Collegiate Times

ARLINGTON — Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors changed several of the policies regarding student drug, alcohol and sexual assault cases Monday. 

Tech’s zero tolerance policy toward drugs was altered to allow flexibility in punishing minor first-time offenders.

Previously, the policy stated students who were found possessing illegal drugs would “almost certainly” be suspended. Now, that policy says those students “will likely” be suspended.

The changes applied to students involved in first-time minor drug offenses, such as simple possession of marijuana.

“There are some minor cases that suspension may not be the best case,” said Ed Spencer, the vice president of student affairs.

Spencer added that Tech would still remain vigilant in cases of distributing marijuana or for students found possessing harder drugs such as cocaine or heroin.

Tech also revised its policy on self-reporting and bystander intervention in student alcohol cases.

One example studied by the committee involved an intoxicated underage student, who had been previously documented by their RA, who then called VT Rescue after fearing their own safety.

Under the old policy, that student would have been guaranteed a deferred suspension, but the new policy states the student may not receive a deferred suspension.

Each offense will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Spencer said the policy was a compromise between parties who called for full amnesty and those for stern discipline when calling in dangerous alcohol cases.

“Somehow we should reward this person for speaking out or getting help,” Spencer said.

The board also changed how the student conduct office processes sexual assault cases.

It will now allow victims in sexual assault cases to appeal rulings. Previously only those accused of sexual assault cases could file appeals.

Spencer said he had some concerns that the policy could create a double jeopardy scenario if a student was cleared in his or her first case by the student conduct office, but then had to be tried again.

“You’re taking a person being charged (then cleared),” Spencer said. “Now, we’re using the same system twice.”

But despite Spencer’s concerns, he said Tech would not lead the cause to drop the new rules.

“This is not a time for Virginia Tech to be taking on the Department of Education,” Spencer said, alluding to Tech’s recent fine of $55,000 for failing to provide a timely warning during the April 16, 2007, shootings.

The Office of Student Conduct is also changing the process of how it handles arrests.

In the past, students would be informed of their infractions by campus mail, where they would be given a date for a formal hearing. After their hearing, students could appeal the decision, and a final ruling would then be issued in writing. Students not appealing had to wait until the appeal period was over until they could begin serving their sanctions.

Under the new policy, students would be emailed to check the Hokie SPA system to review their infraction. The student would then be brought into the the student conduct office to discuss the case and be presented with a sanction. If the student agreed with the sanction, the student could begin serving the punishment immediately. A student rejecting the proposed sanction would then receive a formal hearing.

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A version of this article appeared in the Aug 30 issue of the Collegiate Times.