Executive Committee of the Student Body

Minutes from the March 25th, 2008 Executive Committee Meeting

• President Josh Payne called the meeting to order at 7:09pm.

• Payne welcomed the newly-elected EC members and runoff candidates.
• President-elect Rich Cleary informed the EC that the meeting between the Cabins landlord and Traveller Committee happened, and once a few changes are made, the Twomey Commission route will be in effect.

• Payne relayed a message from the Provost that her committee on Classroom Access should have a proposal in a week or two.

• Payne accepted nominations for the Pusey and Gilliam Awards for the most outstanding senior and professor, respectively.

• Payne reviewed the schedule and, with a heavy heart, reminded the EC that only one meeting remained.

• The EC approved the minutes from the last meeting. 1L Representative Eric Hoffman and Sophomore Representative Denis O’Leary volunteered to post the minutes in the Law School and Commons.

• Payne adjourned the meeting into closed session at 7:29pm.

• Payne reopened the meeting at 10:08pm.

• The EC approved three amendments to the White Book.

Amendment I:
WB Page 5, Procedure for an Investigation, new Section between II and III:
"If the President believes that the accused has become aware of an ongoing investigation, the President may, at his or her discretion, provide the accused with an Honor Advocate." The section now labeled III would become IV.

Amendment II:
WB Page 5, Procedure for an Investigation, Section I.
No change in language, but switch the first two sentences around, so that it reads:
"Any person suspecting a student of committing an Honor Violation should bring the matter to the immediate attention of an Executive Committee member. Any Executive Committee member receiving allegations of a possible Honor Violation shall report the allegation to the President."

Amendment III:
WB Page 10, Section M - Witnesses and Evidence Introduction, new Section between 2 & 3:
"At the beginning of the hearing, the accused shall provide the Executive Committee with a list of witnesses he or she intends to call and copies of all evidence he or she intends to introduce.”

• An organization in the Law School requested the EC to pay for an unexpected expense relating to its recent health care panel. Its co-sponsoring organization was not able to get the money from its national organization as anticipated but did not learn of this until the week of the panel. The EC agreed to help out this organization.

• The EC issued its ruling regarding the Media Board’s recommendations of no sanctions to The Trident for “The Bracket” article (please see separate notice for more information on the EC’s ruling).

• Payne adjourned the meeting at 10:52pm.

April 1, 2008

Summary of Executive Committee Honor Activity for the 2007-2008 Academic Year

Investigations: 9

Withdrawals in the face of an Investigation: 1

Withdrawals in the face of a Closed Hearing: 2

Closed Hearings: 4

Guilty Verdicts in a Closed Hearing: 1

Not Guilty Verdicts in a Closed Hearing: 3

Student Body Hearings: 0

Executive Committee Ruling on the Trident Case Heard by the Media Board

The Case

The Trident recently published an article, “The Bracket,” that offended many members of the W&L community. Many students, faculty, and University officials called for the resignation of the editors and writers of the article, and for the Trident to issue a public apology.

Several students and faculty lodged a formal complaint against the Trident, as a publication, with the Media Board, an organization made up of representatives from all student media outlets. The Media Board is empowered to hear complaints filed against its members and to recommend sanctions for the Executive Committee to impose. The Media Board held a meeting where representatives of the complainants explained their grievances and asked the Media Board to sanction the Trident in some way.

The Media Board recognized that the Trident editor responsible for publishing the article published an apology which acknowledged that an error in judgment was made. The editor told the Media Board that the Trident will work to ensure a similar incident does not occur in the future.

The Media Board unanimously recommended that the Executive Committee maintain the Trident’s links to the University, so that the Trident remains accountable to the Media Board. Additionally, the Media Board unanimously recommended that the Trident, and all media outlets, develop a mission statement and a journalism code of ethics that they will adhere to in the future. The Media Board noted that it is the responsibility of each editor to ensure that their staff members understand these ethical standards.

The Ruling

The Executive Committee instructs the Trident to develop a journalism code of ethics under the guidance and supervision of the Media Board, to be completed by Friday, April 25, 2008. The Executive Committee further instructs the Trident editorial board to include the Trident staff writers as participants in the drafting of the code, and to ensure that all editors and writers understand and live up to the code of ethics.

The Executive Committee commends the Media Board’s plans to urge all media organizations to develop mission statements and codes of ethics and to continue the current campus discussion of the role of student media at W&L. As the Media Board observed, the editors and writers of all student publications must understand that their words and deeds are a direct reflection on the W&L community as a whole.

This case involves a complaint against a publication. Complaints against individuals should be directed to the Student Judicial Council or the Student Faculty Hearing Board.

April 1, 2008

A member of the Student Body has decided to withdraw in the face of an Executive Committee Investigation involving information indicating that he/she may have committed an honor violation in that he/she may have plagiarized on his/her English assignment.

Minutes from the April 1st, 2008 Executive Committee Meeting
(Cleary tardiness excused)

• President Josh Payne called the meeting to order at 7:07pm.

• Payne reminded the EC that this was its last meeting. The graduating EC members, particularly Senior Representative Kirk Adamson, fought back tears.

• Isaiah Goodman and Kassie Bagley, as representatives of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), asked the EC to officially recognize this organization. SAAC would serve as a liaison between student athletes and athletic administrators.

• Payne swore in the members of the 2008-2009 Executive Committee, who will officially take office the first day of Spring Term.

• Members of the Rowing Club asked the EC for money to buy new boats, since their current boats are in such bad shape that they can no longer compete. The EC decided to give the club up to half of its funding needs with the requirement that the club find funds to match the EC’s contribution.

• The EC again passed the three White Book amendments proposed at the previous meetings. Pursuant to the White Book requirements, the following amendments will be included in the printing of the 2008-2009 White Book:

Amendment I:
WB Page 5, Procedure for an Investigation, new Section between II and III:
"If the President believes that the accused has become aware of an ongoing investigation, the President may, at his or her discretion, provide the accused with an Honor Advocate."
The section now labeled III would become IV.

Amendment II:
WB Page 5, Procedure for an Investigation, Section I.
No change in language, but switch the first two sentences around, so that it reads:
"Any person suspecting a student of committing an Honor Violation should bring the matter to the immediate attention of an Executive Committee member. Any Executive Committee member receiving allegations of a possible Honor Violation shall report the allegation to the President."

Amendment III:
WB Page 10, Section M - Witnesses and Evidence Introduction, new Section between 2 & 3:
"At the beginning of the hearing, the accused shall provide the Executive Committee with a list of witnesses he or she intends to call and copies of all evidence he or she intends to introduce.”

• Payne adjourned the meeting into closed session at 8:27pm.

• Payne reopened the meeting at 9:15pm.

• Payne swore in Rich Cleary as the new President of the Executive Committee.

• The members of the EC approved the minutes from the last meeting.

• Payne adjourned the meeting at 9:17pm.