The Honor Committee discussed the possibility of removing the seriousness clause from some types of Honor cases at its meeting last night.
Now, if the Committee finds a student guilty of cheating that student may not be dismissed from the University if the trial panel views the act of cheating as trivial.
By removing the seriousness clause from honor offenses involving cheating, a student brought up on charges would only need to be found guilty on act and intent to be found guilty of the offense.
Education Rep. Jim Haley's proposed amendment states, "If the accusation is academic cheating, the panel will not take a second vote on the criterion of seriousness because open toleration of any act of intentional academic cheating is inconsistent with the community of trust."
"The time is right for U.Va. to strengthen its honor system," the proposal states. "A referendum would incite discussion within the University and increase interest in honor."
Haley said he hopes the proposal will make honor trials involving cheating simpler and less confusing for juror panelists by removing one difficult factor they now have to consider.
With this proposal such issues as how much a particular question or assignment was worth would now be irrelevant, he said.
The proposal also states that passage of this amendment would garner more faculty support for the system and strengthen the bond of trust that must exist between students and faculty in the University's community of trust.
The proposal sparked much debate among committee members during last night's session.
Engineering Rep. Nik Williams said he disagrees with the proposal, stating there are a lot of "gray areas" where non-serious academic cheating occurs.
The proposal does not allow the community to judge the impact of acts of academic dishonesty, said Pre-Trial Coordinator Lori Calvasina.
"The essence of an honor offense is how it impacts our community of trust and yanking [the seriousness clause] defeats the purpose of what we are doing," Calvasina said.
Any amendment to the Honor constitution first must be proposed by a two-thirds majority of the Committee before going to a referendum vote.
In a referendum, a three-fifths majority of the student body would have to approve the proposal in order for it to be enacted.
The proposal could be put to referendum as early as Feb. 28.
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