The University Judiciary Committee continued to confront the flaws in its statute of limitations in a meeting yesterday, where new UJC judges sat down to discuss what has been accomplished over the past year and what still needs to be done.
The statute of limitations currently allows complaints to be filed up to 45 days after an incident, but controversy has arisen over whether the filing period is too short. Discussion over how to change the UJC policy began last year, and in working to find a solution, UJC created the Statute of Limitations Ad Hoc Committee.
"There can be cases that arise after 45 days that can be pretty serious," said Liz Gould, Statute of Limitations Ad Hoc Committee chairwoman.
Response to this sentiment produced two basic potential solutions during last year's discussion.
The first proposal involves attributing fixed statute of limitation extensions to certain types of cases. Extensions would be applied to cases of physical and sexual assault and hazing.
The argument for this proposal is that these kinds of violations "cause trauma," Gould said. Such trauma could prevent a student from filing a report quickly.
"The focus in this system is not so much the violations but the seriousness of the psychological damages," said Kathryn Szeliga, the former Ad Hoc Committee chair.
Judges explained some major problems with this proposal, focusing on the fact that many violations - some of which cause emotional distress and some of which do not - are grouped together in the Standards of Conduct.
"For example, DUI and stalking are both classified under the same category," Szeliga said. "Yet a DUI where a student hits a tree does not cause the psychological and emotional issues that stalking does."
Because the first proposal does not allow for individual assessment of cases, last year's Statute of Limitations Ad Hoc Committee recommended an alternative.
This second proposal would allow a "good cause" exception, permitting a case can be considered past the 45-day limit if the UJC determines there are reasons that prevented a student from filing a complaint on time.
In yesterday's meeting new judges discussed their views. Though the proposal has found support in the new committee, there still are arguments against the good cause exception.
Next semester, judges will have to fine-tune the statute alterations through deliberation and consideration of the student body.
Read More
Student Council votes to relocate Hereford orchard and basketball hoop
By Lauren Seeliger | 3 hours agoStudent Council passed a resolution Tuesday to relocate the orchard and basketball hoop of Hereford Residential College due to construction in the surrounding area.
Dean Rucker honored with Z Society’s highest honor, Pale Z Award
By Brendon Bordwine | 20 hours agoThe Society has a storied history of honoring University leaders with the Pale Z.
Students receive free STI testing through U.Va. Health and Wellness
By Jackie Bond | YesterdayThrough funding from Student Council, students are now able to receive free STI testing with SHW which includes tests for HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Hepatitis C.
