The Honor Committee introduced its newly appointed Executive Committee at its meeting Sunday night, also discussing a bylaw amendment and announcing two scheduled open trials.
Outgoing Vice Chair for Trials Brian O'Neill said that while two open trials are scheduled, the possibility exists for the accused students to change their minds and close their trials.
"Basically, [accused] students have the right to open or closed trials," he said. "We are not obligated to admit students if the student decides to close his or her trial."
O'Neill noted the first upcoming trial will be Saturday at 10 a.m., while the second is scheduled for Sunday, April 13 at 10 a.m.
Tickets to next weekend's trial will be free of charge, O'Neill said, and will available on a first-come, first-served basis Wednesday afternoon from 2 to 3 outside room 468 of Newcomb Hall.
Following Saturday's open trial, the Committee will transition into its new term and Executive Committee April 7, outgoing Chair Ben Cooper said.
"I am really excited to help them transfer into office, and I think they have some phenomenal ideas," he said.
Cooper, along with other members of the Executive Committee, will be replaced by newly elected Chair Jess Huang, Vice Chair for Investigations Blaire Hawkins, Vice Chair for Education Ryann Burke, Vice Chair for Trials Sophie Staples, and Tyler Alexander, vice chair for community relations.
The Committee took its annual retreat last weekend to elect the Executive Committee and outline goals for the next term, Huang said, but elections ran longer than expected. The incoming Committee plans to establish clear goals this week, she said.
"Elections took so long ... [which] really speaks to the fact that we have very qualified members of the Committee," she said.
Staples echoed Huang's sentiments, noting the background of the elected Executive Committee.
"All of us have served as support officers," she said. "We all have had experience [in the Committee]."
After introducing the new Executive Committee members, the Committee proposed an amendment to its current bylaws.
Committee member Eric Flow said current bylaws do not properly instruct juries on how they should view cases.
The proposed amendment, Flow explained, asks the jury members to objectively judge whether the accused student had dishonest intentions when committing the alleged offense.
Josh Hess, outgoing vice chair for community relations, voiced concern regarding the amendment.
"I think it is important that each of us think what we want the intent standard to be," he said noting the changes will have an impact on cases.
Flow said it is important to inform juries to consider cases objectively rather than subjectively, and he encouraged members with concerns to propose alternate suggestions.
Cooper said the Committee hopes to make any revisions needed and to vote on them next week.
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