This past week the Student Conduct Board held an open forum with the Student Rights and Community Standards Director Dean Gendron to discuss the changes to the 2012-2013 Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook. While the University makes small changes to the language in the handbook each year, this semester the University introduced the new special examiner position: an individual who will be responsible for specifically overseeing the process of sexual assault allegations. 

While it is important for students to understand the role and position of the special examiner, students should also be familiar with what rights they have and how that language is structured. We encourage all students to attend future feedback sessions about the handbook to better acquaint themselves with their rights.

The handbook establishes the boundaries and rules students are required to follow as members of the Brandeis community. However, the handbook also includes the limitations and restrictions of the administration's purview into student life.

It provides students with the scope of the administration's authority concerning campus protests, explanations of student privacy and the University discrimination policies, among other issues relevant to students in their daily on-and off-campus lives.

However, without educating themselves about the handbook contents and their rights, students are leaving themselves at a disadvantage as community members.

For example, the introduction of the special examiner position is a significant addition that many students may be unfamiliar with.

While the special examiner's position was introduced earlier this semester, the administration has yet to decide or announce who will fill the special examiner position.

The open forum presented the administration with the first opportunity to explain the details of the position to the student body in addition to providing a platform for students to ask questions about any section of the handbook that is unclear.

Given the importance of the handbook in general community life and the importance of this new position, even minor changes in how the issues are presented and structured in the handbook will impact their real life practice.

Therefore, students should attend these forums where they are able to voice their questions and concerns about the language of the handbook to better understand what the sections are saying.

However, without attending this event or reading this section in the handbook, students will be unaware of a significant policy change restructuring the process of addressing sexual assault allegations.

Given the unpredictability of sexual assault cases, it's important for every student to be familiar with the process of reporting an attack and the resources provided in the handbook.

As part of this community, students are provided with the laws instructing their behavior on and off campus in the handbook. Many students may feel some sections of the handbook may not be applicable to them during their time as a student at the University. However, we still urge students to read the handbook, become informed of their rights and attend the open forums with questions. If a student ever finds himself or herself in a situation where his or her rights are violated or obstructed, knowledge of the handbook will be a vital tool.
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