"THE UJC is pointless. Why do we need it?" This is a question that is not too uncommon and deserves to be answered, especially for all those incoming first years new to U.Va. and student self-governance, and those of you who "accidentally" missed the information sessions during first-year orientation.
The Basics
The UJC adjudicates cases involving alleged violations of the Twelve Standards of Conduct. Such violations could cover anything from drinking in the dorms to physical assault. We do not take cases of lying, cheating and stealing, which go to the Honor Committee. We hold trials to determine whether or not the accused student is guilty, and if found guilty, to determine the sanction. The UJC may impose any sanction. Examples including: an oral admonition, an academic reprimand, community service, essay writing, attending an alcohol or drug class, revocation of U.Va. privileges, suspension and expulsion. The UJC crafts a sanction that is mainly educational, but also partially punitive.
The Committee
The UJC is composed of 21 judges from the various schools at the University. The judges are elected in the spring through their respective schools. Of those 21, there are three vice chairs and a chair who are the four members who have the power to run, or chair, trials. Each trial panel has five judges, one being one of the four trial chairs. It is that trial panel who determines whether the person is guilty, and if so, what their sanction will be.
Support Officers
Support Officers are counselors, investigators and educators who really conduct all the pre-trial work. In a trial, both the complainant and accused are assigned a counselor who acts as their oral advocate throughout the process; if a student does not wish to use the UJC counselors, any U.Va. student may represent a party, but no attorneys are allowed to represent parties during UJC trials. The investigators speak with all parties involved, including witnesses, to compile a report of the facts to present to the trial panel. Educators reach out to the University community as well as continue to follow up with a student found guilty, to help him or her through the sanction process.
First-Year Judiciary Committee (FYJC)
This is a group of 15 to 17 first-year students who are chosen through a test and interview process conducted by the UJC and First Year Council during the month of September. These students all act as judges and have a chair and vice chair to chair their trials. The FYJC hears cases of first-year misconduct in first-year living areas. This committee truly embodies the purpose of the UJC -- to be heard by a group of your peers. The FYJC was created because first-year students are the only class required to live in dorms; therefore, they have a much better understanding of the difficulties and occurrences of those first-year living areas.
Filing Cases
Anyone may file a UJC case, as long as it is against a U.Va. student. Cases may be filed online at the UJC Web site, or by coming up to the fourth floor of Newcomb Hall to the UJC Office. Deans and area coordinators tend to file the most cases simply due to the nature of their jobs.
Why do we need the UJC?
I came to U.Va. thinking that student self-governance was nothing special, just some phrase that was casually tossed around to let people know you're a Wahoo. Once I became involved with the UJC, I learned how valuable it truly is. A group of peers judge and sanction a student, because they understand the work expected of us, the stress and the peer pressure. While the judges do understand the various facets of student life, it is their job to make sure that the Standards of Conduct are upheld to create a safe atmosphere. Additionally, the entire system is composed of students and run by students. Student self-governance means that we, the students, govern this University in many different aspects. I encourage all of you to make the most of your time here and to really experience student self-governance in action.
Angela Carrico is Chair of the University Judiciary Committee.
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