Four Lowers Selected for Discipline Committee
After a two-month selection process, the current Discipline Committee has chosen lowers Hillary Aristotle, Connie Cai, Henrietta Reily and Alan Liu to begin their role as student representatives on the Committee next year.
Student applicants were required to collect 350 signatures to be eligible as a candidate. The top nine lowers selected during the school wide vote then proceeded an interview stage with the Discipline Committee, where they were assessed for the qualities of the students and their ability to serve on the committee.
In the coming months, the students will start to observe case reviews and then begin their time on the committee next year.
The faculty members on the committee said that during the interviews, they looked for distinct qualities in candidates. History instructor Kwasi Boadi said that they looked for thoughtful, fair and empathetic students who have a “strong moral and ethical consciousness.”
“To serve on the committee is to connect on a whole different level; it is to help both the school and the students and the faculty that interact in it.”
Dean of Residential Life Arthur Cosgrove, who organizes the DC interviews and is a participant in the interview and selection process, said that the committee looked for students who are non-judgemental, responsible, mature, good listeners and communicators, as well as students who can maintain confidentiality.
Senior Emily Lemmerman, who currently serves on the Discipline Committee, said that during the interviews, she looked for a “connectedness to the community” demonstrated through an awareness of what is happening in many facets of campus, not just in one specific group of people. She also said she looked for sensitivity, a willing interest and care in the community, as well as a comfort in speaking up to faculty.
Although each student had a distinct reason for running, there was a shared sentiment among the elected candidates. All wanted the ability to represent their peers and help promote justice at Exeter. They were interested in the opportunity to add their individual student perspective to the disciplinary process.
“I hope to add perspective that differs from those of the students currently serving on the Committee, whether through my interests, opinions or people I interact with on a daily basis,” Liu said. “In this way, the faculty can consider different viewpoints before making the impactful decisions we as a student body are so used to hearing about.”
Aristotle said that she hopes to bring a different perspective into the process as an international student. Because of her experience coming into a culture different from her own, she believes she can help address cases with her foreign viewpoint.
Liu also said that he decided to run because being on the Committee is an effective way to further his connection with the Academy. “To serve on the committee is to connect on a whole different level; it is to help both the school and the students and the faculty that interact in it,” Liu said.
Reily said that after she has observed the current dynamic of the Committee, she will be able to gage where she can contribute.
“There are many diverse and wise voices, so right now I am excited to learn from their experiences and then, after practice, I will find a role where my voice will be most useful,” Reily said.
Liu also said that it will take time to settle in to their positions on the Committee.
“We’re still not aware of how the process works and the exact roles we will undertake for the next two years,” Liu said. “But in the coming months, I hope we will learn to effectively express our thoughts and contribute to the discussion in a way that will benefit both the school and the students alike.”
The newly elected members of the Discipline Committee have new ideas and important changes they hope to institute into the discipline process. During a strategic planning meeting in Aristotle’s dorm, a prep said that she didn’t know what happens in the Discipline Committee and, “if I’m being completely honest, I don’t know the step-by-step process either,” Aristotle said.
Aristotle explained that because of the talk of transparency during the strategic planning meetings, she hopes to push a mock Discipline Committee meeting at assembly. She thinks that this would greatly clarify the process for students.
Reily said that during her interview, she asked what the Discipline Committee hoped to change in the coming years. She said that as well as an acknowledgment of the need for transparency in the process, some of the committee members were interested in instituting victim representation in a case where there is a victim and a perpetrator, which she was surprised doesn’t currently exist.
Because the top nine students consisted of six girls and three boys, the top four only includes one boy.
All four selected members, however, agreed that the gender imbalance will not hinder the effectiveness of their dynamic. “I am confident that it will neither restrict the diversity of views presented by students nor affect the committee’s ability to make decisions in any way,” Liu said.
Lemmerman said that the dynamic of the new group of representatives will contribute a “deep thoughtfulness” to the committee. “They’ll slow things down in a very positive way and encourage the group to think carefully about everything they talk about,” Lemmerman said.