| Frequently Asked Questions About Judicial Board
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What Constitutes a Complaint
A complaint can be filed if at any time during a chapter event, an organization or individual feels uncomfortable, offended, or violated. This also includes misconduct or violation of any IFC or Panhellenic bylaws.
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How Do I File a Complaint
Any person or organization that witnesses a violation or misconduct of a chapter or its members can file a complaint with the Judicial Board. All complaints must be filed with the Judicial Board within 15 school days after the incident. If the incident happened within 20 days of the end of the semester, the complainant has the first 15 school days of the next academic semester to file a complaint. Complaint forms are located in the Fraternity/Sorority Advisor's office in 239 Red Gym or the IFC/PHA/NPHC office in 508 Memorial Union. Complaint forms can also be filed over the Internet at http://www.sit.wisc.edu/~ifc/complaint.html. A written complaint can also be submitted to the Greek Advisor, any member of the IFC or Panhellenic Association Executive Boards, or any member of the Judicial Board. All written complaints must include the following information:
- Your Name
- Email Address
- Affiliation
- Address
- Phone Number
- Whether you wish to file your complaint confidentially
- Date of Incident
- Location of Incident
- Time of Incident
- Houses Involved
- Description of Incident
- Witnesses (Include name and phone)
- Was a Police Report filed? If so, what is the report number?
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Decisions
Complaints and decision of the Judicial Board become public knowledge after the Judicial Board has come to a decision. Decisions are sent to the chapter president, Associate Dean of Students, chapter's alumni advices, chapter's National Office, the Greek Advisor, and IFC/PHA presidents.
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Confidential vs. Anonymous
A complaint can be filed confidentially with the Judicial Board, not anonymously. This means that the complainant's name will appear on the actual complaint form. The only people who will ever see the actual complainant's name will be the members of the Judicial Board and the Greek Advisor. The complainant's identity will not be revealed to the chapter or chapters.
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Myths and Facts about Judicial Board
Myth: Only Greek System members can file a complaint with the Judicial Board.
Fact: Anyone (e.g. student, citizen, police) who has witnessed a violation, can file a complaint with the Judicial Board. The violation has to be witnessed by the complainant; it cannot be hearsay.
Myth: Judicial Board only deals with violations that have to do with alcohol.
Fact: Judicial Board deals with all aspects of the Greek community, which includes but is not limited to alcohol, hazing, vandalism, and harassment.
Myth: Judicial Board functions exactly like a court of law, it holds trials and gives out punishments.
Fact: Judicial Board functions under its own bylaws, and its purpose is to create accountability within the Greek System.
Myth: Judicial Board decides sanctions and/or punishments based on whether or not they like a chapter.
Fact: Judicial Board creates sanctions not punishments that are impartial, purposeful, and educational in an effort to hold chapters accountable for their actions. The Judicial Board also bases sanctions on previous decisions.
Myth: Complaints can be filed anonymously.
Fact: Complaints can be filed confidentially with the IFC or PHA Executive Boards, the Greek Advisor, or a member of Judicial Board. The complainant's name will never become public knowledge.
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Who is on Judicial Board
IFC/PHA are equally represented on Judicial Board. The Board consists of a Chief Justice, eight active justices, and four alternate justices from IFC/PHA chapters. The Chief Justice has previously served on the board for one term, and can be a male or female. Also, an alternate justice will serve on the board if an active justice cannot.
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How Can I Become a Justice
There is an application and interview process that every member of the Judicial Board goes through. Applications are due and interviews are held in April for the next academic year. A panel that consists of the IFC President, IFC VP of Internal Affairs, Panhellenic President, Panhellenic Vice President, and the Chief Justice picks the next Judicial Board.
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What is the Purpose of the Judicial Board
The purpose of the Judicial Board is described in Article II of the Judicial Board Bylaws, "It shall be the purpose of the Judicial Board to honestly and ethically interpret, uphold, and enforce the Constitution, Bylaws, policies and procedures, codes of conduct, other governing documents, and any other rules or regulations as established by the Interfraternity Council or the Panhellenic Association." In other words, the Judicial Board is the part of the Greek system that holds itself accountable for its actions. Since our Greek system governs itself, the Judicial Board seeks to ensure that bylaws are followed in order to protect the health and safety of all in the Greek community, and uphold the best interests of the Greek system on this campus.
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How Can I File an Appeal
If you feel that the Judicial Board made a decision that was improper, it is the right of every chapter issued a decision to appeal that decision. A written Petition for Reconsideration must be submitted to the Chief Justice within 7 school days of having received the for Reconsideration he/she/it shall have no further recourse of appeal and shall forever forfeit the right to appeal the decision of the Judicial Board.
Once the petition is recieved, a Greek Appellate Board will be created with members consisting of at least two presidents of member organizations of the Interfraternity Council and at least two Presidents of member organizations of the Panhellenic Association. The fifth member of the Greek Appellate Board shall be randomly selected from the entire list of eligible members, excluding those already selected. The Greek Appellate Board will reanalyze the evidence requiring a three-fifths (3/5) majority to overturn the Judicial Board decision. It will issue its decision within 5 school days of the decision being made. The decision of the Greek Appellate Board is final.
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