2008 Woodie Awards
On Your Honor
Creating a culture of honor and integrity at Rollins.
Heather Williams
Issue date: 2/4/05 Section: Life & Times
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One cannot help but notice the great changes that have been made at Rollins over the last semester. Under the direction of a new President, many students and organizations are working harder than ever to bring a sense of community and maturity to Rollins. With these improvements comes something Rollins has never seen before: an Honor Code.
In the past, students who find themselves in some form of disciplinary action have their cases heard administratively, by their peers at the Community Hearing Council, or by the Greek Hearing Council. They have simply been written up and then come before one of these three bodies to have their case heard. With the advent of an Honor Code, things will be slightly different.
If everything goes as planned, two different codes will be voted on and passed in March: the Social Honor Code and the Academic Honor Code. The Social Honor Code encompasses guidelines on everything ranging from alcohol, abuse, and disruptive behavior, to hazing, residential living rules, and solicitation. Incoming students will physically sign an Honor Pledge at matriculation, committing themselves to following these rules and honoring the code. All other students will also be required to sign a pledge saying they will honor these rules. An excerpt from the philosophy of this system states, "The College assumes that students are able and willing to accept the rights and responsibilities of honorable conduct both as a matter of personal integrity and as a commitment to the values to which the College community commits itself." If found in violation of one of the guidelines in the Code, students will come before a panel of peers to hear their case and will be sanctioned appropriately.
The Academic Honor Code is being modeled after similar codes that are found at schools comparable to Rollins across the country. It is not yet as clearly defined what this Code will encompass, but it will deal with issues of honesty in the classroom. Students will have to give their honor that they have not witnessed, received, or given help with any work other than what is their own. Sophomore Elise Letanosky says in response to this code, "I think the benefit of this honor code is that it clearly establishes a goal of Rollins: to create an honor culture. For that to actually happen, students and faculty would have to buy into it, but it at least gives Rollins the appearance of naming this as a goal. That makes Rollins look better to other schools and I think to some degree it sends a message to prospective students, parents, professors, etc." Implementing both of these codes into life at Rollins will give the students more ownership, protection, and responsibility over themselves and their actions. In doing so, we will learn to carry ourselves with utmost responsibility and maturity, knowing we have given our word that we will uphold the rules we have agreed to.
Many rumors and misconceptions have been floating around, none of which are true. Rollins is not moving toward becoming a dry campus and only hopes to provide a more positive living and learning environment by holding students responsible for their own actions. If you have any questions regarding the rules, or if you would like to become involved in increasing the awareness of the new Honor Codes, please direct these concerns to the Office of Judicial Affairs.
In the past, students who find themselves in some form of disciplinary action have their cases heard administratively, by their peers at the Community Hearing Council, or by the Greek Hearing Council. They have simply been written up and then come before one of these three bodies to have their case heard. With the advent of an Honor Code, things will be slightly different.
If everything goes as planned, two different codes will be voted on and passed in March: the Social Honor Code and the Academic Honor Code. The Social Honor Code encompasses guidelines on everything ranging from alcohol, abuse, and disruptive behavior, to hazing, residential living rules, and solicitation. Incoming students will physically sign an Honor Pledge at matriculation, committing themselves to following these rules and honoring the code. All other students will also be required to sign a pledge saying they will honor these rules. An excerpt from the philosophy of this system states, "The College assumes that students are able and willing to accept the rights and responsibilities of honorable conduct both as a matter of personal integrity and as a commitment to the values to which the College community commits itself." If found in violation of one of the guidelines in the Code, students will come before a panel of peers to hear their case and will be sanctioned appropriately.
The Academic Honor Code is being modeled after similar codes that are found at schools comparable to Rollins across the country. It is not yet as clearly defined what this Code will encompass, but it will deal with issues of honesty in the classroom. Students will have to give their honor that they have not witnessed, received, or given help with any work other than what is their own. Sophomore Elise Letanosky says in response to this code, "I think the benefit of this honor code is that it clearly establishes a goal of Rollins: to create an honor culture. For that to actually happen, students and faculty would have to buy into it, but it at least gives Rollins the appearance of naming this as a goal. That makes Rollins look better to other schools and I think to some degree it sends a message to prospective students, parents, professors, etc." Implementing both of these codes into life at Rollins will give the students more ownership, protection, and responsibility over themselves and their actions. In doing so, we will learn to carry ourselves with utmost responsibility and maturity, knowing we have given our word that we will uphold the rules we have agreed to.
Many rumors and misconceptions have been floating around, none of which are true. Rollins is not moving toward becoming a dry campus and only hopes to provide a more positive living and learning environment by holding students responsible for their own actions. If you have any questions regarding the rules, or if you would like to become involved in increasing the awareness of the new Honor Codes, please direct these concerns to the Office of Judicial Affairs.