The University Judiciary Committee adjudicated 22 cases from June 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024, including 19 cases against individuals and three against organizations, according to their Fall 2024 Statistics Report. 12 cases were still pending as of Jan. 20.
The figure of cases adjudicated last semester is slightly smaller than the 24 cases adjudicated in spring 2024 — but still significantly higher than the eight cases in fall 2023.
In the report, all 22 of the cases involved violations of Standards 6 or 10 — allegations related to violation of University policy or violations of federal, state or local law, respectively. 13 of the cases included violations of Standards 1 and 2 — allegations related to physical assault and threats to health and safety. Standard 2 cases continue to have many violations as those cases have risen sharply in the past few years.
The mean case processing time increased significantly from 35.17 days in spring 2024 or 27.17 excluding breaks to 92.09 days or 51 excluding breaks.
In a letter to the University community, Harper Jones, UJC chair and fourth-year College student, expressed her gratitude to her Representatives and Support Officers for processing the high number of cases.
“Representatives and Support Officers continue to dedicate extensive time to this work, and I am exceptionally grateful for the service they provide to the University community,” Jones said.
In a statement to The Cavalier Daily, Jones said the increase in case processing times had to do with the severity of the cases and also concurrent legal proceedings, which she said the Committee has a practice of letting play out before it hears a student’s case.
“During the Fall 2024 semester, the Committee witnessed a considerable increase in severity of cases,” Jones said. “Often, these [required] more extensive preparation and thus the time between acceptance of a complaint and adjudication is extended.”
Sanctions against individuals found guilty included the submission of reflective essays in 12 cases, 11 sanctions of setting up meetings with staff, faculty or UJC members and 11 sanctions of community service. This semester, the Committee issued two suspensions — one standard suspension and one that included expulsion in abeyance, meaning the student will be expelled if they violate that Standard again.
Of the accused in the individual cases, 89 percent, were male, and although students, faculty and staff can all anonymously submit cases for review, all of the complainants were University staff members. The Committee hears both graduate and undergraduate cases, but 95 percent of the cases this semester concerned undergraduates.
All three cases against organizations involved fraternities that were found guilty of violating the Standards of Conduct.
Pi Lambda Phi fraternity pleaded guilty to violating Standard 6 for hazing activities on Oct. 10. According to the report, new members were quizzed on fraternity-related information and punished with calisthenics for answering incorrectly. Additionally, new members were required to serve as designated drivers or run errands for active members and to participate in morning workouts. Sanctions include revising the “new member syllabus,” requiring every member of the executive board to meet with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and to present the changes and UJC trial outcome to at least two-thirds of the chapter’s members.
Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity pleaded guilty Sept. 19 for violating Standards 2 and 6, also for hazing violations. New members were required to participate in “lineups” where they were quizzed on biographical and fraternity-related information and punished with calisthenics for incorrect answers. The report also detailed new members consuming unknown substances composed of both food and other items, leading to vomiting on themselves and others. New members were also required to serve as designated drivers for active members, required to clean the chapter house after social events and sleep over at the chapter house or other residences on certain days.
The report states that Sigma Alpha Mu members misled University officials throughout the investigation. Sanctions include requiring members to attend events educating about hazing from the Gordie Center. Additionally, the fraternity must post signage at every exit and bathroom in the chapter house instructing how to report hazing or other violations to the University. The organization is also required to copy the UJC’s vice chair for sanctions on every communication regarding new member activities and faces a termination in abeyance — the threat of termination if the chapter commits additional violations of Standards 2 or 6 again, through fall 2028.
Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity pleaded guilty Oct. 13 to violating Standards 2 and 6 at a social event Aug. 27, where the University Police Department shut down the event for overcrowding. Emergency services transported a student to the hospital for alcohol-related reasons. Delta Kappa Epsilon pleaded guilty for violating the standards by serving alcohol to underage guests and not engaging in appropriate risk management practices. Sanctions include submitting a revised risk management plan to their national organization that includes verifying age of guests for alcohol consumption.
Statistics reports are an effort by the Committee to be transparent with the community and are released at the conclusion of each semester. Jones wrote in the letter that the Committee looks forward to engaging with the University community during this year’s Judiciary Week from March 24 through 29.
“The UJC remains a resource for all students, faculty and staff, and members of the broader Charlottesville community,” Jones wrote.
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