Student Discipline
At Rhodes there is a Student Disciplinary Code contained in the University Calendar. There are two main features to this Code. Firstly, it sets out appropriate standards of conduct ranging from fairly minor issues such as registering vehicles at the University through to serious issues such as cheating in examinations. Secondly, it ensures that any student accused of misconduct receives a fair hearing. If found guilty, he has the right to have the matter reviewed and, if still not satisfied, the right to request clemency.
What then is expected of students at Rhodes? In general, whatever is a crime in terms of the law of the land is also a disciplinary offence at Rhodes. The geographic area of jurisdiction is not confined to the campus, although generally there should be some link between the offence and the University. Students may, for example, be in a Rhodes vehicle or they may harm a Rhodes student or return to Rhodes with ill-gotten gains. It is not unusual for students to request that a matter be dealt with through the Rhodes disciplinary structures rather than risk a criminal record. An example would be a spur of the moment late night decision to go down town and collect car number plates to decorate residence rooms. Some would prefer to do the thirty hours of community service that is likely to be imposed at Rhodes than have the stigma of a criminal conviction. This does not imply that there is always a choice. In serious matters, a student convicted in the courts of the land is likely to face a disciplinary hearing in addition to criminal proceedings. Examples would be assault with intention to do grevious bodily harm or dealing in drugs. Fortunately, such problems do not crop up very often, but when they do it may well be that the interests of the vast majority of law abiding students demands that the offender be excluded, either for a year or two or possibly even permanently in a worst case scenario.
There are specific provisions in the Disciplinary Code relating to cheating in examinations, the consumption of alcohol on campus without permission, the possession of firearms, initiation and raiding, damage to property, obstructing others from enjoying their rights and disorderly conduct. In addition, there are Hall and House rules designed to make living in close proximity to many others pleasant, for example noise levels and hours during which members of the one sex may be within the precincts of a residence of the opposite sex.
There are various levels at which discipline may be enforced. At the lowest end of the spectrum there are Sub-Wardens, who are senior students. Moving up the hierarchy there are Assistant and House Wardens, Hall Wardens and Procters. The procedure followed varies from a simple hearing by a Warden to a formal hearing before a Procter with the right to legal representation. All students required to appear before a Procter have the right to be tried by a panel of three including one student.
From every level there is a review procedure with the right to legal representation. This is a right that is frequently utilised, even in minor matters, because final year law students are readily available to provide their services free of charge.
All serious breaches of discipline are referred to the Investigating Officer, Mr Gordon Barker. He investigates and decides if the matter must be heard by a Procter and if this is the case he also acts as a Prosecutor and both presents witnesses and cross-examines defence witnesses. If, on the other hand, he is satisfied that a Warden can hear the matter he directs it to her.
The most typical sanction is community service. There are several other possibilities ranging from a warning to permanent exclusion from the University.
Many complaints are resolved by means of an informal mediation process. Students often do not want other students punished. Perhaps all that they require is an undertaking to be left in peace or an apology and the Investigating Officer, or one of his final year law student assistants, is often able to facilitate this.
