An Examination of Duke’s Disciplinary System

Duke Student Government

Social Culture Committee

Introductions

• Bryan Dinner, VP of Social Culture
• Kayla Thompson, Senator of Social Culture
• Isabella Letourneau
• Kuber Madhok
• John Caldwell

Our Research

• Our committee has noticed a decrease in active social culture (both in frequency and diversity) on campus and felt this was cause for investigation
• Education first three months focusing on history, administrative structure, disciplinary system, and housing model.
• Methods:
• Interviews
• Academic research
• Statistical comparisons
• Legal history
• Duke history

Our Findings

From 2006 to 2007, there were four reports that recommended strict and consistent enforcement of conduct outside of the classroom to curb the excessive consumption of alcohol.

The evidence suggests that since the reports, the disciplinary process changed to significantly increase enforcement of social life policies, centralize and embolden administrative authority, and weaken the rights of students and the strength of opposing viewpoints.

• Coleman Report
• Academic Integrity Council
• Academic Council Student Affairs Committee Report
• Campus Culture Initiative

Increased Enforcement

Increased Enforcement

Sources: https://www.brown.edu/about/administration/student-life/sites/brown.edu.about.administration.student-life/files/uploads/Student%20Conduct%20report_july2002-june2003_0.pdf

http://adboard.fas.harvard.edu/file/3014046

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Centralization

Fewer Student Rights and Opposing Voices

A few examples:

• Appeals - As of last year, students no longer have the right to appeal a decision based on biased panels or the severity of sanctions, only if there is new evidence.
• Guests - Despite unanimous student opposition, a guests policy change that says students are responsible for the actions of a visitor in their room, regardless of their participation in the violation, their presence at the scene, their knowledge of the incident occurring, or their relation to the person in the room.
• Academic Contempt - This year, the Office of Student Conduct is proposing the addition of an "Academic Contempt" rule for cases in which there is not clear evidence of cheating, but in which, the student did not follow the rules effectively during an exam. Although the policy is still in the development phase, they said they had not consulted the academic council yet.

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In 2007, the CCI proposed the Academic Village

1. Self-governance
2. Dynamic, liberal institution
3. Faculty tied undergraduate social lives

Why does this matter now?

Expected:

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What really happened:

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Social Culture

Academic Life

Next Steps and Questions

The disciplinary system, like all other institutional decisions, relies on defining what is right and what is wrong for a community. This study leaves faculty, students, staff, alumni, and administrators with five questions, which we hope will guide future dialogue.

1. Is our disciplinary system in line with our University Bylaws, our new Strategic Plan,or our University Mission Statement?
2. Are Duke Alumni, Students, and Faculty incapable of creating, or even partnering to govern, the rules that regulate students’ academic and social lives? Are they unwilling to do so?
3. How do we decide what is right and wrong in the Duke disciplinary system or in the policies that guide student social lives?
4. Do the ends justify the means?
5. What is the institutional role of an undergraduate student immediately after committing to Duke and consenting to the policies of the University?

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BOUNDLESS AMBITION

Engaging Everyone, Everywhere, Every day