AT THE May 1999 graduation ceremonies, I had the opportunity to give remarks on behalf of the Alumni Association Board of Managers. I made the following comments to the graduating class:
"If I could poll you all at this moment, I suspect that if there is a consensus, it would be one of ambivalence toward the honor system - some of you having little interest or doubting its relevance and others of you believing it has been a significant part of your University education and experience.
"Is it relevant to you and current alumni? Should it be? Why? Does it set the University of Virginia apart from other colleges and universities? Is this important? Is the honor system part of the legacy you wish to pass on to future generations of students?"
I believe these comments are as relevant now as they were in 1999, and I am disturbed that the answers to my questions would not bring comfort to the University community. I base this in part on the student body's reaction a few weeks ago to the Honor Committee's proposals which the Committee developed from the work of the Honor System Review Commission. The outcome of the Committee's referendum was disappointing to many alumni and others in the University community, particularly rejection of the seriousness clause for cheating.
I have known a number of generations of students, first as a college and law school student after World War II, later as an instructor in the Darden and Law Schools, University legal advisor during the Vietnam era and as a member of the Board of Visitors a few years ago. I have had the opportunity as part of the Alumni Association to work with a number of Committee chairs, all of whom have been dedicated to the preservation of the system, but have not been willing to come to grips with the hard question of whether the single sanction of permanent dismissal is damaging the student body's acceptance of the value of the honor system.
Having served on the Honor System Review Commission, I have learned about current students' views. While the single sanction was not thoroughly addressed by the Commission, I was very impressed with the work the Committee put into their proposals and into the efforts to explain the issues to the student body.
There are statistics showing that most high school students cheat. It would be unrealistic to believe that entering first years do not fit this pattern. Perhaps this is the reason that the majority of University students who voted believe that cheating can be non-serious. There may be another more significant factor, however, which involves students not being willing to turn in their peers when cheating is observed and permanent expulsion from the University is the only sanction. Are University students who say they believe in the system merely paying lip service to its long history while they really are not willing to enforce it among themselves, instead leaving enforcement to instructors?
Student mores obviously reflect those of society generally. Arguably, principles of morality, the underpinnings of the honor system, are under stress. The University has a challenge in examining whether many of these principles can be taught. It is encouraging that ethical programs in many schools, such as Darden's Olsson Center and associate Vice President for Student Affairs Pat Lampkin's undergraduate courses, are being expanded across the University through professor of religious studies Jim Childress' Institute for Practical Ethics. The ultimate test will be whether the students will take these courses.
Students have the greatest stake in the preservation of the honor system. The broader University community, however, also has an important role. In particular, alumni often speak of the importance of the honor system in their education. Arguably, this sets the University apart from almost all other institutions of higher education in the country. While alumni continue to believe that the honor system is the province of the student body, we strongly believe that its preservation for the benefit of current and future alumni is our responsibility.
I appreciate the difficulties which many students have with the honor system, but it is disturbing that the integrity of academic enterprise at the University, and a level playing field in grading can somehow accommodate non-serious cheating.
The Alumni Association has embarked on a $2 million endowment campaign to support efforts the Committee can identify as important to the preservation of the system. The Alumni Association may decide to use the income to enhance the training of honor support officers, to provide funds to assist ethical education throughout the University and to emphasize the importance of the honor system to the student body. We hope that these efforts will assist students in recognizing how important the system is while they are at the University and in their careers after graduation. I personally hope that in the future your successors will be able to answer my 1999 questions in the affirmative.
(Leigh B. Middleditch Jr. is Alumni Association president.)
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