WE BELIEVE that two characteristics distinguish the University's honor system from the multiplicity of honor systems in this country. First and most importantly, our honor system is completely student-run -- at no point is the administration directly involved. The other distinguishing characteristic of our system is the single sanction, which flows from student self-governance. The sole sanction for students convicted of an honor offense is expulsion because the students of this institution have chosen it to be so. Neither the Board of Visitors nor the administration mandates the sanction: It is completely the choice of the student body. Since it is our choice, it is important that the single sanction remain an integral part of the continuing dialogue about the honor system.
Tradition is important at our University, and our single sanction honor system is certainly part of University history. While tradition may be important, it is not a sufficient reason for continuing our sanction. The single sanction should not be continued out of mere inertia. We believe that it should continue because it is the best policy for our honor system at this time. Many other representatives of the Honor Committee, including Thomas Bird (SCPS), Christopher Blythe (GSBA), Joe Gay (SEAS), Charles Leddy (GSBA) and Saket Narula (SCC) have expressed their support for the single sanction.
From the very beginning of our student experience here, we are told the importance of living up to the high standards of honor and academic integrity. The severity of the single sanction stresses this importance. Some consider this to be an onerous burden and a sanction too harsh for some honor offenses; however, it is important to remember that there is an extremely easy way to avoid the single sanction. We simply ask that our students not lie, cheat or steal. These are simple rules to follow, and the resulting benefits are enormous. Living in a community of trust for several years, where the expectation of honesty is uncompromising, not only provides tangible benefits, such as unproctored exams, but also provides an education in and of itself. Our honor system and its sanction are an important part of a University of Virginia education.
The honor system is not a negative freedom; it is a positive one. It is the freedom to trust, and the single sanction preserves this freedom. Because of the single sanction, we know that no student currently at the University and no students who have graduated from this institution in the last 160 years have been convicted of an honor offense. This leads to the respect and trust of University students around Grounds and around the country. There are students at the University who have committed an honor offense and have not been brought up on Honor charges; the honor system is not perfect. Many multiple sanction systems, however, have similar problems: Students are reluctant to initiate cases, and faculty handle infractions outside the system. These are common problems across honor systems with several different sanction structures.
When honor cases are initiated, the single sanction provides the ultimate consistency within our honor system, as all honor convictions are treated equally. This consistency eliminates the possibility of bias at the sanctioning stage of a trial. Certainly, the severity of the sanction requires that we provide extensive due-process rights to accused students, and we believe that the provision of these rights ensures the fairness of our system, a sound practice under any sanction. Furthermore, in a multiple sanction system, it is possible that some students might receive a different sanction for an identical offense due to their particular status within the University. The issue of spotlighting has often been raised, and it is truly an important one. While the honor system works fervently to combat the external bias of spotlighting, we should not open up a possibility of internal bias by removing the single sanction.
The single sanction manifests the great importance placed on honor at this institution. Before the University rose to national prominence, a University degree signified that the recipient bore the honor of the institution. Although the significance of the degree has grown to encompass many other accomplishments, the existence of the single sanction continues to exhibit to employers, graduate programs and even friends the importance placed on honor here. In a world of Enron, WorldCom and Adelphia, honor is a valuable commodity.
We, the students, have single ownership of our stance on the importance of academic and personal integrity. It is our belief that each of us is capable of an unwavering commitment to honesty, and for this reason we deserve nothing less than to choose for ourselves the highest standards possible.
The single sanction is an important issue regardless of one's opinion. With the upcoming open forum on the single sanction, hopefully there will be an increase in public discourse about this issue.
(Christopher Smith is a fourth-year College student and chairman of the Honor Committee. Christie Graham is a fourth year in the Commerce School and the Vice-Chair for Investigations for the Honor Committee.)
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