Emma Daniel
Staff Writer
Troy University’s Supreme Court allows students to gain real-world experience in handling issues and resolving problems, according to Chief Justice Zach Anglin.
Troy University’s Supreme Court mainly oversees homecoming events and handles disputes over the Code of Ethics.
“The main thing we do is sit on disciplinary committees,” Anglin, a senior risk management and insurance major from Charlottesville, Virginia, said. “We sit in with Dean (Herbert) Reeves with a committee of teachers and hear cases.”
Disciplinary committees usually consist of four teachers and two justices. The justices have to remain as impartial as possible on cases.
“It’s something people don’t know about,” Anglin said. “A lot of these cases, if you know the person, you can’t sit down on it.”
Troy’s Student Government Association (SGA) strives to mimic real government to the best of its abilities.
“The president appoints the Supreme Court,” Anglin said. “You stay on the court as long as you want to; there’s no term limit or anything like that.”
Anglin has served on the Supreme Court for three years but has been in SGA his entire college career.
Anglin said SGA changed his life for the better and could also improve incoming students’ lives, particularly by joining Freshman Forum, where he started.
“Get involved with Troy, the benefits and everything like that, and just meet people,” Anglin said. “I know I’m still really good friends with a lot of the people I was in Freshman Forum with.”
The Supreme Court, however, is far more laid back than SGA’s legislative branch, according to Anglin.
“We’re not as busy as regular SGA,” he said. “Everything’s different; this is more chill and relaxed.
“We’re not as involved as the legislative branch.”
Tremain Crutcher, a senior accounting major from Huntsville, is another Supreme Court justice.
“I am proud that Troy University allows certain students to sit in on the hearings because it gives the student body a say in how we handle violations of the Oracle,” Crutcher said. “My life has changed from being a Supreme Court justice.
“Being a part of those cases opens my eyes to the realities that happen on our campus and the consequences that come with them.”
Crutcher said cases can range from plagiarism, sexual assault, fighting or anything else that violates the Oracle.
“We hear what happened, the student’s defense and any witnesses,” Crutcher said. “Then we deliberate on disciplinary actions.
“Disciplinary actions range from nothing, probation, suspension or expulsion from the university. Luckily I haven’t been a part of the super emotional ones.”
Anglin spoke about the good SGA has done, citing projects such as the new wellness center as his reason for joining.
“Long-term projects — getting to help the students down the road — that’s what’s important and why I wanted to get involved,” Anglin said.
