/Institutions/Coker-University/json/2025-2026/Student-Handbook-local.json

/Institutions/Coker-University/json/2025-2026/Student-Handbook.json

F Testimony and Questioning

The Parties and witnesses may provide relevant information in turn, beginning with the Complainant’s opening statement, then the Respondent’s, and then questioning in the order determined by the Decision-maker. The Decision-maker will facilitate questioning of the Parties and witnesses first by the Decision-maker and then by the Parties through their Advisors.

 

All questions are subject to the Decision-maker’s relevance determination. The Advisor will pose the proposed question orally, electronically, or in writing (orally is the default, but other means of submission may be permitted). The proceeding will pause to allow the Decision-maker to consider the question (and state it if it has not already been stated aloud), and the Decision-maker will determine whether the question will be permitted, disallowed, or rephrased. The Decision-maker will explain any decision to exclude a question as not relevant, or to reframe it for relevance.

 

The Decision-maker will limit or disallow questions they deem not appropriate on the basis that they are irrelevant, unduly repetitious (and thus irrelevant), seek or pertain to impermissible evidence, or are abusive and has the final say on all questions and relevance determinations. The Decision-maker may consult with legal counsel on any admissibility questions.

 

If the Parties raise an issue of bias or conflict of interest of an Investigator or Decision-maker at the hearing, the Decision-maker may elect to address those issues, consult with legal counsel, refer them to the Senior Director of Student Experience and Title IX Coordinator, and/or preserve them for appeal. If bias is not an issue at the hearing, the Decision-maker should not permit irrelevant questions that probe for Investigator bias.