The Honor Committee will hold its second annual Honor Week from Feb. 9 to Feb. 14, featuring a series of events aimed at engaging the University community in discussions about ethics, integrity and the evolving role of the Honor System. The week-long initiative will include panels, discussions and debates. The Committee will address topics such as new increased transparency measures and the recent change to a multi-sanction system, meant to ensure fairer and more effective proceedings.
The Committee first introduced Honor Week last spring as a way to promote the Honor system to the student body and allow engagement with its components. Events for this year include a Mock Honor Hearing, an Alumni Hall Bingo Night and an Honor Run With Jim, with many other events spread throughout the week.
According to Will Hancock, vice chair for the undergraduate community and third-year College student, the Committee established three goals for the week — to educate the community about the Honor System, to receive student feedback on the work of the Committee and to host meaningful events that promote the Committee to students and organizations.
“This year in particular, I think we're focusing a lot on partnerships and organizations” Hancock said. “So not just the [Contracted Independent Organization] dinner, but a lot of other things we're doing this week involve club sports and other groups on grounds.”
Hancock also described how this year’s Honor Week is also set to focus more on engaging students and spreading information about Honor’s role in the community rather than purely as a platform to support the multi-sanction or case processing systems, which was the case in previous Honor Weeks.
A Mock Honor Hearing Monday will allow students to step into the role of Honor panelists and explore the case process firsthand. The following evening at 6 p.m. Tuesday, the Case Processing Panel will provide insights into the Honor case process, focusing on the relatively new multi-sanction system.
“There’s also a little bit more of a faculty focus at the mock hearing as well, which is something that we didn't have last year,” Hancock said. “It’s still very student focused, but shows faculty this is what it looks like when you're a reporter at a hearing, and this is how much you have to be involved at a hearing, as well.”
The week includes an Alumni Hall Bingo Night at 7 p.m. Tuesday, where students can win prizes in bingo games that use fun facts about the Honor System. Student Organization Roundtables will also be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, with invitations extended to members of CIOs to register for a table. The roundtable will offer groups the chance to discuss Honor’s role in student life. Following this discussion, the Honor Fireside Chat at 6 p.m. Thursday will give students and faculty an opportunity for candid discussions with Honor Committee members in an informal setting.
Honor Week concludes with a recap meeting, which the Committee invites all students to attend and at which free Roots’ dinner will be provided, at 7 p.m. Saturday. This will provide students with an opportunity to reflect on the week's discussions, share their perspectives and engage with Honor Committee members in a more personal setting.
The dinner will serve as a space for open conversation about the evolving role of the Honor System at the University, allowing students to voice their thoughts on proposed reforms, areas for improvement and the system’s broader impact on the University community.
According to Laura Howard, Committee chair and fourth-year College student, Honor Week serves as a platform for students, faculty and alumni to critically engage with one of the University’s most defining institutions. The Fireside Chat event will include a keynote address by Darden faculty member Michael Lenox, a detailed discussion on the historical significance of Honor at University and interactive student forums on potential reforms.
“We hope to increase student and faculty attendance at the fireside chat by having Michael Lennox,” Howard said. “We're hoping he's gonna speak to the faculty perspective on our case process and what common misconceptions might be and what he wishes faculty knew about honor both having this perspective as a former chair, and as a contractor.”
The Committee hopes to show all aspects of the Honor system with the entire student body during its planned events throughout the week, especially with those who aren’t as engaged with Honor. Many students like first-year College student Grant Supancich have not seen many details about Honor Week, but seem optimistic.
“I’ve seen things about Honor Week, such as information written in chalk [on sidewalks], but I haven’t looked into it much,” Supancich said. “However, it could be fun … and maybe I’ll learn more about Honor during the week.”
Honor will also host a Run with Jim at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 20, delayed by weather forecasts, where students can join University President Jim Ryan for a morning run, followed by free Bodo’s Bagels remarks from Howard.
A full list of events for the week is available on the Honor Committee’s website.
Read More
Honor Committee proposes procedural improvements and discusses Honor Week events
By Bertie Azqueta | YesterdayRepresentatives discussed prospective efforts to reassess the burden of proof and streamline procedural efficiency in 16 ongoing Honor investigations.
University organizations to host a series of events celebrating Black History Month
By Cecilia Mould | YesterdayTo start programming for the month, “Resilience Through Expressions,” will be held Tuesday and feature a talent show from students and community members which will include musical, dance and cultural performances.
Memorial Gymnasium renovations cause increased demand at other gyms
By Lucia Gambacini | 2 days agoWith the closing of this gym, other fitness centers around Grounds, like Slaughter and AFC, have faced increased student use.
