The Honor Committee announced Sunday they would be releasing tickets for students interested in viewing the honor trial of third-year College student Adam Boyd. In addition, the trial will be simulcast live to the Commonwealth Room in Newcomb Hall so that another 210 people can witness the first open honor trial in two years. Boyd, although admittedly happy with the Committee's decision to simulcast the proceedings, had petitioned over the past few weeks to move the trial to Old Cabell Hall with enough chairs to seat up to 851 people. The Committee made a good choice by choosing to keep the trial in the traditional trial room, a decision even Boyd agrees with.
In a phone interview, Boyd stated that he hopes his open trial will be a chance "to change something that isn't working properly." If indeed the honor system is broken, then Boyd's hopes may just come true. Students who witness the trial, view it via simulcast or learn of the procedures from classmates or news services will see the injustices and faults in the system and work to change them. But cramming 851 students, faculty members and even curious onlookers into a packed stadium-seating hall does little to help people see the wrongs in a judicial procedure.
Instead, it creates a circus-type atmosphere where everyone from the generally interested to the just generally bored show up to see what happens. Close to 1,000 people packed together is bound to lead to whispers, shuffles and the occasional cell phone ring. While noise will be a problem with the 40 spectators allowed to view the trial, 1,000 people will just magnify the problem immensely. This type of distraction and noise does not lead to examining the validity and accuracy of the Committee and overall honor system, but rather just detracts from the seriousness of the procedures. The judges, counsel and even Boyd himself will be less able to focus on the matters at hand due to the incessant noise and overwhelming, undeniable presence of hundred of students in the auditorium.
And focus is not something that needs to be lost this Saturday. Boyd is in jeopardy of losing something very precious -- his enrollment at the University community, something he says he has worked all his life for. With that in mind, this trial must be conducted as well as possible.
The hundreds of spectators aside, moving the trial puts added weight on the shoulders of those running the trial. The people in charge of trying, defending and presiding over the case are used to a specific procedural process, including the constancy of the location of trials. If they are to truly do their best in conducting this trial fairly, they do not need to be preoccupied with the change of scenery.
Moving the trial to Cabell Hall not only distracts the people in charge of conducting the hearing, but it also re-emphasizes the pressure that is on the Committee and incorrectly redirects the spotlight. As the first open trial in two years, Boyd's case has certainly drawn attention. In addition, Boyd calling for this to be an examination of the honor system certainly has the community talking. But regardless of the hopes Boyd may have for this case to be a review of an honor system that's been around for over 150 years, the Committee is, in fact, not on trial. He is. Boyd is the one accused of wrongdoing. Boyd is the one with important things at stake. Boyd is the one who could lose it all.
Who knows -- Boyd may really see flaws in the way the honor code is enforced and see this as a way for reform. But keeping the trial in the Trial Room avoids the possibility of moving attention away from his own alleged wrongdoing and placing it on an easily found scapegoat -- the Committee. Either way, the Committee must do what it can to ensure that the trial is about Boyd and the Committee's conduct in his specific case and not an open attack on the honor system. By keeping trial procedures normal and making no special exceptions, the Committee is doing this.
The number of students and faculty members wishing to view the trial for themselves is yet unseen. The 250 seats currently available may be more than enough to fill the need and it may not be. In fact, all of the tickets to the Trial Room already have been given away. But just because a student can't witness the hearing in person does not mean they will be clueless about the proceedings. Those who view the trial will be able to express what they witnessed and there will undoubtedly be media sources there, including The Cavalier Daily. Therefore Boyd's reason for moving the trial, to provide an educational opportunity for the community, will be met even if not everyone gets to see it live and up close.
Overall, Boyd has given the University community, especially the recent additions, a great opportunity to witness and examine the procedures of the honor system at work. But despite this, the serious workings of the trial cannot be jeopardized just because the defendant is trying to make a point about the way the Committee does its job.
With the trial being held in its familiar place and the Committee allowing the simulcast, all is well. Boyd will get his open trial, the University will get its inside look at the system, and the Committee will be able to do its job without being put on trial itself. The mere fact that Boyd himself is happy with the decision just proves that the Committee made the right choice.
(Maggie Bowden is a Cavalier Daily
viewpoint writer.)
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