104th Complaints & Investigations
The Ethics Committee shall investigate and report all complaints filed with the Ethics Chair if deemed appropriate by the Chair supported by relevant documentation. If the Chair finds sufficient cause to investigate, they shall first discuss informally with the senator or officer in question of the nature of the complaint. If this discussion does not resolve the problem, an Ethics Committee meetings shall be called at which the Committee shall be obligated to make a recommendation to the Senate based on investigation of facts surrounding the complaint. A total of three (3) complaints made from separate senators or member of the Student Body, regardless if a complaint is deemed appropriate by the Ethics Chair, will constitute an investigative meeting of the Ethics Committee.
Current Investigations and Complaints
Currently, there are no investigations and complaints on the docket.
Contact Ethics Committee Chair Callie Stevens if you have any questions or wish to submit a complaint.
Procedure for Filing a Complaint and Investigation
Filing a Complaint
The individual who brings the complaint must submit a formal written or electronic complaint via email with supporting documentation to the Ethics Chair prior to investigation. The information shall be signed and include the legal name of the complainant. The committee chairs and clerk of the Senate will submit to the Ethics Chair attendance records upon request when charges are related to absenteeism.
Procedure for Ethics Investigation
If a complaint is pursued by the Ethics Chair and is not resolved by informal meeting, or three (3) complaints from separate individuals are received, an Ethics Committee meeting for the purpose of investigation will be called. Meetings can be conducted at any time throughout legislative cycles, but the report of the Ethics Committee can only be delivered and enforced upon passage at a Full Senate meeting.
The decision to dismiss a complaint by the Ethics Chair can be appealed by filing an appeal with the Ethics Chair that is signed by two (2) other separate individuals, senators, or officers of the Undergraduate Senate. Once the appeal is received, it is the duty of the Ethics Chair to call an Ethics investigative meeting.
For the purpose of investigation, both the complainant and the accused individual should be present. On a case-by-case basis determined by the Ethics Chair, the complainant or accused individual can be absent but must present a statement to be read to the committee outlining facts and chronological order of violations in question.
The order of the Ethics Committee Investigative Meeting shall be as follows:
- Call to Order
- Roll Call
- Reading of the Formal Complaint
- Statement of the Complainant
- Statement of the Accused
- Presentation of Evidence and Witness of the Complainant
- Presentation of Evidence and Witness of the Accused
- Cross-examination of the Evidence and Witnesses of the Accused
- Cross-examination of the Evidence and Witnesses of the Complainant
- Final Statement of the Complainant
- Final Statement of the Accused
- Recess for deliberation of the Ethics Committee
- Call to Order
- Motion of Dismissal or specific Final Action of the Complaint to be reported to Full Senate
- Adjournment
The Complainant and the Accused individual have the right to counsel at any time after the notice of being called to the Ethics Committee Investigative Meeting is received.
The Ethics Committee Investigative Meeting will take place no earlier than 72 hours after a complaint is received to allow for proper scheduling and notice to all parties.
The Ethics Chair will serve as presiding officer and is allowed a vote after a motion of Dismissal or Final Action. A motion of dismissal is final and will not be re-addressed unless new supporting documentation is found relevant by the Ethics Chair.
A Clerk will be present to document the meeting which will be made available as public record on the Undergraduate Senate website.