The Honor Committee yesterday evening voted unanimously to change its bylaws to require a four-fifths majority of a jury to validate a conscientious retraction at trial time. Previously a conscientious retraction required a one-half majority to be deemed valid in trial.
"We need more jurors to agree," Batten Rep. Anna Mohan said. "If the [investigations panel] determines at this low level that they think it was invalid, there then needs to be a higher standard at trial to prove that [retraction's] validity."
Mohan proposed the bylaw changes at the last Committee meeting. She said during her term as vice chair for trials she worked closely with the bylaws and wanted to bring the bylaws "into conformity with what our practice is."
A student who believes he has committed an Honor offense may file a conscientious retraction, which requires him to report himself and makes amends with any injured parties to avoid a formal trial. This will only be considered valid if the student "did not have any reason to believe [he was] under suspicion for an Honor offense," Mohan said. If a student files a retraction, an investigative panel must agree with a two-third majority that the retraction is valid.
If the investigative panel deems the retraction invalid, however, the case proceeds to formal trial. In trial, a student has another opportunity to prove the validity of his retraction.
"It makes more sense that the trial panel has a weightier vote than that of the I-panel," Committee Chair Ann Marie McKenzie said.
Honor also passed another bylaw change yesterday, which allows a student to request a hearing on contributory mental disorders at any point in the investigation, even if it is after he has requested a trial.
A student ordinarily had a 10-day deadline after the accusation to request a trial or to request a hearing conducted through the Office of the Dean of Students.
"We have some students who've requested trials not really understanding there might have been a psychological issue," Mohan said. "We wanted to put within our bylaws something that will allow them [to know that] after they request the trial, they still have the option to go through the psychological procedure."
McKenzie said the Committee currently does this but felt the need to codify the practice in their bylaws.
Mohan said she wrote other "housekeeping" bylaw changes to make some parts of the bylaws "easier to read"
Read More
University advances sustainability goals outlined in 2030 Plan
By Vyshnavi Tatta | YesterdayAs part of the 2030 Plan’s goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2030 and fossil fuel-free operations by 2050, the University has prioritized environmental resilience and sustainability.
U.Va. researchers identify that HIV drugs can protect against Alzheimer’s disease
By Lauren Seeliger | 5 days agoDoctor Jayakrishna Ambati and his research team have begun work on a new drug called K9 which could treat and prevent Alzheimer’s.
Graduating students share their future plans as they enter the job market
By Nina Broderick | May 21, 2025Many students find the Career Center to be a valuable tool during the job search and application process.
