On Oct. 23, Student Body Chief Justice Kiera Jonson, a fourth-year studying microbiology, hosted a town hall to discuss proposed plans to split off the Student Body Conduct Board from Student Government. This change would remove the Student Body Chief Justice role in its current form and would move the board to be fully under the Office of Student Conduct’s jurisdiction.
As it stands right now, Student Government has three branches. The Executive Branch is run by the Student Body President and their cabinet; it is responsible for sponsoring initiatives and representing the student body on committees such as the NC State University Board of Trustees. The Legislative Branch includes Student Senate and its various committees, and is responsible for creating bills to advocate on behalf of students.
While the Judicial Branch consists primarily of the Conduct Board, Jonson said the board and Student Government act as mostly separate entities. Furthermore, while the legislative and executive branches have an advocacy-oriented mission, the Conduct Board does not share this goal but rather serves in an adjudicative way.
“Right now, the student Conduct Board is the only body that fills the role of the Judicial Branch,” Jonson said. “That being said, the student Conduct Board really has no authority or regulation over Student Government. While we are placed in the SG constitution, we don’t really have a place.”
Jonson said the board reviews academic and non-academic cases and decides if violations occurred. In general, the process involves fact-finding and acquiring information about a potential violation, followed by a sanctioning process.
“We review alleged violations of the Code of Student Conduct,” Jonson said. “Those are guidelines that overview behaviors that students and faculty are bound to as members of the NC State community.”
Not only does the student Conduct Board differ in its advisors and responsibilities from Student Government, but recruitment for the board is entirely separate from any Student Government election or appointment, according to Jonson.
“All student Conduct Board members undergo a recruitment, selection and training process which is organized by the board and is advised by the Office of Student Conduct, which is different than the election or appointment process that is typical within Student Government,” Jonson said.
The Judicial Branch does receive funding through Student Government’s student fee, including a $4,500 stipend to the Student Body Chief Justice. Jonson said they are still discussing where the money will go in the future.
Two pieces of legislation have been proposed so far to address this goal of splitting the board from Student Government. In an interview prior to the town hall, Jonson explained the reason for this was because there are technically two separate changes at play.
Both are expected to be read and voted on at the upcoming Oct. 30 senate meeting, after passing through committees.
GB 69 – Student Conduct Board Independence Act
This bill formally outlines reasons for the departure of the student Conduct Board from Student Government, and aims to strike the Judicial Branch from Student Body statutes. If passed, Jonson would remain in her role for the remainder of the session, but the role and branch would not persist into the next session.
SR 70 – Judicial Branch Referendum Act
In contrast, this resolution aims to reform the Student Body Constitution and remove mentions of the Judicial Branch, Chief Justice and Conduct Board. As it currently stands, it would also require a referendum, voted on by the student body, to pass.
Changing the Student Body Constitution requires a two-thirds vote in favor from the student body. Currently, the voting period for the referendum is scheduled to open Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. and close Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. Similarly to GB 69, this resolution would not come into effect until the end of the current session.
Prior to the town hall, Jonson said passing the referendum before spring elections was key, as Student Body Officers, such as Student Body President and Student Body Chief Justice, are elected then. Electing someone to the role just to have them removed because of the referendum would seem unfair, Jonson said.
Jonson encouraged students with questions or concerns to attend open comment periods, which will be held in the Student Government suite, room 4251 in Talley Student Union, Monday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m.
