2008 Woodie Awards
Letter to the Editor
Kelsey Field
Issue date: 9/11/06 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
I would like to begin by apologizing for offending those who have worked so hard on the Honors Code, and continue by begging permission to explain the article about the honor code. As the article fully expressed the views of the author, and would have perhaps been better received if it had been located in the Opinions section, I would like to express my views through a letter to the editor.
To begin, I agree with the principal of the Honor Code, a method of codifying what is cheating, and the consequences of, as a method of ensuring due process to all students. On this note, I believe that most students will agree that an Honor Code is a correct step in preventing plagiarism.
My feelings about the honor code lacking school wide support and comprehension, despite the absence of the typical journalistic quotes supporting the sentiment, were by no means drawn out of thin air. Most professors can most likely attest to the unrest among the student body regarding the honor code; I have heard, seen and felt it in all my classes where Honor Code expectations were expressed.
However, I would also like to admit my guilt in never attending a single meeting regarding the honor code which were offered, which perhaps gives me no right to grumble. By lacking school wide support, I merely meant that an alteration to student policy that is so large that it requires student affirmation prior to enrollment in the school perhaps should have been voted on by the student population.
I would also like to point out in my defense that this story was located in the Life and Times section, and although perhaps would have been better titled "A Day in the Life of a Rollins Student Grappling the Honor Code", it was not placed in the news for a good reason.
As per the Honor Code being present on the website, I have been informed where it can be located (take note all you students); it is on the Dean of Students website. However, for this writer, I had to Google search it before I could find it, and although it is perhaps common knowledge for staff where it would be located, I would say most students would not think to look on the Dean's homepage.
Despite the bias present in the article, I hope that the message is not lost. There are major flaws to the honor code, and although I can understand and sympathize with those who have worked so hard for so many years to put it into place, these certainly need to be addressed. The criticisms of the honor code are not against the authors themselves, but simply opportunities to reach a compromise between the student body and the staff on an honor code that pleases everyone.
To begin, I agree with the principal of the Honor Code, a method of codifying what is cheating, and the consequences of, as a method of ensuring due process to all students. On this note, I believe that most students will agree that an Honor Code is a correct step in preventing plagiarism.
My feelings about the honor code lacking school wide support and comprehension, despite the absence of the typical journalistic quotes supporting the sentiment, were by no means drawn out of thin air. Most professors can most likely attest to the unrest among the student body regarding the honor code; I have heard, seen and felt it in all my classes where Honor Code expectations were expressed.
However, I would also like to admit my guilt in never attending a single meeting regarding the honor code which were offered, which perhaps gives me no right to grumble. By lacking school wide support, I merely meant that an alteration to student policy that is so large that it requires student affirmation prior to enrollment in the school perhaps should have been voted on by the student population.
I would also like to point out in my defense that this story was located in the Life and Times section, and although perhaps would have been better titled "A Day in the Life of a Rollins Student Grappling the Honor Code", it was not placed in the news for a good reason.
As per the Honor Code being present on the website, I have been informed where it can be located (take note all you students); it is on the Dean of Students website. However, for this writer, I had to Google search it before I could find it, and although it is perhaps common knowledge for staff where it would be located, I would say most students would not think to look on the Dean's homepage.
Despite the bias present in the article, I hope that the message is not lost. There are major flaws to the honor code, and although I can understand and sympathize with those who have worked so hard for so many years to put it into place, these certainly need to be addressed. The criticisms of the honor code are not against the authors themselves, but simply opportunities to reach a compromise between the student body and the staff on an honor code that pleases everyone.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jeff Pattishall
posted 9/11/06 @ 11:18 AM EST
Pretty sad when you feel your student body needs to sign a contract to not cheat. As if that would stop anyone.... oh wait.... I think someone's probably already said that. (Continued…)
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