Rice University's Secret for Containing the Coronavirus: A Student-Run Court That Prosecutes Rule

[TexasTowelie]

Rice University’s Secret for Containing the Coronavirus: A Student-Run Court That Prosecutes Rule Breakers


HOUSTON -- The two undergraduates had been accused of a bold infraction of the rules: sneaking a friend from across campus into their dorm room for some late-night socializing. As recently as last spring, nobody would’ve cared. But this semester, with Rice University officials determined to prevent a coronavirus outbreak that might shut down the school, students are not only forbidden from entering a dorm they don’t live in; they’re not allowed to move between floors in their own residential building. After a tipster turned them in, the two alleged offenders were forced to appear before the student-run COVID Community Court (CCC) that the school launched this semester to adjudicate public health violations on campus.

Though the alleged offenders adamantly denied the accusation against them in their Zoom hearing, the evidence was “overwhelming,” according to Mel Xiao, a twenty-year-old senior from New Jersey and one of three CCC judges, selected by application, who investigated the case. “We spoke to multiple other people who lived in their [dorm] and they all confirmed it,” said Xiao, a premed student who recovered from a battle with COVID-19 in September. “That was a case where we had to assign a more serious sanction and they also received a pretty stern warning that essentially said, ‘We know you withheld this information and weren’t transparent with us.’”

Xiao wouldn’t say what punishment was doled out, to protect the identity of the students. Typical penalties include writing letters of apology, performing community service projects, meeting with advisers, or completing educational research papers about public health—not to mention the shame most feel after having been shown to have placed their fellow students at risk. A final punishment, a $75 fine, is available to the CCC, but the group has yet to levy that sanction because of concerns about its potential disproportionate impact on low- versus high-income students.

At a time when schools around the country have struggled to enforce on-campus restrictions, Rice decided its best bet for remaining open during the pandemic was to rely on those with the most to lose: the students. The CCC has overseen dozens of cases in recent months, the vast majority, including that of the socializing scofflaws, set in motion by fellow classmates who have been encouraged by the university to report coronavirus-related misconduct that makes them feel unsafe. Friends have turned in friends, usually without advance warning, for failing to wear masks and maintain social distancing.. Most tips are submitted anonymously online, and they often include photographic evidence or screenshots from Instagram stories. In many cases, the rule-breaking is accidental. When confronted with evidence of an infraction, the majority of students are cooperative and apologetic, court members say.

Read more: https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/rice-coronavirus-court/

[Rhiannon12866]

1. What a great idea!

I was wondering how colleges were handling this, there are bound to be rule breakers there. Here in New York when the state universities sent students home there was a lot of resentment against the few who didn't comply and caused the outbreak.

[TexasTowelie]

2. They don't let slouches into Rice University.

I was offered admission to Rice, but would have been placed under probation because I didn't meet the foreign language requirement.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. I remember that a couple of girls from my boarding school were going there

We had students from all over the country, foreign students, too.

[agingdem]

5. what foreign language requirement???

what are you implying?..my son, Texas born and raised, is a Rice graduate...Rice is one of the top universities in the United States...multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and gender neutral...the only "language requirement" for admission is talent...

[TexasTowelie]

6. When I applied for Rice in 1983

there was a requirement that students have two years of foreign language during high school; otherwise, the student was on a probationary status. Like any other deficiency, the student has to remedy those classes when they start.

I don't know when your son attended Rice or if the requirements changed over the years. I do recall that entering on a probationary status and being forced to remediate that deficiency or wash out was enough to persuade me to look elsewhere.

I did take two years of Spanish at Southwestern, but at least I had the opportunity to postpone the courses and build up my GPA so I could tolerate making a "C" in the course.

And yes, I am well aware of Rice's standing as a national university. There were a lot of other factors that influenced me not to choose Rice such as better scholarship offers from other universities, proximity to home, and not wanting to live in Houston.