed or apathetic - only through education and active participation can a government realistically be held accountable for its decisions.
In summary, vote, but do not stop there. Stay engaged with events in Richmond and do not let fickle politicians off the hook.
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