JudComm (Judicial Committee) consists of officers whose role it is to settle disputes fairly within the dormitory. Through mediation, JudComm seeks to uphold the rules and policies of the dorm.
The current members of Simmons JudComm are listed here.
JudComm reacts to complaints; it does not roam the dormitory purposefully looking for people violating rules. Upon receiving a complaint, an officer may deal with a situation on the spot if it warrants an immediate response. Otherwise, a hearing is held to determine the appropriate response and any possible repercussions for parties involved.
The quickest way to bring an issue to JudComm's attention is to contact an officer directly (see above). Otherwise, one can file complaints online.
No. Anonymous complaints cannot lead to a hearing. If you do not wish to step forward, you have the option of talking to your GRT.
To request mediation fill out our web based form and indicate you wish to have mediation. Provide the name(s) of the person(s) you are filing a complaint against, the person(s) room number(s), and the complaint.
Hearings will adhere closely to the following procedure:
Quick introduction of the members of Jucomm.
Article III, section 5 of the UJC shall be read:
"Lying before a judicial committee is sufficient grounds for judicial committee sanction. No witness is required to answer a question, but refusal may be considered by the committee in reaching a decision. Only evidence presented at the hearing may be considered by the committee in determining a verdict; the sanctions taken, however, shall be based on all relevant factors known to the committee. A preponderance of evidence shall be sufficient to render a verdict or apply sanctions."
The complainant(s) will make a brief opening statement summarizing his/her (their) charges.
The respondent(s) will either refute or recognize the charges.
The complainant(s) will detail his/her (their) charges and bring forward any witnesses.
The JudComm panel will ask the respondent(s) if he/she (they) wishes to question the complainant. The respondent(s) may not question the witnesses.
The respondent(s) may state his/her (their) defense and bring forward any witnesses.
The JudComm panel will ask the complainant(s) if he/she wishes to question the respondent(s). The complainant(s) may not question the witnesses.
If they wish to do so the complainant(s) and/or respondent(s) can make a closing statement.
Any JudComm member can interrupt the hearing at any time to ask a question to any of the respondent(s), complainant(s) or witness(es).
Reprimand, or probation under such terms as the committee shall designate.
Suspension of various privileges provided by the house committee or house front desk.
Removal from house committee office, or barring from holding such office.
Recommendation to the dean's office for removal from a dormitory.
Recommendation to the dean's office for expulsion from undergraduate MIT dormitories.
Payment of damages.
Levying of fines not in excess of $500. Moneys collected shall be donated to charity.
Yes, judcomm keeps confidential any written or electronic records of the hearing; judicial committees destroy all working notes taken during the hearing. Following hearings by house judicial committees the chair notifies DormCon JudComm of the charges, verdict, and sanctions.
Yes, we may handle cases of incidents that begin in Simmons, but if the offender is not a resident we pass jurisdiction on to Dormcon.
Individuals shall have a right to appeal the decision of house judicial committees to DormCon JudComm, provided they notify DormCon JudComm of the appeal within five days of the receipt of notice of the decision which is being appealed. The DormCon JudComm chair shall decide whether there are sufficient grounds for an appeal. Individuals shall have the right to appeal all decisions to the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Education and Student Affairs.
I you want to file a complaint on a JudComm member you have several options:
You can either still go through the usual process, you can file a complaint about him/her to DormCon JudComm, or you can bring it up to the house meeting (if the complaint has to do with the way the JudComm member has acted in his function as JudComm officer) and try to impeach him/her.
Any individual or group of individuals living in the dorm can file a complaint. Complaints can be filed against any individual or group of individuals who live in Simmons. Complaints can be filed against individuals or group of individuals that do not live in Simmons by referring to DormCon JudComm.
The request will be sent to all judcomm members, where it will be discussed as to the best way to move forward (mediation vs. hearing). JudComm may contact the complainant for more details and ask him/her if mediation would be preferable to a hearing. JudComm might also tell the complainant that the situation would be better dealt with somewhere else (i.e., if the matter is serious enough that it should be brought to the dean's office). In the end, if the complainant still requests a hearing, judcomm will grant one.
JudComm officers will decide amongst themselves who of them will be present at the hearing. Officers that have a conflict of interest, i.e. they are friends of the complainant or defendant, will not hear the case. At least 3 judcomm officers will be present at a hearing. The presiding officers will work with both sides to set up a scheduled hearing time. A written document will be delivered in person to the defendant(s) with all the relevant info at least 48 hours before the hearing. Both sides get one chance to reschedule the hearing if they can't make it at that time. Hearings will still take place even if the defendant does not show up to the hearing.
First, the judcomm chair shall read the charges and allow the respondent to enter a plea. All testimony shall be presented. The respondent shall be allowed to respond to all evidence and testimony presented at the hearing. Lying before a judicial committee is sufficient grounds for judicial committee sanction. No witness is required to answer a question, but refusal may be considered by the committee in reaching a decision. Only evidence presented at the hearing may be considered by the committee in determining a verdict. However, the sanctions taken will be based on all relevant factors known to the committee. A "preponderance of evidence" is sufficient to render a verdict or apply sanctions.
If mediation is requested, one of the officers who is adequately trained for the apparent difficulty of the situation will set up a time for all parties to meet. "Training" may come in the form of a training program coordinated through the office of conflict management or mediation@mit training, or outside of MIT. JudComm officers may also choose to bring in other mediators, including volunteers from Mediation@mit, if the situation warrants it.
You have several options, and it is up to you to contact the person/people you feel most comfortable with. We recommend that you first try to call your GRT. If he/she is unavailable, you can contact (see contact info) one of the judcomm officers if it is before 1:30am on week days, and before 2:30am on weekends. If no JudComm officer is available or if the on-the-spot resolution is needed after the designated hours, you can call nightwatch and the officer on duty will intervene. If you are able to contact a JudComm officer, he/she will make it clear that he/she doesn't have the power to apply sanctions in that type of situation and that if the conflict results in a formal hearing, the on-the-spot officer will not be on the hearing panel, though may appear as a witness. JudComm can also work in conjunction with a GRT or one of the housemasters in these types of situations.