A House panel has overwhelming approved legislation increasing university student rights when it comes to disciplinary matters.
Northern Kentucky Representative Kim Banta testified saying there are fundamental due process rights that shouldn’t stop at campus gates. The Judiciary Committee heard from three university students including Eastern Kentucky University Junior Autumn Robinson. “The problems faced by these students in hearings are very well known, between inconsistent rights given in hearings, different standards of notice, the presumption of innocence, and ensuring that these students can see the evidence against them. These are all problems that have been voiced by EKU students,” said Robinson.
University of Louisville Freshman Liam Gallagher said the legislation is not aimed at impeding public universities in disciplining students. Bowling Green Representative Patti Minter expressed concern about establishing a trial-like proceeding. She said that could deter more victims of sexual assault from coming forward with complaints. “I’m very concerned that this bill by turning it into a full blown legal process is not respectful of the things that lead people not to report and to live with trauma, which is from where I sit the single biggest problem we deal with on university campuses is that people don’t report because they just can’t deal with being re-traumatized,” explained Minter.
Banta, meanwhile, said the legislation is not meant to shield university students from accountability. It goes on to the full House.
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