A survey administered by Students Defending Students last week found that Ohio University students agreed with fining Code of Conduct policy violators, but did not directly address potential increases in these fines.
Student Senate Treasurer Robert Leary, who is running for senate president on the iOU ticket, said he questions the legitimacy of the questionnaire.
The survey created by the office of Judiciaries asked whether university policy violators should pay fines for offenses, what type of incidents students should be fined for and how much policy violators should be fined.
Some of the questions could be misconstrued because of vague wording, said Leary, a member of Students Defending Students.
Some students may not realize that these fines will be in addition to fines they must already pay and the survey probably does not represent all students because only students who chose to stop by the table in Baker completed the questionnaire, Leary said, adding that he was glad Judiciaries is collecting student feedback.
Of about 300 students surveyed, 65.2 percent said the university should fine students for some policy violations but only about 52 percent said a fine might deter them from engaging in behavior that violates university policy. Most students - 63.5 percent - said that risk of suspension may prevent them from violating policies.
The majority of students surveyed said policy violators should pay $50 for Type B offenses, but students disagreed over whether Type A offenders should pay $100 or $50 for each violation.
Type A offenses include mental or physical abuse, academic misconduct and distribution or misuse of drugs. Type B offenses include underage alcohol consumption, possession or use of marijuana and disturbing the peace.
I am shocked students would want to be fined more when they get in trouble
said Tony Sylvester, a sophomore studying communication studies. I think going to Judiciaries should be sufficient.
Junior Lauren Werden agreed, saying that if her family has no problem with her conduct then the university should not either.
Judiciaries is considering charging students $200 for Type A offenses and $100 for Type B offenses, in addition to existing fees.
Introducing new fees for judicial referrals is just one way to find new sources of revenue in a climate of financial uncertainty, said Jim Sand, director of Judiciaries, in a previous interview, adding that it would be premature to estimate how much money the university could bring in through the fees.
I think (the fines) are a terrible idea Leary said, adding that students must already pay $100 for a substance abuse education program when caught.
Students Defending Students will host a debate about the possible fines from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in Baker Center Theatre.
1
News
Caitlin Bowling
Survey results create friction
