What is a judicial hearing like?
Many students have erroneous conceptions about what happens in a judicial hearing. At Virginia Tech, hearings are primarily a forum for the fair presentation of various points of view concerning a specific incident. Hearings follow a standard agenda designed to encourage orderly discussion. First, the hearing agenda is reviewed and rights are discussed with the charged student or organization. The charged student or organization has the opportunity to enter a plea to each charge. After making a plea, the referral agent and then the charged student or organization is asked to comment on the incident. Witnesses are asked to make statements individually, but are not present for the entire hearing. The hearing officer or members of the judicial committee may ask questions of those who have made statements. Finally, the referral agent and the charged student or organization may make summary comments; summary comments are not required. The referral agent then leaves, as his or her role in th
