Witnesses
Answers to commonly asked questions by students who are witnesses
1. How do I participate as a witness?
2. Can I have character witnesses?
Character witnesses provide information describing the overall nature of a person in consideration of past personal experience. These are usually restricted to written documents, and may be submitted any time before the hearing, or at the hearing itself. Important elements to consider when writing as a character witness include: previous knowledge of the individual, reaction in consideration of the current allegation, the potential for the individual to learn and modify their behavior if responsible for said allegations. It is also important for the character witnesses to know why the statement is being written.
3. Will the charges be dropped if I don't participate?
Judicial action may be pursued against any student who allegedly commits a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Decisions regarding the pursuit of charges is determined by Student Judicial Affairs. Individual complainants, witnesses, and/or victims cannot force charges to be filed. Additionally, participation by complainants, witnesses, and/or victims is not necessary for judicial charges to be filed and action pursued.
1. How do I participate as a witness?
Witnesses to alleged violations of policy are contacted by one of four parties: the accused, the complainant/victim, an adjudicator, or the judicial board chair. When contacted, witnesses should be given a time, date and place of the hearing if possible. There are a number of ways witnesses may participate:
- in writing, by providing a statement of fact before the hearing;
- in person, by attending the hearing and answering questions during the proceedings;
- via telephone, by answering questions during the proceedings; or
- in writing, be answering written questions posed during the proceedings.
2. Can I have character witnesses?
Character witnesses provide information describing the overall nature of a person in consideration of past personal experience. These are usually restricted to written documents, and may be submitted any time before the hearing, or at the hearing itself. Important elements to consider when writing as a character witness include: previous knowledge of the individual, reaction in consideration of the current allegation, the potential for the individual to learn and modify their behavior if responsible for said allegations. It is also important for the character witnesses to know why the statement is being written.
3. Will the charges be dropped if I don't participate?
Judicial action may be pursued against any student who allegedly commits a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Decisions regarding the pursuit of charges is determined by Student Judicial Affairs. Individual complainants, witnesses, and/or victims cannot force charges to be filed. Additionally, participation by complainants, witnesses, and/or victims is not necessary for judicial charges to be filed and action pursued.