"THE HONOR system at the University is currently at a crossroads." The reason this phrase has become such a cliché is because of the simple fact that it has been at a crossroads for quite some time. Often we hear people reminisce about the "good old days" of honor when the system enjoyed widespread support and, from what we can tell, rather effectively deterred violations. Alumni speak of how they used to do such things as leave their books alone on a brick wall while they ate lunch on the Corner, comforted by the knowledge that no one would steal them.
Yet now our libraries greet patrons with signs alerting them to the fact that thefts have occurred and that belongings should never be left unattended. The recently compiled results of the Faculty Survey show us that much of the faculty support for and knowledge of the system has eroded. Minority students have cases reported against them in a disproportionate amount, leaving many feeling alienated from the system entirely. History teaches us that the first step to addressing a problem is to recognize that it exists, and this Honor Committee must acknowledge that the system has several.
Of course, this claim must be taken with a grain of salt. The system of yesterday was designed specifically by and for the University community it served, which is drastically different from the community it must serve today. Today's University is much larger and more diverse than ever before, presenting the honor system with new and unforeseen circumstances, and to be frank, the system has adapted very well in response.
It is this context which explains why our honor system is at the crossroads it is faced with today. How can the system achieve the support and success it once had (and even surpass it) while simultaneously responding to the needs and wants of our current University community? The question is not an easy one, and ours is not the first Committee to attempt to address it. However, there are several areas that, with focused improvement, could help achieve this delicate balance.
The Honor Committee, both in its operations and in the public's perception, has focused on its role as the chief enforcer of the honor system. Yet while improvements have been made in such areas of enforcement as the investigation and trial processes, the broader picture of why an honor system is beneficial has been all but lost. This year's Committee will not only encourage discussion of the benefits that living under such a system provides, but will lead the way in investigating new areas where the honor system could be used to benefit its adherents.
As the issue that has dominated discussion about honor for at least the past decade, though certainly for much longer, the single sanction continues to be a point of contention about the honor system for many within and outside our University community. This year's spring election saw a referendum proposing an alternative to the single sanction achieving 49.5 percent of the vote. Though it did not achieve enough votes to pass, this Committee is concerned with the fact that a significant proportion of the community is at least somewhat dissatisfied with the current honor system. This Committee will host several discussions throughout the year about the single sanction and be a source of objective feedback for any proposals to change it.
Despite the diversity found throughout the University community, particularly in the student body but among faculty and staff as well, the Honor Committee continuously fails to accurately reflect that diversity. The Committee this year will seek new ways to interact with minority groups and encourage more diversity in this fall's support officer class. However, we cannot achieve this goal alone -- as the Committee reaches out to these groups, their leaders need to ensure they are reaching out to the Committee as well. The Diversity Advisory Board will be a standing committee again this year as a forum specifically designed to address diversity concerns, but the Committee itself would be delighted to hear suggestions on how to improve its diversity.
Obviously, this is not an exhaustive list of the areas in which we will try to improve this year, but they do provide a general sense of the direction this Committee will be taking. Indeed, it is my belief that last night marks the beginning of more than just a new Committee, but a new approach to honor. I encourage everyone with an interest to either come to our Committee meetings, held most Sundays at 8 P.M. in the Trial Room in Newcomb, send an e-mail to their school's representative with their concerns, or, at the very least, access our Website.
Ben Cooper is a Cavalier Daily contributing writer. He is the Chair of the Honor Committee.
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