Task force reviews Honor Code By Katharine Hall News Editor A task force created by President Doug Bennet, investigating the rise of Honor Code violations at the University recommended making the code more visible and transparent on campus and encouraged greater faculty input on the board, according to its February 2003 report. The task force of approximately five students and seven faculty members was responding to the finding that Wesleyan has a higher rate of Honor Code violations than peer schools such as Williams, Middlebury and Wellesley. “There is something not being done right here at Wesleyan,” said John Salzer, chair of the Astronomy Department and head of the task force. “And that should, I hope, raise a red flag for everyone.” According to the report, the University saw Honor Code violations increase from 12 to 55 cases between the academic years of 1998-1999 and 1999-2000. This contrasts sharply with Middlebury, which oscillated from 17 to 24 cases in that time period (www.middlebury.edu). As of February, the average number of cases per academic year for the past three years at Wesleyan is 42. According to Salzer, the task force reviewed Honor Board materials, including statistical data, from the Dean’s Office, met with Honor Board members and President Doug Bennet and held forums for faculty members and students. Salzer said that the most surprising finding was the lack of knowledge among Wesleyan community members about the Honor Code and the Honor Board procedures. “I was very surprised at how little students seemed to know or understand the Honor Code,” Salzer said. “We didn’t recommend that they change the Honor Code per say, but that they educate the community about it.” The two main recommendations made by the task force were to improve the way the Honor Code is presented to students and the way it is understood by the faculty. The report also recommends more active education and awareness about the Honor Code for freshmen during orientation. While this year’s freshman were required to attend a detailed session during orientation regarding plagiarism, the Honor Board, and the Student Judiciary Board, the task force found that more could be done to increase awareness. One further suggestion was to have meetings about the importance of honor at Wesleyan and to have students sign their pledge cards at these meetings, instead of mailing them in as they currently do. Another task force recommendation is to put faculty members on the Honor Board as non-voting advisors, in the capacity that Dean of the College Freddye Hill does now. Currently the Honor Board is made up of two seniors and two juniors. They suggested that permanent faculty advisors could bring this perspective to the table. Director of University Communications Justin Harmon said that because student members only serve on the board for two years, they might not have an extensive understanding of the history and goals of the honor system at Wesleyan. “We do think it’s important that Wesleyan be accountable to the community,” Harmon said. While Salzer is quick to mention that the task force did not focus exclusively on statistical data, he did comment on the overall increase in violations and the elevated percentage of violations from male student athletes. “In one or two semesters 50 percent of Honor Board cases involved complaints filed against male students,” Salzer said. “It’s worth nothing that about 30 percent of male students at Wesleyan are athletes in one sport or another. Statistically there is not a huge difference in what you’d expect.” While the suggestions listed above were presented to Bennet by the task force in February 2003, Salzer is skeptical about the extent that change will actually occur. “I haven’t been very impressed with the level at which recommendations from the task force have been implemented,” Salzer said. Harmon said Hill is closely reviewing the recommendations. “Bennet endorsed the report last year in principle and promised further discussion about it,” Harmon said. “One of the goals this year is to work with students and faculty through the Dean’s Office about what Task Force goals to adopt.” Hill will present the recommendations of the report to the Student Life Committee and the Educational Policy Committee. According to Hill, students will play a large role in implementing any changes. “The report, in my opinion, is about what kind of community we want and need for every member to achieve their goals and to feel safe and comfortable and respected,” Hill said. Harmon also emphasized the importance of the report, saying that it addresses issues that extend beyond specific Honor Board cases. “I think the real point is how we all can embrace the Honor Code and work together to make sure it is part of daily life around here,” Harmon said. “You do want a culture where students have a sense of integrity about their work.” According to Salzer, academic integrity should be more of a concern for students than it seems to be, particularly given the recent number of violations. Salzer stressed that motivated students are the only ones who can change the honor system. “The Honor Board is strictly a student organization and the creation of the Honor Code was a strictly student thing,” Salzer said. “It has got to be the students who initiate this. It is a student-owned process.” Information on past Honor Board cases, including individual case summaries and general statistics, some of which was used in the report, is posted on the website of the Office of the Dean of the College.

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