After several weeks of planning and discussion, the Honor Committee decided in a 15-0-2 vote not to hold a special referendum election by the student body on the seriousness clause. The decision at last night's special Committee meeting comes a week before voting was to begin.
The proposal had called for removing the seriousness clause from all consideration in cases of academic cheating. Now a student can be convicted only if a jury deems his or her action to be serious enough to compromise the University's community of trust.
Committee members said the catalyst for this decision came from opinions expressed by Committee members-elect who said they had major reservations about the way in which the referendum was going to be conducted. Committee members-elect specifically said education programs needed to be more carefully planned so the Committee could be certain all University students would be adequately educated before voting in the referendum.
"Speaking for myself I believe that you can't hold an election in one week with no plan how to do it - that was irresponsible," Vice Chairman for Services Cordel Faulk said. The referendum vote "was ill conceived from the wording of it to the timing of it. The old Committee saved itself from a potentially embarrassing situation through making [this] decision" and abandoning the referendum.
Both current and future Committee members also expressed concerns that the seriousness referendum had become clouded by surrounding issues and debate had strayed from the question of seriousness itself, focusing more on the referendum process.
The Committee's bylaw change, which clarified the Committee's right to hold its own referendum vote, despite the fact that Student Council traditionally holds elections, "was controversial from the beginning," Faulk said.
The issue of Student Council relations and how to go about holding the referendum vote caused distractions, Vice Chairman for Services-elect Scott Sottile said.
Committee Chairman Hunter Ferguson said in recent weeks the Committee found the timing of the referendum was inopportune for holding a University-wide vote. He said the transition period between Committees as well as numerous ongoing trials and hearings have stretched Committee resources beyond the ability to properly hold the referendum election.
By revoking the referendum election, the Committee is saying "we are a strong and considerate body that is interested in acting with integrity and making choices to the advantage of students," Ferguson said.
"Certainly there was a point brought up that this entire process has been somewhat confusing and difficult to chart a plan of action, but I am proud of the Committee for putting reason above pride," he said.
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