Some students have expressed dismay about the Honor Committee's decision not to form the single sanction ad hoc committee. One student came before the Committee during its meeting last night to call for the formation of a commission to address the issue.
"I hope you know that no matter how you sugarcoat it, the single sanction has and always will be what you are known for," third-year Architecture student Patrick Lee said.
The Committee decided during its meeting last week not to reform the single sanction ad hoc committee, which was initially formed after a referendum passed two years ago asking the Committee to investigate alternatives to the single sanction.
Honor Chair Ben Cooper asserted that ad hoc committees can be formed at any point by the Committee, and said the Committee could re-establish the ad hoc committee if members express a desire to do so.
"Many people have been saying that the Committee is saying that this is the end of the single sanction [debate], and I don't think the discussion supports that," Cooper said.
Sam Leven, Hoos Against Single Sanction president, said the organization will continue to address the issue despite the failure of a referendum on this spring's ballot to change the sanction.
"We as an organization are certainly going to continue to add to the issue," he said.
He said he had hoped the Committee would put forth a proposal itself with an alternative to the current system, rather than have it come from outside groups.
"The Honor Committee has now twice been given the opportunity to see that a very sizeable portion of this community wants to see sanction reform," Leven said.
Lee expressed concern that the composition of the Committee does not reflect a diversity of opinions regarding the sanction issue, influencing the productivity of the ad hoc committee.
"There was no diversity of opinion on that panel; they were either pro-single sanction or afraid to say anything," he said. "I feel like an independent commission that the Honor Committee establishes themselves might be the best way to do it."
Cooper said this option was not something the Committee has done in the past, but said it would be open to discussion if Committee members proposed its formation.
"Keep the discussion alive and get in touch with your Committee member from your school if it's something you feel we should be addressing," he said.
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