Probation, suspension and expulsion are all serious consequences that can result from judicial proceedings at our University. The decisions made by the Judicial Board or an administrative hearing can affect the lives of students brought up on code of conduct charges.

These polices and procedures are used to aid in the determination of a student’s guilt or innocence and are currently being reviewed by Student Chief Justice Lock Whiteside for revision. Such reforms would include raising the burden of proof, removing administrators from the decision-making process and changing in the board composition.

It’s important while Whiteside presents his judicial reforms that the administration listens and does not prejudge the ideas. Too often when University decision makers are presented a new idea or change in existing policy they are habitually speedy to form an opinion before even hearing the idea or person out.

Just as due process is expected in the judicial process students expect administrators to listen and consider our proposals without prejudice. This process must be followed with the important issue of changes to the Code of Conduct and the procedures that judicial cases follow.

These proposals are going to go through a gauntlet of administrators to gain support. When presented with the proposals, administrators should take into consideration what’s in the best interest for the students and look at the changes with an open mind. Preconceived notions can kill any idea before they have a chance to get off the ground — this University can’t afford to have student ideas stifled before the ink has hit the page.

Students must educate themselves on this important issue as well. It’s imperative that students know what’s involved in the proposals so that they can voice their opinion to the administration in an informed manner. If there’s a desire for change from students, then they need to make it apparent and get involved in the process.

Whiteside is going to have to defend his reasons for change to the University decision makers and to students. If the administration wants to maintain the status quo then it must defend its position to the campus community — and the answer “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” will not suffice.