<p>Dietcoke wrote the following:
"The Haverford honor code thing sounds kind of terrifying, really. I'd think long and hard about if you want to go to school where students are obligated beyond personal ethics to report cheating and the like".
My question: Is it true that students are obligated to report cheating?</p>
<p>Rose88,
D1 is currently a junior at Haverford. Prior to college, her secondary school also had an honor code whereby some students had timed take home exams...which she asked us to monitor. While at Haverford, she has had several exams that she has scheduled and timed herself...don't recall her mentioning anyone "cheating"...perhaps alum and current students can answer your question.</p>
<p>1) Hi Archermom.</p>
<p>2) Rose,
I think it’s important for you to draw your own conclusions. In my normal line of work, I don’t enjoy “spoon-feeding” students info but, as CC is “marketing”, I’ll let my better judgment lapse… however, as you’re interested in being a science major and possibly @ HC, I’d encourage you to begin working on your research skills now. I guarantee you that the professors @ HC, although nice people, will challenge you to find your own answers.</p>
<p>Please read the Honor Code 1st.
<a href="http://www.students.haverford.edu/code/code.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.students.haverford.edu/code/code.html</a></p>
<p>What the honor Code means to me
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=3415623#post3415623%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=3415623#post3415623</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=3369916#post3369916%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=3369916#post3369916</a></p>
<p>Examples of students taking responsibility for themselves…
Quaker Bouncers
<a href="http://www.philly.com/inquirer/education/20070218_Quaker_bouncers_keep_parties_in_line.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.philly.com/inquirer/education/20070218_Quaker_bouncers_keep_parties_in_line.html</a>
A student who was concerned about breaking the code and “reported” herself
<a href="http://students.haverford.edu/janderso/Doris%20and%20Schuster.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://students.haverford.edu/janderso/Doris%20and%20Schuster.pdf</a></p>
<p>What does obligated mean to you? If you are away in college and hate your parents but recognize that they are the ones paying your tuition, you may feel obligated to call them. If however, instead, you have a great relationship with your parents, the same action of giving them a ring doesn’t seem like an “obligation” anymore does it? The Honor Code (for better and worse) selects out students who are interested in being part of a community that has and expects higher standards of its members. </p>
<p>1st, I wouldn't characterize it as “reporting”. It simply says that if you feel your trust/ or the community’s trust has been “violated” by the actions of another, the Code puts down in writing that it is the norm and the expectation of the community for you to not walk away from your problem and to address the issue yourself first…. from cheating to destruction of property to disrespect. Yes, doing this is difficult but it is also mature and what important lesson in life isn’t hard? I know that some colleges argue that they “don’t need an honor code” but not needing and saying you don’t need are not the same. As a physician who has trained in “top 10” hospitals, I even see mature adults gifted in every way take “short-cuts”. In addition, look at business and politics… even among highly accomplished and very smart people, it is the EXCEPTION when someone actually steps up to the plate and calls it how it is… ie Mark Foley. Ask your parents… it’s easier in office politics to look the other way, ignore problems and then fume behind someone’s back. The Honor Code states that we can be better than that. For me, it wasn’t “terrifying” but rather empowering. The Honor Code makes you think. Whether you confront someone or not, the presence of the Code makes you at least realize what is the ideal and it makes you reflect why/why not you lived up to these expectations. Again, this is not for everyone and it may not be for you. Honestly, I think my college experience would have been far less complicated and difficult if I didn’t have to think about such issues while juggling backbreaking academics and ###extra-curriculars… but I realized that “education” isn’t just what you learn in books and is what I try to encourage people to think about here.</p>
<p>HC Alum,
Thanks a lot!</p>
<p>You're very much welcome.</p>
<p>I hope you get a chance to read the "Doris" abstract that I linked for you. The "letter to the community" sums up my best memories of the school and why I and many of my classmates still support the college.</p>