The Honor Committee voted last night for a resolution to support debate on the sanction reform referendum expected on the spring election ballot.
The resolution passed by a vote of 14-4 with four abstentions.
Through the resolution, the Committee endorsed the general referendum question "Should the Honor Committee seek alternatives to the single sanction?"
The resolution allows the Committee to support the debate on sanction reform, but stipulates the Committee will take no official position on either side of the question.
The referendum on sanction reform is expected on the spring ballot through a student petition supported by Hoos Against Single Sanction.
Vice Chair for Trials Nick Staubach said the endorsement of the Honor Committee will not affect the referendum, which is expected to appear on the ballot regardless.
"This is more about us endorsing the use of honor resources for the debate," Staubach said.
The resolution would allow the Committee to support educated debate on what has been a controversial issue at the University.
"This is an appropriate and swift response to something that has had a lot of conversation throughout the University," Secretary Elisabeth Epps said.
Much of the opposition to last night's resolution stemmed from the wording of the ballot referendum.
Committee member Sunit Shah questioned the use of the word 'seek' as opposed to 'explore'.
Other committee members expressed concern about the general effect of the language.
"The question seems unfairly weighed in the 'yes' direction," Committee member Matt Miller said.
Committee member Jeremy Chason said he questioned what sort of mandate the student body would perceive if the referendum passed. He said he also wondered what sort of timeline the Honor Committee would be allotted in pursuing single sanction alternatives.
Chason said he thought the Committee needed more time to come up with alternatives to the single sanction.
Regardless of the vote, last night's decision would not have changed the position of the referendum on the spring ballot.
Staubach said support of this resolution would only support debate on sanction reform.
"We on the Honor Committee want educated opinions out there," Vice-chair for Services Lorre Luther said.
This resolution required only a simple majority of votes to pass.
Hoos Against the Single Sanction Communications Director Sam Leven said he was pleased with the outcome of the resolution.
"I am happy that the Honor Committee saw it in their wisdom to support a question on the subject," Leven said. "I think this is the Honor Committee saying to students that they care about their opinion on the subject."
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