By Jen Clay
A&E Editor
In a perfect world, everyone is held accountable for his or her actions. At Pepperdine, students must answer to a number of different administrative organizations in the event that they are accused of violating either the academic code of integrity and/or the code of conduct, and, on a daily basis, students are held accountable for their behavior.
Conversations with my peers and my own recent dispute with Public Safety led me to wonder: How is Public Safety held accountable for its own possible transgressions and what rights do students have in these situations?
As posts of authority at a university that holds itself to the highest principles of integrity, officers should abide by a code of conduct as well as answer to a judicial body in the event of a dispute. And if they already do, the administration should share that information with the student body.
The safety valve concept behind the First Amendment advocates that our country requires freedom of expression to ensure national security. In layman’s terms, we are allowed to speak our minds, the concept advocates, so that we don’t kill each other. It’s simply a matter of fulfillment, feeling their voices are heard.
While the comment cards in the Public Safety office are appreciated, they are not enough for those students who may feel wronged and would like to see what they consider to be justice served or at least a chance to voice a complaint, a chance that involves a listening human being on the other end of the communication pole. Students simply do not have an outlet or, at least, are not aware of one.
In semesters past, the Pepperdine faculty code of conduct has been discussed and brought to the attention of students. While not all aspects of the code affect us, we have a better understanding what constitutes disrespect, immorality or indiscretion on the part of faculty members, and we have a document we are semi-familiar with to reference when defending our viewpoints. We know our professors are being held to the same standards that we are, as constituents of the University.
This is not so in the case of Public Safety officers. Many students find they can only defend themselves in disciplinary hearings. How do students know any reported transgressions will be further evaluated?
Without an outlet, it is easy to let an instance of Public Safety indiscretion go unnoticed.
This creates an unhealthy atmosphere of tension between students and officers as well as subconsciously encouraging immorality in certain arenas of behavior at Pepperdine, on the part of officers and students alike.
Suddenly, we are relating to each other with attitudes of revenge and hatred. Mutual respect and appreciation, both of which are required for successful dialogical communication, quickly fall by the wayside.
At this point, I encourage the administration to educate students regarding student options for defending their rights.
How does our university work to protect us against staff indiscretion, particularly on the part of Public Safety?
How can we determine if an officer of the organization has violated the code if we aren’t even aware if there is one? And to whom do we voice our complaints?
Answers to these questions in pamphlets, opinion pieces in the Graphic, and blurbs in printed material will let us know what we can do in the instance of what we believe to be injustice. Give students the opportunity to speak out, and we won’t let you down.
Perhaps the dissemination of information regarding how Public Safety is held accountable for their actions can be the first step to improving any strained relations between officers and students. Students really do appreciate all Public Safety does for them and enjoy interacting with officers in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
Moreover, students, administration, faculty and staff should all appreciate that codes of conduct allow us all to grow as individuals and in the eyes of God. In essence, a university that only selectively promotes integrity and truth cannot be said to be promoting either at all.
Submitted March 25, 2004