Written by 12:31 am Opinions

J-Board Chair Talks Honor Code

by Conor Walsh

Image from web.

I’m about to go out in Charleston, South Carolina and I’m hoping that Changing of the Guard back at Conn won’t be too eventful. Of course I want everyone to have fun, but with just a few weeks until graduation, I feel like I shouldn’t miss an epic night on the hill.

Last night, on the later side, I remember thinking to myself about the school I was visiting and the kids getting absolutely sauced around me. The scene here is a bit ridiculous and southern hospitality only seems to apply when people are sober. President Higdon was here at the College of Charleston prior to Conn. They have a Higdon Student Leadership Center and talk about him as if he were the one that got away—he is legend.

I started thinking about Conn. The realization I had was that, for the most part, a pretty good bunch of kids go to our school. When I think about my four years here, I can easily say that my favorite thing about this school is the people who are a part of this community. When friends visit Conn, one of the things I constantly hear time and time again is how friendly our school is. The first time I heard it, I found myself pleasantly surprised. Now I’m just proud. We are all members of a really incredible community that I haven’t really noticed anywhere else. It shouldn’t be taken for granted.

The Honor Code we live by is not about self-scheduled exams. It is not about J-Board. It is not about rules, nor is it about breaking rules. Sure, these are aspects of the system we have constructed, but the Honor Code must be considered in terms of that which we value. The unity that exists within this community stems from our devotion to the school and its betterment. Until next year, having a beer underage and taking a sandwich out of Harris are considered violations of the Honor Code. Previously, we decided for ourselves that this didn’t make sense and disregarded such trivial infractions of the code.

However, no student should ever be forced to define their own personal code. Though the Honor Code may benefit the individual, it exists for the betterment of the community as a whole. When we officially make a distinction between the Honor Code and college policy, we are simply being realists. The College Voice joked in its April Fools issue that nine hundred students reported themselves for breaking the code for drinking underage. I’m happy that this joke will have no merit next year.

Why do we benefit? The integrity of the Honor Code is no longer diminished by our decision to disregard repeated infraction and we can finally be serious about the code in its entirety. Should we have altered our habits rather than the code? I like realism.

We are smart, responsible, ethical adults. We like to have fun, but we acknowledge the lines that must not be crossed. I am not above what goes on this campus. If I were, I wouldn’t have taken this position. Nevertheless, I must say that there is no room for vandalism, fighting or driving under the influence at Connecticut College. Too many instances have occurred this year and students need to respond to their peers when such violations occur. Will these changes lead to an immediate improvement in our respect for the Honor Code? I can’t be certain, but it is a step in the right direction. If we are going to have an Honor Code, we have to be in full support of it. Here’s to a good end to the semester. If you can’t be smart, be safe; if you can’t be safe, be smart. •

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