Sometime within the next two weeks, students will be prompted for more than their passwords when logging into NetBadge. First announced by President Teresa A. Sullivan in her August press conference, the University will require students to disclose whether they have been arrested and/or convicted of a crime - excluding minor traffic violations in which there were no serious injuries - since being admitted to the University. Any information of significance that students provide will be locked in a "password-protected" database. The policy has led some to question if administrators are encroaching upon students' privacy.
The rule requiring students to report arrests and convictions is not new - a policy in the Undergraduate Record has required students to do this for some time. This new initiative, however, "involves taking an active rather than passive approach to pointing out to students their obligation to promptly and truthfully provide this information to the Office of the Dean of Students," read an announcement published on the Office of the Dean of Students website. The impetus for this reformed approach was the homicide of Virginia lacrosse player Yeardley Love last May. George Huguely, Love's ex-boyfriend charged with her killing, had a prior arrest in Lexington, Va., while enrolled at the University. Huguely reportedly acted violently toward his arresting police officer during this incident. University officials were unaware of the arrest until after Love's death.
When students matriculate to the University, they accept the responsibilities outlined in the University Judiciary Committee's standards of conduct. Many of these, however, only apply if the infraction occurs on University property, within the city of Charlottesville or in Albemarle County. Standard 10 - the violation of Federal, State or local law - is slightly more ambiguous in its jurisdiction but stipulates that the breach must "directly affect the University's pursuit of its proper educational purposes." Dean of Students Allen Groves allowed that some students may be brought before UJC based upon information they provide about an arrest or conviction, but he emphasized that the NetBadge prompt is more about preserving student safety. "While most media have focused on the potential for referral to UJC, I expect those numbers to be small," Groves said. "Instead, I expect there to be far more cases where we make a student aware of resources to help him or her reduce unsafe behavior."\nAlthough safety is a top priority, it is fair to question if the University is overstepping its bounds in asking students to provide information about activities that occur off-Grounds with no connection to the University. Arrests and convictions are a matter of public record, so University officials certainly have a right to access such information. Nevertheless, some students understandably get wary whenever administrators inquire about happenings off-Grounds - this is particularly true for arrests with charges that were subsequently dismissed. Although students may explain these circumstances on NetBadge, and that will factor into administrators' response without a presumption of guilt, one could question why the University should file information about an off-Grounds incident in which no wrongdoing was proven by the courts.
Perhaps the greater concern is how effective the new measure will be. Although self-reporting respects the spirit of honor at the University by asking students to be truthful on their own accords, the nature of criminal incidents could cause problems. After all, it would make sense for University officials to want to know most about students with patterns of arrest on their records or about those convicted of significant crimes. But it seems reasonable to speculate that a student with a serious criminal background may also be one who is less likely to live by the spirit of honor and report information honestly. That could compromise the effectiveness of a self-reporting system.
Read More
PARTING SHOT: You never know unless you try
By Lexi Baker | 2 hours agoMy time at the University was shaped by the people who showed me grace and kindness and by those who had confidence in me, even when I struggled to have it in myself.
PARTING SHOT: A love letter to Cav Daily and Connection
By Ava Proehl | 13 hours agoMy time here taught me to look for the genuine, human connection in every moment.
PARTING SHOT: Does this even matter?
By Jacob Tisdale | YesterdayIndividuals and communities can use sports to inspire, to hold space, to heal, to break molds, to change narratives, to honor faith or to come home.
