Support Person

In student conduct hearings regarding alleged Actions Against Persons, both the accused and the accusing student may ask a current member of the Bates community to provide personal support to the student during a student conduct hearing, providing the chosen individual is willing and able to serve at the appropriate time. The Health Center shall stand ready to provide a support person for any accused or accusing student who asks. The supporter is separate from the student’s chosen hearing advisor, if there is one. The supporter may attend the pre-hearing conference with the student and may speak with the student during the student conduct hearing, but may not ask any questions or give any testimony at the hearing. It is up to the student whether he or she wants a support person present; the student may choose not to exercise this option. Accusing students may ask the College’s Sexual Assault Victim’s Aid to serve as his or her support person.