2008 Woodie Awards
Illegal matters should be handled by law not school
Issue date: 1/14/08 Section: Opinions
From the Editorial Board:
Recently alcohol violations and alleged rape charges have been associated with the Kappa Alpha Order. Of course, under age consumption is breaking the law, which is why it's appalling that the any such charges are "handled" under the watchful eye of the Office of Judicial Affairs and Mediation Services.
Judicial Affairs obtains jurisdiction over their cases with the aid of the Federal Education Rights and Protection Act. FERPA is designed to protect our educational records in a similar way that HIPAA protects our medical records.
What does alleged rape and illegal consumption of alcohol by minors have to do with our academic records?
Even the thought that FERPA could be used to protect rapists and assailants under the guise of privacy is disturbing. The bottom line remains that the severity of a crime should not be relevant, because no matter what, a crime is a crime.
Basically, instead of focusing on rape, the school is focusing on the dangers of alcohol. The victim is being portrayed as no longer a victim because she had a couple of beers. Her alleged assailant, however, might only have his intramural privileges revoked or worse - community service.
Interestingly enough, the victim decided not to press charges. Perhaps she felt as if nothing would be done if she chose to pursue the incident further.
Is this the desired reputation we wish to emulate as a university? It seems like the only reason why cases such as this remain in Judicial Affairs under academic records is to protect the school's reputation.
Wouldn't it be more glorified to have a school reputation based on morals that protect and inform its students, rather than sealing everything damaging and destructive in a file cabinet for only the blind to see?
Perhaps the administration should rethink their strategy when "dealing" with cases that are in violation of the law as well as academic and behavioral conduct.
Judicial Affairs should have every right to review and handle the behavior of students when they are in violation of the clear behavioral standards set forth in the Rights and Responsibilities of Students. But when illicit behavior becomes illegal, Judicial Affairs should step aside and make way for the law.
Nevertheless, this incident has been dealt with, but what about future dilemmas? Even our own chief of police realizes that this behavior and situation is more than likely to reoccur.
Recently alcohol violations and alleged rape charges have been associated with the Kappa Alpha Order. Of course, under age consumption is breaking the law, which is why it's appalling that the any such charges are "handled" under the watchful eye of the Office of Judicial Affairs and Mediation Services.
Judicial Affairs obtains jurisdiction over their cases with the aid of the Federal Education Rights and Protection Act. FERPA is designed to protect our educational records in a similar way that HIPAA protects our medical records.
What does alleged rape and illegal consumption of alcohol by minors have to do with our academic records?
Even the thought that FERPA could be used to protect rapists and assailants under the guise of privacy is disturbing. The bottom line remains that the severity of a crime should not be relevant, because no matter what, a crime is a crime.
Basically, instead of focusing on rape, the school is focusing on the dangers of alcohol. The victim is being portrayed as no longer a victim because she had a couple of beers. Her alleged assailant, however, might only have his intramural privileges revoked or worse - community service.
Interestingly enough, the victim decided not to press charges. Perhaps she felt as if nothing would be done if she chose to pursue the incident further.
Is this the desired reputation we wish to emulate as a university? It seems like the only reason why cases such as this remain in Judicial Affairs under academic records is to protect the school's reputation.
Wouldn't it be more glorified to have a school reputation based on morals that protect and inform its students, rather than sealing everything damaging and destructive in a file cabinet for only the blind to see?
Perhaps the administration should rethink their strategy when "dealing" with cases that are in violation of the law as well as academic and behavioral conduct.
Judicial Affairs should have every right to review and handle the behavior of students when they are in violation of the clear behavioral standards set forth in the Rights and Responsibilities of Students. But when illicit behavior becomes illegal, Judicial Affairs should step aside and make way for the law.
Nevertheless, this incident has been dealt with, but what about future dilemmas? Even our own chief of police realizes that this behavior and situation is more than likely to reoccur.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Jack Thomas
posted 1/14/08 @ 1:29 AM CST
Amen! Let uninterested and unbiased parties investigate these incidents, not buddies of the accused. It is disgusting how stacked the fraternities have all branches of the student government in their favor. (Continued…)
Anon
posted 1/14/08 @ 2:52 AM CST
To quote yogi berra (I believe it's him anyways) it ain't over till it's over. And, it ain't over. Sidelines, you have for once done a service, by bringing up something that I would venture to say that most individuals on this campus have forgotten about. (Continued…)
Almost...
posted 1/14/08 @ 12:16 PM CST
MTSU isn't concerned with "the rules" - just the "rent" they collect from Kappa Alpha for their house...
But I agree... MTSU's police is more concerned with bad PR than enforcing the law. (Continued…)
anon
posted 1/14/08 @ 4:28 PM CST
Campus could give a fuck less about the "rent" because let's be real its just a method of control. The fraternities were coerced into buying into the greek row concept, came out of it with a product constructed and delivered by the lowest bidder and it shows. (Continued…)
i can agree with that
posted 1/17/08 @ 12:41 PM CST
Okay, so I can agree with your comments above. But to ME, that's what is happening... They need to quit trying to look good on paper by having a bunch of policies they don't intend to enforce, and just let the college invest it's time and money on REAL issues like education. (Continued…)
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