University of Virginia Library

Student Poll

The burden of making sure that
the existing Honor System is
commensurate with the values of a
consensus of the student body falls
upon the incoming members of the
Honor Committee. How is the
Honor Committee to find out what
a consensus of the student body
believes? An extensive and well
constructed student poll is the best
answer. But then the question
arises, what is to determine a
consensus? Does 51%, 75%, or 90%
constitute a consensus? That will
have to be determined by the
members of the Honor Committee.
Thus, the ultimate burden falls
upon the student body to choose
those individuals for the Honor
Committee who will conscientiously
and objectively review the Honor
System and take those actions
necessary to ensure the support of
the students for the Honor System.

I am basically a traditionalist. I
believe that the existing Honor
System should not be substantively
changed. But how many of my
fellow colleagues agree with me? If
a consensus does not, then the
Honor System must be changed
before it becomes an ineffectual
and archaic body of rules; an object
of cynicism and scorn.