On Sunday the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate passed a resolution calling for the creation of a judicial review board to review academic dishonesty cases. Students and TCU senators had been calling for reforms after freshman Steven Li, who was suspended for academic dishonesty, said he was denied a hearing during his case because there was irrefutable evidence against him.
Li was accused of altering his original response to a chemistry quiz problem before submitting it for a re-grade. The irrefutable evidence against him was a photocopy of the quiz Li had originally handed in, which showed a discrepancy from the copy he turned in for a re-grade. Under the current judicial affairs system, a student who admits guilt or against whom there is "irrefutable evidence" of cheating can be denied a hearing and sentenced.
The Senate resolution is non-binding legislation; it is merely a recommendation to the administration. Still, the Senate should be commended for acting quickly in response to student interest and for taking steps to make sure all students have a chance for a fair trial. We applaud the Senate for taking these steps and urge the administration to bring the resolution's goals to fruition.
Given the severe personal and professional consequences that accompany an academic dishonesty ruling, it is Tufts' responsibility to ensure that any evidence used to incriminate a student is valid. And whether or not Li himself is guilty, the existence of a review board can only decrease the likelihood of an erroneous and damaging ruling and increase the fairness and deliberation of the university's disciplinary process.
After all, if the evidence against a student is truly "irrefutable," there is no risk that it will wrongly exonerate him under a committee's review. The decision to punish a guilty student will have more, not less, credibility if the evidence is fairly evaluated.
Much to its credit, the administration appears willing to work with students to set up a judicial review board. Dean of Student Affairs Bruce Reitman told the Daily that the resolution "is a good approach and one ... that [his] office is quite pleased to work with the judiciary to set up."
We hope the administration will follow through with this process. For under the status quo, with university regulations that allow students to be tried and sentenced without a hearing, the potential for false and damaging disciplinary actions is great.
Solving this problem should be a high priority for Tufts. We urge the administration to work swiftly to implement the Senate's well thought-out proposal.
