University of Virginia Library

Committee Begins Study

"Everyone must understand
and support the system to
make it effective," he
continued "We will strive to
make the system contemporary
to the needs of the student
body"

The committee has begun a
study to establish standards for
psychiatric defense, which
would ensure more protection
for the individual on trial

Working toward a
re-evaluation of the system's
scope, the committee plans to
poll area merchants "to
establish their credence in the
University's Honor System." A
limited student evaluation
survey might also be taken

The system, first conceived
in 1842 after the assassination
of a professor during a riot
against faculty surveillance of
examinations, provided only
for an exam pledge In 1909
the increasing size of the
University forced the
establishment of a formal
procedure, the Honor Code

Since its conception the
Honor System has been faced
with the difficulty of adjusting
to current student opinion

In 1956 the Honor
Committee Chairman extended
the system's scope to make
lying for liquor an Honor
offense In 1969, however a
student poll indicated that the
student body did not consider
this situation reprehensible
the committee reversed the
previous decision that year

The committee also felt that
it was unreasonable to apply
the Honor System to all facets
of a student's life,
Geographical boundaries were
soon established to include
only areas within
Charlottesville and Albemarle
county