Rubbing his palms against his knees, his eyes spanning the ceiling as he searched for words, Student Attorney General Matt McDowell found himself on the other side of the Honor Court on Tuesday.
During a full Honor Court hearing, McDowell, along with Student Body President Seth Dearmin and Honor Court Chairman John Deans, pleaded not guilty to charges of marijuana and cocaine possession.
"I guess I didn't think about it, but smoking isn't in the rules, and it's disrespectful," McDowell said to the investigator when he explained why he and his friends got together one night in his dorm.
But there's no need for campus upheaval.
Re-elections will not be scheduled, and the campus leaders already have returned to their normal lives, though all were found guilty of the charges.
The hearing, a mock trial part of the Honor Court's Honor and Integrity Week, was held to offer a clear look of the inner workings of a system that often is far removed from campus life.
"I think it's really helpful to see what happens, because most students don't know what goes on until they're in the middle of it," said Shelly Schaaf, the outreach coordinator for the Honor Court.
The investigator, who argues in favor of the charges, must prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt before the court members vote guilty - something Honor Court members hope all students understand.
Though the Court rarely sees a three-person drug case, current members said they hoped to give potential staff members a good understanding of the commitment and proceedings.
