Newspapers / St. Andrews University Student … / Feb. 8, 1996, edition 1 / Page 4
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St. Andrews Presbyterian College 4 The Lance ' New Community Honor Code Mike Lake was still working on the wording of the new Community Honor Code when I stopped by to visit yesterday, but our CHC is es sentially in a near-done form. Mike heads up our Saltire Committee— those guys who are revamping our rule book and making it better than ever—and has been working tire lessly to make sure that this essen tial doctrine of students ’ rights is something to be relied upon. The following is a brief explanation from Mike about the CHC and the new format for the CHC. An on line discussion under the ISSUESFORUM will take place on February 11 with Sammy McGee, Jesika Miller, Freda Schlaman, Derek Youmans, Mike Daly, Adam MacKenzie and Adrian Martin. These people will be presenting the CHC to different Hall Councils. The Community Honor Code is a by-product of the general re- envisioning campaign at St. An drews. Last semester a group of faculty, staff and students got to gether and drafted the Community Honor Code. The purpose of the CHC is to be the comerstone of our general community philosophy at S.A. The key to making any com munity successfiil is to ensure that its members understand what it takes to appropriately function within the community.. In order to facilitate this, the CHC contains more than merely the Pledge, but also explanatory/expository sec tions as well. Unless we truly understand what our roles are in a community, we cannot make that community successful. This Code is to be something which helps to govem our lives in the community-we are not mandated by its words as much as by its very spirit. This also ties back to the basic spirit of shared governance. We are all a part of this system and we can all contribute, but only if we make an effort to do so. By attempting to understand our positions in this community, we can enhance them and bring students fiilly back to gether into the community. The Pledge: I promise to be a contributing member of the St. An drews Presbyterian College com munity and supportive of its mis sion; to be responsible for ray choices of behavior, to be honest in all my academic endeavors, to be respectftxl of the property and per son of others, and to live in harmony with the social and natural environ ments which sustain this commu nity. Why is the Code important? The intent of the community honor code is to give substance and vitality to the statement of purpose of S. A.P.C. by indicating what prin ciples of behavior and relationships will best enable members of the S.A. community to live responsi bly and fiilfill that purpose. How does living by the Code advance the Institution’s purpose? 1 .”...a contributing member of the S.A. community...” Interactive and integrative learning are at the heart of the edu cational experience at S.A. A student’s abilities and a professor’s best contributions as a teacher are realized when both are active learn ers and contributing members working together toward common goEils. Educational outcomes are enhanced for all concerned when members of the community are par ticipating in classes and co-curricu- lar activities. “Students administra tors and staff take seriously their shared roles in teaching, advising, and mentoring.” 2. “...supportive of its mis sion...” The community must not only understand the institutional mission but must also support it in the par ticular ways the members best know how. Support is needed in academic programs, in extracur ricular involvement and in residen tial life. Support may come in the form of participation, service or fi nancial contributions. 3. “...to be responsible for my choices of behavior...” Responsible living comes from the freedom to make conscious, in formed, meaningful and wise choices. Behavior has conse quences for individuals in the com munity and for the community as a whole. One’s choices are irrespon sible when they prevent oneself or others from contributing to the edu cational community. To the extent that behavior is wisely chosen, the educational community will pros per. 4. “...to be honest in all my aca demic endeavors...” Truth seeking demands hon esty. Students and faculty must be able to trust one another; otherwise, no one can depend on the quality of accuracy of work presented. The relationship of teacher and student, one of partnership and mutual re spect, is degraded. Critical inquiry and evaluation with the goal of im provement become impossible to carry out. Suspicion and mistrust undermine the very basis for an aca demic community. “St. Andrews views critical exploration in all dis ciplines as compatible with faith ful living. 5. “...to be respectftil of the property and person of others...” Respecting people means valu ing their presence, their contribu tions and their friendships. Respect ing property and people go together. Lack of respect for either indicates a lack of respect for the diversity and special circumstances of com munity members. St. Andrews strives to “break down intellectual and interpersonal barriers.” Trust and productivity suffer if commu nity members must constantly at tend to safety and security in the face of danger from their fellow citi zens. The values which the institu tion promotes are in serious jeop ardy when disruptive and destruc tive behaviors carry the day. 6. “...and to live in harmony with the social and natural environ ments...” Living in harmony means, not abolishing conflicts but managing them in positive and productive ways despite significant differences of opinion. Certain basic values and behavior which are characteristic of a civil order must be obtained in an academic community in order for work to be accomplished, espe cially work that depends on intel lectual and social change. The natural environment of S.A. in many respects mirrors what this college strives to teach: the ben efits of interdependence, respect for diversity, and the value of the whole over the sum of the parts. S.A.’s natural environment is one of beauty, spaciousness and coexist ence among people, animals, and plants. Harmony in this environ ment implies thoughtful use and respect for the diversities and rela tionships which exist. Insofar as S.A. is able to fulfil its purpose and sustain the community, it does so, in part, by maintaining the integ rity of its natural environment so that this setting is available for all to enjoy and benefit from as they go about their activities^ Send Your Letters To The Editor!
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Feb. 8, 1996, edition 1
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