RESIDENT LIFE CONSIDERING PUNISHMENT POLICY REVISION

Students caught breaking dorm rules could be punished less harshly
starting late next year as Resident Life officials say they intend to
restructure the dorm violation policy.

A barrage of student complaints in recent years has led department
officials to abandon the two-tiered system of punishment, which was
created in 1980 and penalizes marijuana smokers the same way it does
violent offenders. Instead, the new policy will evaluate and sanction
students on a more case-by-case basis,according to officials, and
will give the Resident Judicial Board more flexibility in deciding punishments.

"I want our staff deciding sanctions on a case-by-case basis and not
a class-by-class basis," said Associate Director of Resident Life
Steve Petkas, who is responsible for redrafting the policy. "I want
to get away from 'A' and 'B.' It might, in time, mean more
flexibility in regard to drugs, but I'm not going to speculate."

The existing policy separates infractions into A- and B-level
categories that assign different punishments to student offenders.
The A-level category contains more serious violations such as arson
and violent crimes, and rule-breakers are usually expelled from
housing. In contrast, B-level violations are less severe and usually
result in housing probation.

Petkas said the policy will probably be introduced to the student
body in the fall of 2009. Regardless of the new policy's lack of
categories, however, students should understand that infractions will
still carry repercussions, he added.

While it is uncertain how the new policy would impact punishments,
Resident Life officials and student leaders agree that the old policy
was sometimes impractical.

"We are open and willing to look at our rules and regulations,"
Resident Life Director Deb Grandner said. "It's really important to
look at pros and cons. The intent would be that it's not confusing."

Resident Life officials began looking at redoing the violation system
in 2004, but put it on hold when more pressing issues arose, such as
the recent housing shortage affecting on-campus juniors and seniors.
Petkas acknowledged that student leaders were instrumental in
pressuring the department to reevaluate its policy.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy President Stacia Cosner, who has
lobbied the department to be more lenient in punishing marijuana
violators, is cautiously hopeful about how the new policy will turn out.

"I have heard from a lot of students that the person they met with
would not have given them the harsh penalty if they had not been
required to," Cosner said. "Their hands were tied."

Residence Hall Association President Sumner Handy was also hopeful
that the new policy would make the punishments better fit the crime.

"In principle, it seems like the right way to do it because it allows
for proportional punishment," he said. "It's a step in the right direction."