Student Body Elects Six New Judicial Committee Representatives Three Veterans, Three Newcomers to Serve in 2007-2008; Student-Faculty Unit Set
By Gregory Chung ’08
News Staff Reporter
On March 28th, 4th and 5th form students convened for the annual meeting to elect the Judicial Committee representatives for next year. Next year’s representatives for the fifth form are Paul Gaffney ’09 and Stephanie Choi ’09—who is serving on the committee for the second time. Meanwhile, Thomas Ryoo ’08, Chris Mitchell ’08, Jen Bashian ’08, and finally Yidi Ge ’08 were elected to serve as 6th form representatives for the 2007-2008 school year.
Several of the newly-elected representatives—Bashian, Ge, and Choi— have had previous experience as a Judicial Committee representative of the school. Ge, who will be serving as a representative on the Judicial Committee for his consecutive third year commented, “Serving on the JC a second time was an unforgettable experience because this year I feel like I am much more familiar and comfortable with the proceedings of the JC.” When asked how it will be different as a representative of the 6th form, he replied, “Serving as a 6th form member will be a big change because it entails being a leader. I feel like I will play a bigger part in steering the direction of discussions.” He adds, “I would like the JC to meet more with dorms in order to emphasize major school rules and how to avoid taking the wrong step and violating those rules.”
The Judicial Committee will be an entirely new experience to the other representatives such as Gaffney, who vows to “uphold integrity as well as to make the right though tough decisions.” Thomas Ryoo, the brother of the current Judical Committee Chair Hyeon-Ju Ryoo ’07, pledges to serve with “fair judgment without being subjected to pressure.” Thomas Ryoo was deeply motivated by his father, a former judge, to run for a spot on the school’s disciplinary committee. Earlier in his Choate career, Ryoo cited his previous experience with disciplinary action as something he kept in mind while running for a position on the Judicial Committee. He expressed, “Since I have been on the other side of the table, I know how vulnerable one can be when he or she is accused for misconduct by the JC. When I was put on the spot, I was really nervous I would blurt out stuff that didn’t make sense. As now a representative of the JC, I will keep in mind not to make the person feel as vulnerable and uncomfortable as I had felt.”
Unlike the 4th form students who selected two JC representatives, 5th form students on Wednesday, March 28th, were required to elect four representatives instead. Two of these four new representatives are to be elected to hold the Chair and Vice Chair positions of the committee. Currently, Hyeon-Ju Ryoo ’07 and Benjamin Gettinger ’07 hold the Chair and Vice-Chair positions and will do so until the end of the school year.
The newly elected representatives must attend three to four hearings without participating—simply for observational purposes. The representatives who were selected in the spring of 2006 will continue their role as members of the committee until the end of the year. Approximately two weeks following the election, all the current representatives along with the newly-elected representatives attend a formal meeting with the Judicial Committee adviser Mr. McCatty, during which each active member of the committee nominates a Chair and Vice-Chair person from the pool of four newly-elected representatives. Towards the end of the meeting, ballots are held to finalize the positions.
The Chair Person must attend the JC caucus meeting with Mr. McCatty, the student-in-question’s form dean, and Mr. Ford before each hearing. The caucus determines whether the case will be categorized as a minor case or dismissal case. Minor cases require fewer representatives present while dismissal cases as opposed to a minor case, requires all the representatives with the deans and adviser present. During hearings, the Chair person regulates and overseers the floor. He or she personally talks with the accused student before the hearing to review the protocols and guidelines of the school and the committee. Meanwhile, the Vice-Chair records notes, takes minutes, and links the case with precedents.
The 3rd form students will select their two representatives for the JC on Wednesday, April 11th. According to the Chair person, Hyeon-Ju Ryoo ’07, there is a possibility that representatives will be selected only from the 4th and 5th forms next spring. The reasons leading to this decision are yet unsure and the decision itself remains tentative.
