University of Virginia Library

Single-penalty Rule

The committee voted 7 to 4 to retain
the single-penalty rule. All four
dissenters were from the graduate
schools.

"Many students refuse to report honor
violations," the report contended,
"because they feel that certain acts,
though dishonorable, are not
dishonorable enough to warrant
permanent expulsion from the
University."

The report declared that a random poll
on the Honor System conducted last year
by the committee showed that "a graded
penalty structure has wide support among
all groups of students."

Mr. Davidson, who is an Honor
Committee member, said, "if the system
is out of line with students' values, then
it will become more effective if it is put
in line with those values."

Mr. Bagby, however, said the majority
of Committee members felt that the poll
in fact showed support for the
single-penalty system.

"The poll seemed to indicate that
there is a lack of knowledge among
students as to how the Honor System
actually works," he said.

The Honor Committee plans to
present a detailed analysis of the poll
soon in The Cavalier Daily, he added.