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The Haverford College Honor Code/Not Implemented*
(*Proposed and ratified at Spring Plenary but failed campus
wide ratification vote)
- PREAMBLE
As Haverford students, we seek an environment in which members of a
diverse student body can live together, interact, and learn from one
another in ways that protect both personal freedom and community standards.
If a diverse community is to prosper, its members must attempt to come
to terms with their differences; this goal is only possible if students
seek mutual understanding by means of respectful communication. By holding
us accountable for our words and actions, the Honor Code acts as an
educational tool, instructing us to resolve conflicts by engaging others
in dialogues that yield greater awareness for all parties involved.
By encouraging respectful conduct, we hope to create an atmosphere conducive
to learning and growing.
- INTRODUCTION
We believe the values articulated in the Honor Code create an open and
supportive environment that promotes personal and community growth;
hence, we ascribe to the principles in the Code.
- Community Standards
The Honor Code depends for its effective operation on our personal
concern both for each other and for ourselves, along with our collective
concern for the maintenance of the community standards reflected
in the Code. These three concerns (regarding ourselves, others,
and community standards) are central to the functioning of the Code,
and have meaning only as they form the basis for the conduct of
our daily lives. When we speak of "community," we imply
the student body, faculty, staff, and administration, each of which
contributes to the collective conception of community standards.
The Code makes it possible for a climate of trust, concern, and
respect to exist among us, a climate conducive to personal and community
growth. Growth arises from honest exploration and analysis. Only
by treating ourselves with dignity and self-respect can we experience
genuine honesty with ourselves and others.
- Confrontation
In order to maintain the atmosphere of trust, concern and respect,
we must be willing to face situations that may be uncomfortable.
We cannot always expect to feel at ease when confronting another
student about his/her actions. Despite the difficulty sometimes
entailed in challenging the behavior of a fellow community member,
we must take upon ourselves individually the responsibilities stated
in the Code, or be ourselves in violation of the Code because of
our failure to act. As confrontation is often a matter between two
individuals or parties, it is advisable to exercise discretion and
respect privacy accordingly when initiating a dialogue.
Confrontation is one of the primary means by which community members
can learn from one another and thereby facilitate the realization
of a truly diverse environment. It should often take the form of
a constructive, engaging discussion, especially in non-academic
concerns. "Confrontation," in the Haverford sense, can
be defined as initiating a dialogue with another community member,
with the goal of reaching some common understanding by means of
respectful communication. It should be understood that achieving
a common understanding does not necessarily mean reaching agreement.
- Honor Council
Although we are each responsible for doing our part to uphold the
standards of the community, some administrative responsibilities
must be carried out by a community body. In addition we may sometimes
be unable to resolve conflicts with others or actions may occur
which breach the trust of the community in a very serious way. It
is Honor Council's task to manage the administrative aspects of
the Honor Code and to help resolve difficult situations and apparent
violations of the community's trust. Honor Council is charged with
interpreting the sections of the Code that leave room for flexibility.
It is, for example, Honor Council's responsibility to decide if
a situation warrants the convening of a trial or if it can be resolved
on a less formal basis.
- Consensus
All decisions made by Honor Council, including those approving Council
publications, are made by consensus. This method depends on reaching
unity; it is time-consuming and requires that all present avoid
obstructionism in a common search for agreement, but it has the
great advantage of not leaving behind an unhappy minority.
It should be noted, however, that unity does not necessarily require
unanimity. When discussion has reached a point where the chairperson
proposes a decision that clearly has the support of the "weight
of the group," remaining dissenters can withdraw their disagreement
in order that unity be achieved. If the disagreement is fundamental,
and becomes a matter of conscience, the dissenter may block consensus
and discussion must continue with the object of finding a new formulation
that is satisfactory to all. If consensus among all jury members
cannot be reached after lengthy discussion, then, with the agreement
of all jury members, consensus can be declared with any dissenters
being recorded as standing outside of it. There can be no more than
two dissenters.
- Confidentiality
As confrontation is often not a public matter, Honor Council will
keep all cases brought before it in the strictest confidence. This
allows individuals in the community to bring issues to Honor Council
without fear of attaching a public stigma to parties involved.
- The Pledge
We realize that as part of the Haverford College community, our
actions affect those around us and the spiritual quality of this
institution. We understand that membership in the Haverford community
is dependent on commitment to the Honor Code, as illustrated by
our signing the Honor Pledge card, which states: "I hereby
accept the Haverford Honor Code, realizing that it is my duty to
uphold the Honor Code and the concepts of personal and collective
responsibility upon which it is based." We all must sign the
Honor Pledge prior to our admission or readmission to the college,
and our withdrawal from this commitment will result in separation
from the community.
- JURISDICTION
The Honor Code applies to both the academic and social realms of Haverford
College. All students at Haverford, including Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore
and University of Pennsylvania students enrolled in Haverford courses,
are obligated to adhere to the Code, and are under its jurisdiction
while on this campus, and while doing work for Haverford courses. Haverford
students studying abroad are also compelled to behave in accordance
with the Code.
- Academic Concerns
As students we are responsible for proper conduct and integrity
in all of our scholastic work. We must follow a professor's instructions
as to the completion of tests, quizzes, homework, and laboratory
reports, and must ask for clarification if the instructions are
not clear. Students should not give or receive aid when taking exams,
unless the professor specifies this practice as appropriate. In
addition, students should not exceed the time limitations specified
by the professor.
If a student represents "another person's ideas or scholarship
as his/her own" (p. 53 Faculty Handbook), that student is committing
an act of plagiarism. Students are expected to properly cite (in
footnotes, quotations, and bibliography) all sources used in the
preparation of written work, including examinations, unless otherwise
instructed by the professor who assigned the work. It should be
noted that some professors consider the memorization and reproduction
of material without citing its source as an act of plagiarism.
It is each student's responsibility to find out exactly what each
of his/her professors expects in terms of acknowledging sources
of information on papers, exams, and assignments. A gross act of
plagiarism constitutes a student's withdrawal from the commitment
to the academic honesty required by the Honor Code, and will normally
result in separation from the community.
- Social Concerns
Our social relationships should be based on mutual respect and concern.
We must consider how our words and actions may affect the sense
of acceptance essential to an individual's or group's participation
in the community. We strive to foster an environment that genuinely
encourages respectful expression of values rather than unproductive
self-censorship. Upon encountering actions or values that we find
degrading to ourselves and to others, we should feel comfortable
initiating dialogue with the mutual goal of increasing our understanding
of each other. The social concerns of the Code extend to all forms
of communication, including, but not limited to: spoken discussion,
posted writing, and internet discussion forums. If a violation of
the code occurs, it should be resolved via face to face confrontation.
- UPHOLDING THE HONOR CODE
As individuals who are also members of a community, we are obligated
to examine our own actions as well as the actions of those around us
in light of their effect on the community. If it becomes clear through
self-reflection or through expressions of concern by others, that either
our academic or social conduct represents a violation of community standards,
we are obligated to report our own breach to Honor Council, even if
doing so may result in a trial and the possibility of separation from
the college.
Similarly, we must confront others when their conduct disturbs us. Ideally,
conflicts like this will be resolved through an initial stage of respectful
communication and dialogue. When we confront another student whose behavior
has disturbed us, we must recall that this process is a dialogue in
which each party first tries to understand the standards and values
of the other in order to avoid self-righteousness or the appearance
of moral superiority. Additionally, a member of Honor Council may act
on behalf of another student in an initial confrontation if this process
would cause the student involved undue emotional anguish or place him/her
in physical danger (i.e., cases of physical assault). The Code and confrontation
with the intent for a trial are not to be used as threatening devices
against people. To do so would go against the spirit and purpose of
achieving mutual understanding.
If a problem arises which cannot be resolved by the students involved,
the confronted student is asked by the confronting party to contact
an Honor Council member to help. If a confronting party has asked the
confronted student to contact an Honor Council member, and a Council
member has not acknowledged this report to the confronting party within
one week of the request, then the confronting party is obligated to
report the matter him/herself.
Members of the faculty follow a similar procedure in cases of suspected
academic violations. They first discuss the problem with the student;
then, if not satisfied that a breach of the Code did not occur, urge
the student to report him or herself to Honor Council. If the student
does not do so promptly, the faculty member will take the matter to
the Honor Council.
Since we do hold ourselves responsible for each other, the failure to
confront or to report another student involved in a breach of the Honor
Code is itself a violation of the Code.
Honor Council is expected to confront other members of council in cases
they witness discrepancies between what Council practices and the procedures
outlined in the Honor Code and its guidelines. Council members are obligated
to confront each other and the administration regarding errors and points
of dissent with proper procedure in relation to the Honor Code and its
internal affairs especially if they feel they are not fulfilling their
community responsibilities or fully abiding by the Code. Honor Council
is responsible to the entire Haverford Community to do so.
- RATIFYING THE HONOR CODE
At Spring Plenary there must be a 2/3 vote in favor of ratifying the
Code, followed by 2/3 of the student body signing and returning their
ratification cards. If 2/3 of those assembled at Plenary do not ratify
the Honor Code, the Code fails the first round of ratification and it
is the responsibility of the Students' Association to create and sign
a petition requesting the collection of a Special Plenary. 40% of the
Students' Association must sign this petition conveying their desire
for and pledging to attend a Special Plenary. If 2/3 vote in favor of
ratifying the Code, ratification cards will be due the fourth and fifth
days following Spring Plenary. The ratification card collection box
will be located on a table in locations where Honor Council deems appropriate,
with copies of the Honor Code accessible nearby. There will be an Honor
Council member present at these locations to answer any questions and
to receive any criticism of the Honor Code, which arises in discussion.
Honor Council will make ratification cards accessible in the variety
of ways they see fit.
Ratification cards will have three options and a place for comments,
questions, suggestions, or criticisms. Each student is strongly encouraged
under the Honor Code to return the card or communicate to Honor Council
reasons why she did not or could not.
- ________ I have thoughtfully considered my position on the Code
and I vote for its ratification for the following reasons:
- ________ I have thoughtfully considered my position on the Code
and I vote for its ratification, but I have the following objection(s):
- ________ I have thoughtfully considered my position on the Code,
but I cannot vote for its ratification for the following reason(s):
If more than two thirds of the student body checks either option "a"
or "b", then the Honor Code is ratified.
If less than two-thirds of the student body checks either option "a"
or "b" but more than two-thirds of the student body returns
their cards, then the Honor Code fails, but a Special Plenary will be
scheduled to modify the Code in such a way as to enable a two-thirds
majority to vote for ratification.
If less than two-thirds of the student body returns their cards, the
Honor Code fails. Students should strongly consider the wisdom of convening
a Special Plenary. Such a Plenary would be convened only if two-thirds
of the student body signs a petition not only asking for the Plenary,
but pledging to attend. At such a Plenary, two-thirds of the student
body would constitute quorum.
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