At the final meeting of the current Committee’s term, Honor representatives approved a bylaw change concerning Title IX cases. Following this vote, present members of the Executive Committee each reflected on their time as a representative.
The bylaw will affect the handling of cases related to gender-based harassment or misconduct of lying, cheating or stealing. It directs the Committee to pause investigations into any honor offense if the alleged conduct in the Honor report submitted by a University community member falls within the scope of the University’s Policy on Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment.
The Executive Committee would immediately consult the University’s Title IX coordinator upon receiving such a report. All Honor proceedings relating to the case would also be paused during this consultation period in order to determine whether the conduct in question falls under the University’s Title IX jurisdiction.
If the offense does not fall under Title IX jurisdiction, the Committee can then move forward with the investigation. If it does fall under Title IX jurisdiction, the Committee will let the office continue the process itself.
The bylaw proposal also outlines that submitting false information about Title IX offenses in bad faith may constitute an honor offense, with both the University’s Title IX coordinator and community members having the ability to file honor reports if someone is suspected of providing untruthful information during a Title IX-related proceeding.
There was no debate or questions on the proposal, which was unanimously approved.
The rest of the meeting focused on the reflections of Executive Committee members who discussed what they were most proud of and what the honor system meant to each of them.
Seamus Oliver, outgoing vice chair for investigations and third-year College student, described his long-standing involvement with the case process system after calculating the exact extent of his efforts.
“Since I arrived on grounds in Charlottesville in August of 2022 there have been 169 total reports … I've been involved in 116 of them, which is about 70 percent.” Oliver said. “It's going to be weird to step away from the case process, but it’s in excellent hands.”
Oliver will continue to serve on the Committee, but will be replaced as vice chair for investigations by third-year Engineering student Alexander Church.
Will Hancock, outgoing vice chair for the undergraduate community and third-year College student, also expressed confidence in the incoming committee members, while encouraging them to uphold the values of the honor system.
“It is really important work, don't forget that,” Hancock said. “Continue to make the University better for all of us … Continue the fun, continue the spirit of honor at U.Va. and most of all I have trust in the next Committee, particularly Thomas, leading that charge.”
Hancock will be leaving the Committee and will be replaced as vice chair of the undergraduate community by third-year Education student Penelope Molitz, in whom Hancock has expressed great confidence.
Thomas Ackleson, incoming Committee chair and third-year Engineering student, also described his confidence and excitement for the upcoming term.
“We've got a lot of momentum behind us,” Ackleson said. “I'm just very humbled and honored to lead you guys, but this is not about me at all … I think it's about us and our community.”
Ackleson then thanked Laura Howard, outgoing Committee chair and fourth-year College student, for her service leading the honor system, and she received a standing ovation from the room. Howard also spoke about her time on the Committee and what she learned throughout her four years of working with Honor.
“[Integrity] is about who you are when no one's looking, not for recognition or credit,” Howard said. “[It’s about] the work that you do, because it's important to you, and it's important your community, and it doesn't really matter at the end of the day if you get the credit or the article written about you or the award, it's just a selfless act of service.”
The Committee’s new term will reconvene Sunday at 7 p.m.
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