Virginia lawmakers kill bills meant to protect rights of accused students

Article here. Excerpt:

'Legislators shot down a trio of bills this week meant to give students who are accused of sexual assault more rights during the internal campus inquiries that can lead to expulsion.

The bills were tabled at a small House subcommittee meeting, and as the Virginia General Assembly grapples with how to handle the suddenly high-profile issue of on-campus sexual assault.

Legislation that would require campuses to put notations on transcripts when a student leaves during or because of a sexual assault inquiry is also advancing. Amid this, there is quiet concern that Virginia's response to the attention on college sexual assaults may trample on the rights of the accused.
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"No one's paying attention to them," said Del. Dave Albo, who chairs the House Courts of Justice Committee.
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Del. Rick Morris, R-Carrollton, has been trying to reform the internal discipline process for two years now. One of his bills, killed this week in a small and crowded subcommittee room, would have allowed students to be represented by an attorney at these proceedings.

Another made the same change for student organizations. The third would have allowed students to essentially appeal a student judiciary decision to the local circuit court.'