University statement on hearings

Federal law (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) prohibits educational institutions from releasing educational record information about an identified student. However, the law does permit an institution to release summary information as long as that information does not specifically identify the students involved. Because there have been misunderstandings and considerable media interest regarding the recent hearings for seven members of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, the University has decided to release the following summary information regarding these hearings.

The cadets were charged with violations of several Corps of Cadets regulations and of the University's hazing policies on hazing and involvement. Decisions regarding violations of Corps regulations were made by the Corps Executive Committee; decisions regarding violations of the University's policies were made by the Director of Judicial Affairs. All seven cadets were found not responsible for hazing, involvement, willfully disobeying a superior cadet/commissioned officer, and failure to obey an order or regulation. Four of the seven were found responsible for conduct unbecoming a cadet and three of these four were also found responsible for violating the General Article. The sanctions invoked for these offenses included: written and verbal reprimands, one or two semesters of military probation, and loss of a military scholarship for a semester.