There is a dark cloud hanging over the incredible successes we have seen this year in the classroom and beyond. Why is it that almost every school meeting of the year commenced with the words, “The Disciplinary Committee met last week…” ?
Is the student body simply immoral and reckless? Or, are the deans cracking down harder than before, because of the events in recent years? Perhaps, this is an admissions issue—are we just not accepting the “right” students anymore?
I don’t think there is a quick fix to cutting down the number of DCs. The equation is far more complicated than simply a faulty student body, demanding deans, or admissions blunders.
It is also valuable to mention that no one ought to be above the rules, regardless of seniority, socioeconomic background, or any other circumstances.
I have heard the wide range of arguments about how the DC process is unfair, sometimes partaking in them myself. And, part of the problem is that many students feel the administration has unjustifiably bent the rules for certain students while others have received the usual punishment. This presumed inconsistency creates confusion about what is and isn’t acceptable.
What we need now is clarity. We must know the rules and the consequences and we must accept responsibility for our actions. Regardless of who you are or where you are from, you alone control your actions.
So, my proposition is this: Students, follow the rules—they are there for a reason. If you have something against them, challenge the administration through open discourse. Administration, somehow, you need to clarify the rules and the consequences of breaking them, beyond simply mentioning them in DA-Z. It’s a difficult goal, but by trying, we may shed darkness clouding over our success.