Executive Committee of the Student Body

(Germany absence excused)

Minutes from the January 20, 2009 Executive Committee Meeting

1. President Rich Cleary called the meeting to order at 6:41pm.
2. The EC approved the minutes from the previous meeting.
3. Sophomore Representative Scott Centorino presented his amendment from the January 12, 2009 meeting for a second time, pursuant to White Book provisions. The language currently reads:
"The Executive Committee may, by vote of more than one-third of the members present, terminate the hearing at any time for any reason. Should the Committee terminate the hearing, this decision shall be recorded as a not guilty, and the accused will remain an active member of the University."
Centorino's amendment reads:
"The Executive Committee may, by vote of one-half of the members present, terminate the hearing at any time for any reason. Should the Committee terminate the hearing, this decision shall be recorded as a not guilty, and the accused will remain an active member of the University."
Centorino's amendment did not receive the required votes to pass.
4. Second Year Law Representative Eric Hoffman proposed an amendment to the White Book. The current language, located on page five in the "Procedure for an Investigation" section, reads:
"II. The investigative team shall use its own discretion in gathering information pertaining to a possible Honor Violation. Absent extenuating circumstances, investigators will not contact the accused. Investigators who wish to contact the accused may do so at the President's discretion.
Hoffman's amendment reads:
"II. The investigative team shall use its own discretion in gathering information pertaining to a possible Honor Violation. The investigative team shall instruct all students consulted in the course of an investigation to keep all matters related to the investigation confidential, subject to the Confidentiality and Harassment clause of the White Book. Absent extenuating circumstances, investigators will not contact the accused. Investigators who wish to contact the accused may do so at the President's discretion.
No vote was taken on the amendment.
5. Cleary informed the EC that they will be conducting interviews for the position of 3L on the UBA on Wednesday, January 21.
6. Cleary adjourned the meeting into closed session at 7:01pm.
7. Cleary reopened the meeting at 7:10pm.
8. Cleary adjourned the meeting at 7:10pm.

A member of the Student Body has withdrawn after the Executive Committee found him/her guilty of an Honor Violation in a closed hearing. The Executive Committee determined in the closed hearing that the student violated the community's trust by plagiarizing his/her English paper.

In the student's defense, he/she said that he/she had been sick and did not intent to plagiarize the paper. However, the Executive Committee determined through credible evidence and deliberation that the student violated the community's trust by plagiarizing his/her paper.

February 1, 2009

Summary of Executive Committee Honor Activity for the 2008-2009 Academic Year

Investigations: 8

Closed Hearings: 7

Guilty Verdicts in a Closed Hearing: 2

Not Guilty Verdicts in a Closed Hearing: 5

Student Body Hearings: 0

Minutes from the February 3, 2009 Executive Committee Meeting

1. President Rich Cleary called the meeting to order at 6:06pm.
2. Cleary adjourned the meeting into closed session at 6:06pm.
3. Cleary reopened the meeting at 7:23pm.
4. The EC discussed several suggested amendments brought forward by the Honor Advocate Program.
5. The EC approved the minutes from the previous meeting.
6. The EC selected John Christopher '09 to replace Sarah Catherine Welch on the White Book Review Committee.
7. First Year Law Representative Bill Larson informed the EC of a pending meeting with Dean Evan about the structure of Law School Honor Orientation, specifically moving the Honor Orientation back to Lee Chapel.
8. Cleary reminded the EC of the Faculty Academy Luncheon Panel to take place March 20, 2009.
9. The EC will be scheduling the remainder of its weekly meetings at 7:15pm on Mondays unless otherwise noted.
10. Cleary adjourned the meeting into closed session at 6:58pm.
11. Cleary reopened the meeting at 9:26pm.
12. Cleary adjourned the meeting at 9:26pm.

The Executive Committee has found the Class of 2011 Representative Richard Saum to have violated the Confidentiality and Harassment clause of the White Book. In light of this finding, the Executive Committee has asked Richard to resign. Richard has resigned from his position.

Minutes from the February103, 2009 Executive Committee Meeting

1. President Rich Cleary called the meeting to order at 7:41pm.
2. The EC approved the minutes from the previous meeting.
3. Third Year Law Representative Ryan Germany presented the EC with a draft of a letter outlining the EC's concern over the abuse of the Brief Stop's IOU policy.
4. First Year Law Representative Bill Larson discussed a meeting he, Germany, and Second Year Law Representative Eric Hoffman had with Dean Evans about Law School Honor Orientation. The Law School Representatives and Dean Evans agreed to hold the Law School Honor Orientation speech in Lee Chapel.
5. The EC discussed the health of the Speaking Tradition and potential ways to improve it.
6. Vice President Ellie Hanson informed the EC of a meeting she will be having with Alex Scaggs, Editor-in-Chief of The Trident, and Director of Campus Activities Jason Rodocker about The Trident's business strategy for the future.
7. Sophomore Representative Scott Centorino presented his amendment from the January 20, 2009 meeting for a second time, pursuant to White Book provisions. The language currently reads:
"The Executive Committee may, by vote of more than one-third of the members present, terminate the hearing at any time for any reason. Should the Committee terminate the hearing, this decision shall be recorded as a not guilty, and the accused will remain an active member of the University."
Centorino's amendment reads:
"The Executive Committee may, by vote of one-half of the members present, terminate the hearing at any time for any reason. Should the Committee terminate the hearing, this decision shall be recorded as a not guilty, and the accused will remain an active member of the University."
Centorino's amendment passed after receiving a two-thirds or more vote for two weeks in a row.
8. Cleary adjourned the meeting into closed session at 8:19pm.
9. Cleary reopened the meeting at 8:33pm.
10. Cleary informed the EC of the upcoming White Book Review Committee Meeting to be held Thursday, February 12, at 7:30pm in the Commons.
11. Cleary adjourned the meeting at 8:35pm.