University of Virginia Library

The University Honor System: A Noble Endeavor

By MIKE MILLER
and MARK FRIEDMAN

(Mssrs. Miller and Friedman
are chairman and vice-chairman
of the Honor Committee.
–Ed.)

The Honor System which
exists at the University of
Virginia is a noble endeavor: it
is a manifestation of
student-administered
self-discipline. The faculty and
administration possess no
power to influence either
procedure or determination of
verdicts. Any aggregate which
attempts to discipline itself is
immersed in the noblest of
endeavors because that
demands the initiative of
adherence and commitment
rather than acquiescence to an
imposed coercion. A viable
assertion of self-discipline
fosters "a standard of behavior
in student life which promotes
a spirit of community
conducive to mutual trust
among students."

The theoretical foundation
of the Honor System is acutely
consistent with the educational
aspirations of Mr. Jefferson in
establishing this university. We
may condense Mr. Jefferson's
vision of the University into his
belief that "here we are not
afraid to follow the truth

wherever it may lead..." In
order to be successful, a
university must endow its
students with the opportunity
to pursue enlightenment
without dogmatic impositions
of truth. If we pursue that
avenue we will not remain
static because we are not
impervious to change. The
Honor System affirms this in
its historical evolution, being
flexible enough to reflect the
values of those who are its
constituents.

While the Honor System
properly concerns itself with
clear infringements, with
intolerable behavior, it is not
concerned with insignificant,
administrative matters. By its
very nature, the Honor System
cannot be specifically codified,
but exists more nearly as a
positive affirmative spirit
among the members of the
University community. In
short, the primary thrust of
our Honor System is the
facilitation, encouragement,
and protection of an
atmosphere of mutual trust
and integrity within the
University community.

The history of the Honor
System reveals that it is not a
static and unchanging tradition
immune to change. It is a
tradition in the sense that over
a century ago the students of
the University assumed the
responsibility for insuring that
their examinations would be
taken in an atmosphere of
mutual trust free from
dishonesty; it is traditional in
the sense that the Honor
System has functioned
effectively–though certainly
not without fault– since that
time. The Honor System,
however, has not endured for
such a long period merely as a
tradition. Rather, it has been
upheld by generations of
Virginia students because of
the type of community it
generates and because of the
positive effect which living in
such a community has exerted
on each student.

Predictably, the benefits
from living under such a
system are great. It is indeed a
pleasure and a privilege to live
in an academic environment
where one's word is accepted
by all without question; where
one may leave the room during
an examination without fear of
suspicion. We have ready access
to an Honor Loan Fund which
allows any student to borrow
money simply on his word to
repay it. Most local merchants
extend check cashing privileges
to University students without
hesitation. Yet, needless to say,
the greatest benefit lies in each
individual student's pride and
self-respect.

The spirit of mutual trust
relies upon the supposition
that all who enroll at the
University are honorable men
or women. Actions which
abuse this trust so flagrantly as
to be deemed reprehensible are
considered violations of the
Honor System. It is
indefensible to argue that the
Honor System can maintain
itself with the occurrence of
rampant violations. It is just as
indefensible to contend that
we tolerate in our midst those
who knowingly and
deliberately violate this spirit
of community trust. The
Honor System is more than the
Honor Committee; it is the
commitment of all of us to our
noble endeavor.