Upon opening the Nov. 4 C.D., I
was once again greeted with a David
Giltinan rhetorical "tarnished
moon." Through the muddle of
mangled metaphors, images, and
illogical argumentation, I was
finally able to discern certain
charges against the Honor System.
However confused they might be,
they deserve reply.
Our esteemed Mr. Giltinan
discerns two Honor Systems, one
Platonic, one Democratic, How
untrue! Our system is a conjunction
of platonic ideals and democratic
realities. The premise upon which
our system rests is that our student
body has the right and
responsibility to require and
enforce a minimum ethical standard
of itself. Mr. Giltiman criticizes the
fact that both determination and
enforcement of the standard is
self-disciplinary calling it "cliche."
Who, then does he suggest should
be responsible for student conduct?
If not the student body, then he
must be advocating administrative
control!
The cherished editorialist
rather claims that the "Mad Dog
Tradition" of honor is tragically
flawed. Although his evidence, that
Corner merchants attest off the
record that the System is
ineffective, might be valid. I would
prefer the verdict of the student
body, as it is our system, not the
merchants'.
Last year, when offered a
candidate for Chairman of the
Honor Committee who advocated
wide change, and particularly a
shift to a graduated penalty plan,
the student body voted
overwhelmingly for the more
'traditional' candidate. Businessmen
may assert what they wish, and Mr.
Giltinan may accept their claims as
the death knell of the System; I will
listen when the student body
speaks.
Mr. Giltinan, ever the dramatist,
charges the supporters of the Honor
System with "insatiable cravings for
human sacrifice." Hardly the case.
Many people welcomed the changes
initiated these past two years
concerning the right to appeal, and
the right to professional counsel.
Such provisions hardly bespeak the
student cannibalism Mr. Giltinan
claims is rampant.
In consideration of Mr.
Giltinan's reformist (slanderous?)
zeal, I look forward to his
forthcoming campaign for
Chairman of the Honor Committee,
which, as a true Quixotesque
caricature, he will no doubt
undertake, and am especially
anticipating the opportunity to rise
from my "wallowing in the
University's present moral
dung heap," and vote against him.
