One Night only
So guys I got written up by my ra for the second time and received a very harsh sanction and I'm going to try and appeal it, but I want your thoughts on this. I have to e-mail my reasons why:
I had a judiciary hearing on Feb. 27th for my second offense. At this hearing I was found responsible for alcohol consumption and excessive noise. The sanctions I received are: the informed choices class, probation and a call home to my parents.
The first time I got written up I received a written warning. While I admit I did drink alcohol and should receive some sort of sanction for this. I do not feel responsible for the noise violation being that it wasn't my dorm room, I was not notified that an RA came in before about the noise, and I was quietly talking with two friends for the night.
I also feel like the sanctions I received are two severe, for my second offense, especially because I only received a written warning the first time. I could understand having to take the class and receive either of the other two sanctions but all three seems, to me, a bit harsh. I also think the sanction I received is too severe in that I assumed from what I had learned about the judiciary process, that probation was an extreme sanction only used if students were written up more than three times. So I do not understand why I would receive it the second time along with the other two sanctions.
I’m not trying to victimize myself by any means, and I understand that I broke the rules regarding alcohol consumption and know that I deserve some sort of sanction for this. But I can't help feeling that because there have recently been so many alcohol cases, the sanctions I received from my case are being used as an example to prevent other people from drinking.
Thank you for your time,
Victoria C.
So do you think it sounds ok, convincing?
and if it sounds choppy in some parts its b/c i cut some stuff out
can we post our names and schools on this sight?? jw
(btw choices is a class about alcohol, and probation means the next time i get caught I could be kicked out of housing yikes!!
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Eh...
Either it is a fixed policy or a judgment call and, either way, it doesn't sound like you have much leverage here.
Beyond that, I would imagine you are questioning the lesser offense of the two, as the drinking would seemingly be the major part of it. getting only a write-up on your first offense is probably to give you a chance to not re-offend without consequences, and apparently, it didn't work.
Even if you're being used as an example, that doesn't mean they aren't within their right to do it. So, I'd find out whether it is a fixed policy, and what the appeal process is, but since the major offense is true and the minor one is up to the discretion of the RA, it doesn't sound like you're appeal is coming from a place of strength.
Also, the title of your post is inaccurate, this is your second night of being *caught* drinking on campus (possibly not the second time you only did rink on campus). I mean, damn, you're in NYC, you can't find anywhere else to drink in the Village but you're dorm?! I think you should be written up for *that*!
Edit: Oh, and I zapped your last name from the post, unless you want your Oasis account linked to your name by Google for the rest of time...
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"Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there." -- Josh Billings.
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See that's the problem with
See that's the problem with my school, after you get written up you meet with the head of your dorm and they decide the sanction for you, so its completely up to them. And i figure I don't really have anything to loose I mean you can't really get any worse then what I have so its worth a try.
yeah by the title i meant your opinions on this before I send it in...
I know right!! what can i say most everywhere cards...and the places that don't change all the time...
Well...
Colleges have to be tough on this stuff, because if you were visibly drunk in public areas and they don't do anything and you end up dead in your room for some alcohol-related reason, or something that just might be, then your folks want to sue the school, etc., etc. I covered stuff like this all the time when I was a newspaper reporter covering the courthouse.
So, yeah, send in your appeal... and expect to get hit with all three.
Everywhere cards? If you can't score fake IDs in Greenwich Village, you must be pretty bad off. Bleecker and St. Mark's Place used to be filled with shady places for stuff like that...
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"Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there." -- Josh Billings.
Add me on MySpace!
Well...
As Jeff stated, I would look into your school's handbook on their alcohol policy and subsequent disciplinary measures. Your sanctions may be appropriate in terms of their fixed policy (if they have one), but that is something to be found out as well. If you're going to appeal, make sure you have a sound case.
Although I can't speak for all schools, my school utilized two systems regarding policy violations among students: discipline from the residence hall staff and/or Judicial Affairs so it seems as if the process you've gone through is similar to what I've seen. Also, from what I've heard and this is a generalization, judicial affairs tends to be less lenient than hall directors/heads (depending on the individual), but really check the policies.
When it comes to behavior such as alcohol consumption, residence hall staff are in a strange position, once again, at least in my experience. Drinking in the dorms is going to happen, res. life knows that. But rules are in place for the safety of the students (not to mention the law), and staff must adhere to them. However, if you look at the risk of drinking (for example) in a dorm versus off-campus, a tenuous argument can be made that the dorm is safer. In the words of my former hall director, "If you're here and something goes wrong, there are people here who know how to handle the situation, who are able to call for help." Like I said, its a slim argument since that could also happen off-campus.
All of that last paragraph had nothing to do with your post, sorry.
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