Editorial
Point System 2.0
By Editorial Staff
February 18, 2016
Tags editorial
Just over a week ago, the campus received an e-mail from Dean of Students Nancy Thompson regarding an upcoming reexamination of the College’s point system. The Spectator applauds the decision to do so. Although students contributed when the system was created, students today may often feel disconnected from a system to which they were not able to contribute.
Implemented in 2004, the original point system focused on the issues faced by the campus at the time, and was successful in managing those challenges. However, 12 years later, the campus is faced with different concerns, and many feel that certain offenses are not dealt with effectively while others carry undue weight.
In particular, many students see the 3-6 points possible for marijuana use and or/possession as out-of-touch with increasing laxity on the drug nationwide. A potential 6 points for streaking on a college campus seems likewise exaggerated. Some students perceive these and other punishable offenses to be handled inconsistently and with a lack of transparency.
The Spectator does not hope to propose specific changes, but insists that this kind of review needs to take place more regularly and always with student input. A student body which is able to interact with the disciplinary policy of the school is far more likely to abide by it and to accept the consequences of violating it. The principle is already in place with the inclusion of students on the Judicial Board. We recommend that it take full effect.
The Spectator proposes that this review takes place every four years. Even if no changes are made each time, every class of students will have had an opportunity to contribute. Paying that kind of respect to students will be paid back in kind—with their deepened respect for a system they helped shape.