Some 1998-99 case summaries from the CU campus judicial system

The following summaries provide some examples of cases handled in the campus judicial system. More detailed information is available in the 1998-99 Annual Report of the Office of the Judicial Administrator. To obtain a copy of the report or to have questions answered, visit the office at 500 Day Hall or call 255-4680.

Case 1
A student failed to dismount from her bicycle in a dismount zone (highlighted by the marked red diamonds on campus sidewalks). She admitted to violating the Campus Code of Conduct section making it a violation to "make use of university property without authorization," and she received 10 hours of community service work and no disciplinary record.

Case 2
Twenty-one students were given citations for acting in concert to spray paint (permanent ink) two small dragons on the steps of Risley Residence Hall. The students each admitted to the violation and were sanctioned by having to report to the Arts Quad on the following Saturday morning at 7 a.m. to assist the grounds persons in cleaning up toilet paper and other debris remaining from Dragon Day. The students did not receive a disciplinary record unless they had committed another infraction.

Case 3
A student admitted that he engaged in an act of violence toward his ex-girlfriend. Specifically, the two students engaged in an argument that became violent within 10 minutes. The accused student pressed his hands on the victim's shoulders, punched her on her arms and shook her. When she attempted to leave, he grabbed her and pinned her against the wall. The accused student admitted that he violated the campus code in that he "threatened or used physical force to endanger, injure, abuse, intimidate or coerce another person." His sanction consisted of relocation from the residence hall, counseling, an order of protection, a cease and desist order, participation in the yearlong (one meeting per week) Domestic Offense Offender Re-education program (a community-based domestic violence education program) and a disciplinary record.

Case 4
A student admitted that he was in possession of alcohol (vodka) while under 21 years of age and that he consumed the vodka and became highly intoxicated. The sanction was referral to the weekend (12 hours) Alcohol/Drug Intervention Program and continued counseling if recommended at Gannett's Counseling and Psychological Services. As the campus code does not authorize a disciplinary record for underage drinking, no record was imposed.

Case 5
A student admitted to altering a campus parking permit without purchasing the additional time. The sanction was 20 hours of community service work and a disciplinary record until the date of graduation.

Case 6
A student admitted maintaining a web site on Cornell's server that contained copyrighted materials, without permission from the musical artists, in violation of the university's computer use policies. The sanction was 30 hours of community service work and a disciplinary record until his date of graduation.

Case 7
The University Hearing Board found that during Slope Day, a student verbally harassed and threatened another student by approaching him and placing his arms around him and stating "you made a bad move last semester. I know you got me arrested and I'm gonna kill you." The student exhibited a knife during the confrontation. After specifically finding that the student completed the community service and mental health evaluation to which he was previously sentenced by Ithaca City Court in a parallel case, the panel elected not to impose additional community service. Rather, the panel sanctioned the student with a probationary period. The student was prohibited from carrying a knife on campus and from having any contact with the complainant and was given a disciplinary record until graduation.

Case 8
Two students acted in concert to steal 5-cent returnable cans from the Ecology House without the knowledge or consent of anyone in Ecology House. The students received a sanction of community service, writing a letter of apology to Ecology House and a disciplinary record until date of graduation.