RGA to Hear Plans for Substitution Of House Boards for Board of Hall

Radcliffe's rules revolution rolls on.

Two plans to transfer the judicial duties of the college Board of Hall to proposed individual House judicial boards were submitted to the Radcliffe Government Association yesterday. An amendment to the RGA constitution would be necessary to enact such a plan.

The proposals would give the judicial boards the power to review the application of penalties in separate dormitories, to decide cases of infraction of RGA rules referred by the dormitory committees, and to review decisions of a dormitory committee appealed by an undergraduate. These duties are now exercised by the Board of Hall.

Individual dorm committee would probably refer directly to the judicial boards cases involving false sign-outs or other dishonesty; students who accumulate more than five "pros" in one semester; or violations so serious that the five-pro maximum that may be given by a dorm committee would be insufficient.

Today's proposals, made by the presidents of East and North Houses, asked that judicial boards be set up in those two Houses. No proposal was made by members of South House, although a South House judicial board will probably be suggested if the other Houses establish boards.

Proponents of the proposed change any that the small House judicial board would be more familiar with the individual defendants and the circumstances than is the college-wide Board of Hall; they add furthermore that the arrangement would facilitate appeals by making it easier to bring the board together. A House judicial unit will bring greater conformity in dormitory rules within a House, they say.

Unlike the present Board of Hall, the East House judicial board would include members of the administration, as well as students. It would be composed of the House Master, dean, and two head residents, as well as the president and secretary of the House and four other students.

It has not yet been decided what will happen to the Board of Hall if the changes go through. One student suggested that the Board be retained to coordinate the three Houses at a student level.

The RGA constitution at present makes no mention of House judicial boards. The amendment necessary to allow the establishment of the House boards will probably be considered at the RGA meeting next Thursday.