A student could commit only one crime, but he or she would likely face punishment from both Ohio University and the city of Athens.
When a student is arrested for a crime within Athens city limits, he or she will be charged by the city but also reviewed and possibly punished by the university.
“In the city of Athens, if a per son breaks a law or breaks a city ordinance or a city code, that’s something that the city deals with,” said Jenny Hall-Jones, dean of students. “But then we’re saying to our students: You’re a Bobcat no matter where you are. If you’re violating the city laws in Athens, we’re also going to hold you ac countable to our standards.”
OU begins its review process when the Office of Community Standards and Student Respon sibility receives a report from the Athens Police Department, the OU Police Department, or the residence halls detailing the arrest or citation of a student. OU then makes a charge based on the re port, Hall-Jones said.
Community standards will write its own report based on the evidence and set up a meeting with the accused student. A sanction will be given based on the severity of the offense at the meeting.
The most common violation of the Student Code of Conduct is the unauthorized use of alco holic beverages, with 899 offenses during the 2012-13 school year, according to a report from the Of fice of Community Standards and Student Responsibility.
“Typically for a first-time alco hol violation, a student is looking at between six to nine months (of probation),” said Martha Comp ton, director of the Office of Com munity Standards and Student Responsibility.
Students Defending Students is an organization to help students be fairly represented and un derstand their rights in the legal process, said Isaac Smith, the as sociate director of Ohio University Students Defending Students and a senior studying political science.
“We help them understand what’s going to give them the best chance of learning from the situ ation and of navigating the sys tem in a way that is fair to them,” Smith said.
