cTl?p Oailii <Tar Hppl
m ■ "'ff "’B I “Honor is what students do when nobody’s
W I Iff * I Iff ■ I I looking. Students need ...to think how their actions
V I /l J ffi I % I I affect Others.” JONATHAN SLAIN, UNC Student Attorney General
Colleges and universities across the country are working to redefine the concept of
honor on campus . Student input is becoming increasingly important in the process.
Honor codes
vary across
campuses .
BY ALESIA DICOSOLA
STAFF WRITER
Two years ago, one professor at
the University of Virginia sus
pected that more than 200 stu
dents had committed plagiarism.
Less than half eventually were
charged with violating the uni
versity’s honor code. But such
widespread instances of academic
dishonesty have prompted
administrators across the coun
try to take a closer look at their
policies regarding academic
integrity.
Numerous schools are revi- ,
talizing old codes or writing new
ones, said Diane Waryold, execu
tive director of the Center for
Academic Integrity, a nonprofit
foundation at Duke University.
Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill
are part of the growing number of
schools creating an “honor code
culture," a campus environment
where honor guides student life.
Since 2000, Duke students
have taken part in an honor code
signing ceremony at the beginning
of every academic year. Duke’s
honor code was passed by student
referendum in 1993.
Such codes are far from univer
sal. They are not part of every
school’s culture, said Paul Cousins,
director of the Office of Student
Conduct at N.C. State University.
Many UNC-system schools do not
abide by traditional codes.
But having a set of rales is catch
ing on. Students at the University
of Texas-Austin are in the process
of writing their first honor code.
Institutions modifying their
honor codes often look to Davidson
College and Washington and Lee
University schools renowned for
their strict codes.
Kathy Bray-Merrell, Davidson’s
associate dean of students, said the
Honor Code and Code of
Responsibility at Davidson are the
school’s “comerstone(s) of life.”
She said that self-administered
exams are proof of an active honor
culture on campus.
Helen Hughes, president of
Case Type 'O2-'O3
2%
Other
2%
Theft
3%
Disorderly or obsecene conduct
4%
Providing false information to a University official
4%
Misuse or destruction of University property
Driving while intoxicated
Harassment or assault
Marijuana or other drug possession
Academic cheating
SOURCE: STUDENT ATTORNEY GENERAL
HONOR
FROM PAGE 1
out to think how their actions
affect others.”
Other students said that to them,
being an honorable person relates
directly to behavior and equal treat
ment. “(Honor is) about the expec
tations you have for yourself and
expecting the same of others,” said
senior Pailin Wedel, a biology major.
Both Slain and Student Body
7/ jj
Washington "“‘■as
and Lee's ■ n i&r
Executive
Committee of the
Student Body, said honor is
so integral to university culture that
a wallet left out in the open would
n’t be stolen.
The recent push to rejuvenate
honor codes, Waryold said, comes
from a modern-day corporate cul
ture that questions the ethical stan
dards of its workers. “Communities,
faculty and students are realizing
the importance of teaching stu
dents how to make good decisions.”
But it might take time for codes
to become a staple of college life.
Research show's that it is difficult to
create an honor code culture w'here
the tradition does not exist.
“It is a tough sell on a college
campus to sell values,” Cousins
said. “Many believe that universi
ties should teach math, science,
history, and have no business
teaching honor and integrity.”
HONOR SYSTEM CASE RESULTS
The breakdown of Honor Code violations out of
the 139 cases heard during the 2002-2003
academic year.
Case Verdict ’O2-'O3
25%
Percentage found not guilty
Percentage found guilty
Last Year's Honor System Activity
(academic year 'Ol-'O2)
• 287 cases reported to the
student attorney general
• 187 cases charged by the SAG
• 167 Honor Court hearings held
DTH/MICHAELAIDHAMMAR
President Matt Tepper said this
year’s drive for honor will encour
age students to explore how it
affects their daily decisions, where
as disciplinary measures were
often the main focus in the past.
Questions on student honor
arose after a series of controversial
cases came before the Honor Court
in October 2000, when Professor
James Coggins levied charges
against 24 students in his computer
science class for cheating on an out
1875 J *•
University President Kemp
Plummer Battle gives the
Dialectic and Philanthropic
Societies the authority to
operate the University honor
system, officially establishing
the system at UNC.
1795
The Dialectic and
Philanthropic Societies, the
oldest student organizations
on campus, begin imposing
rules and regulations on
their members concerning
cheating and plagiarism.
Change plays key role in Code
BY JOE SAUNDERS
STAFF WRITER
For the past 208 years, students have
strolled past Old East Residence Hall with
books slung under their arms, in pursuit of an
honorable education. Throughout the same
period, UNC-Chapel Hill’s honor system has
continued to grow and change, striving to adapt
to the demands of the time.
“The Honor Code is the best system we have
because it speaks to you and me as individuals.”
said former UNC-svstem president Bill Friday.
“(It informs you of) the person you ought to be
and the person the University expects you to be.”
The roots of UNC-CH’s self-governing
honor system can be found at the University’s
establishment in 1795.
The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies,
the oldest student organizations on campus,
imposed rules and regulations on their mem
bers concerning cheating and plagiarism.
Possible punishments included expulsion.
In 1875, the societies were given authority' to
operate a University' honor system, a responsi
bility that was later passed on to the judicial
branch of Student Government.
The honor system basically remained
unchanged until 1974, when the largest and most
dramatic alterations to the code took place.
The Judicial Reform Committee created the
Instrument of Student Judicial Governance,
which outlined the current Honor Code and its
means for enforcement. The Instrument was
of-class assignment.
The cases drew attention to the
problem of cheating and the need to
revise the Honor Code. Revisions
were completed last year and imple
mented in July.
Tepper said this year’s initiative
will move the emphasis from puni
tive actions to anew theme.
“We’re starting to see (honor) in
a different way,” he said. “It’s more
about the culture of honor than the
honor system.”
HONOR CODE TIMELINE
1921
The Student Council takes
over authority to operate
and enforce the University
honor system, removing the
responsibility from the
Dialectic and Philanthropic
Societies.
developed as a result of several problems with
the original honor system.
Douglass Hunt, former vice chancellor for
administration, said, “(We needed) to revivify
the Honor Code and stress to people what’s
expected of students here.”
One of many problems was the “Rat" clause
of the Honor Code, which required students to
report peers who were guilty of lying, cheating
or stealing to the appropriate student council.
“It was an ineffective clause in that many
students didn't abide by it," said Charles
Lovelace, student attorney general from 1976
to 1977- “It was hard to enforce.”
Rollie Tillman, a former professor at Kenan-
Flagler Business School and a member of the
1974 Judicial Reform Committee, said the
changing face of UNC necessitated reform in
the Honor Code. "The University had grown a
lot and changed by being more complex,” he
said.
Tillman said the Instrument reflected a sys
tem of honor already at the University, but the
revisions clarified many of the procedures and
specifics of the judicial system. “There were
drafts and redrafts until we felt we got it right.”
It wasn’t until last year that students, staff
and faculty reviewed the Instrument again.
In January, the Committee on Student
Conduct recommended improvements to the
Honor Code that were implemented in July.
Faculty Council chairwoman Judith Wegner
headed the committee. She said it was impor-
Ultimately, an encompassing
atmosphere of honor is UNC’s pri
mary goal for the future. Moeser
said he hopes the Honor Code will
become more of a standard for liv
ing and conduct than a system of
penal codes at the University.
Such an atmosphere also would
help prepare students for the
workplace by building character
and teaching them to focus on
ethics, said Judith Wegner, co
chairwoman of Honor Carolina and
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2003
HONOR AT PEER INSTITUTIONS
The school has no honor code. Each college has
its own rules and regulations regarding academ
ic integrity. All other matters are covered by a student
statement of rights and responsibilities. If a student is
found guilty of violating a law, it is handled within the uni
versity and is not
1 COMPILED BY JOSEPH SCHWARTZ
1947
The Student Constitution is.
created, organizing the judi
cial branch of student gov
ernment. Originally, the
branch was divided into the
Men's Council and the
Women's Council.
1974
The Judicial Reform
Committee creates the
Instrument of Student
Judicial Governance, which
outlines the current Honor
Code and its means for
enforcement.
Faculty Council Chairwoman Judith Wegner
tant to keep the honor code up-to-date with the
issues facing the University. “We’re trying to
reach students about truth and the meaning of
truth,” she said.
Many officials said they think there are still
policies that need adapting for today's world.
Student Attorney General Jonathan Slain
said that many students at UNC-CH do not
understand the importance of academic hon
esty. “We’ll need to change the culture so that
it’s not cool to cheat,” he said.
Tillman also supported the idea of updating
the Honor Code to meet challenges that did not
exist in the 19705, such as MP3 file-sharing.
“It’s time for us to have a look at it again
because the world has changed,” he said.
“Redoing it every 10 or 15 years reinvigorates it”
Contact the University Editor at
ndesk@unc.edu.
Faculty Council chairwoman.
Discussions about the meaning
of honor and questions posed to
students on a variety of ethical
dilemmas Honor and Integrity-
Week events will help encourage
the growth of honesty- on campus,
Wegner said.
By discussing controversial eth
ical topics, students, staff and fac
ulty will bring false assumptions to
light and help everyone come to an
understanding on difficult issues.
DUKE UNIVERSITY
The school’s honor code requires every
student to "communicate directly" with any
person he believes to be in violation of
the honor code and report such viola
tions.
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
A code of student conduct is in
place. Violations include submit
ting "substantially" the same
work for two classes, falsification
of lab results and hazing.
f UNIV. OF FLORIDA
Students charged with an
academic violation try to work it
out with the professor. If an
agreement cannot be reached,
f the issue is brought before the
' Office for Judicial Affairs. The
student can either choose to
take the matter before a stu
y dent-run honor court or a stu
' dent conduct committee run
by administrators.
UNIV. OF TEXAS
AUSTIN
The school has no official
honor code. However, a potential
honor pledge is being supported
by the school's president. Professors
are left to create their own honor codes
for their respective classes.
UNIV. OF MICHIGAN-ANN
ARBOR
2002
The Committee on Student
Conduct crafts revisions to
the Honor Code to make it
more up to date with issues
facing the University. The
changes are approved the
following year.
Although University officials say
it could take as long as four years
for the initiative to ingrain itself in
the student body, Tepper said he
has faith that honor will become an
important tradition at UNC.
“Students know what (honor)
is,” he said. “They know what to do
to lead an honorable life at the
University.”
Contact the University Editor
at udesk@unc.edu.
5