Wheaton Wire

Issue date: 4/8/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Dominique Stassen ’12 Co-Chairs of the Honor Code Commission Arian Gower '09 (left) and Jonathan Wolinsky '10 discuss the Honor Code in terms of un-proctored tests.

The Honor Code Commission (HCC) Co-Chairs Arian Gower '09 and Jonathan Wolinsky '10 facilitated an HCC-sponsored event titled "Un-proctored Tests: A Right or a Privilege?" on Monday, March 30. The event was billed as a speak out on the Honor Code, in anticipation of the HCC working with the college professors on a faculty guide to the Honor Code, which, as is perhaps not widely known, applies strictly to students. "We want to have a passionate but respectful debate," said Gower as he and Wolinksy got the evening underway. The bulk of the event consisted of either Wolisnky or Gower asking a particular question and then taking feedback from students and faculty in attendance.

The first question at hand was "does the Honor Code hurt the academic integrity of Wheaton? Does it help students cheat?" Speaking on the Honor Code's allowance for un-proctored exams, Chad Mirmelli '09 felt that "while un-proctored exams may make it easier for students to cheat, I am confident that cheating is no less an issue at schools with proctored exams." Mirmelli's opinion was but one among many. However, some students felt that un-proctored exams were unnecessary and more trouble than they are worth.

Stemming from the initial question was the focus point of the debate: "are un-proctored exams a right or a privilege?" There seemed to be a consensus among those who voiced opinions that un-proctored exams are a privilege, and responses reflected this quality. Several students spoke on how un-proctored exams can ease test anxiety, while others wondered how much cheating goes on during sit-down exams versus on take-home exams, another examination method provided through the Honor Code.

The third question posed by the HCC was if they would support making un-proctored exams contingent on student behavior. Student responses to this question were more varied than they were in answering the previous two questions.

The final topic concentrated on how Wheaton can get its Honor Code to "be like Middlebury or Haverford's" - schools with honor codes that carry more prominence than Wheaton's. The premise being, as far as the HCC is concerned, that Wheaton students are apathetic towards the Honor Code. Judging from the low turnout at this event, this feeling seems to be justified. "I wish more people were there," shared Reid Lavoie '09. "It is really sad that Wheaties do not mobilize well." All of those who were present, however, felt that there needed to be more communication about the Honor Code, particularly on the faculty end and during Freshmen Orientation.

"I think [Associate] Professor [of Philosophy Stephen] Mathis brought up a great point that maybe the importance [of the Honor Code] is not being translated well enough to the students. Once during orientation is not enough!" shared Mirmelli.

Lavoie felt that "the more people that talk about [the Honor Code], the more alive it becomes, the more the students own it, and the more that it works."

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