On Tuesday, April 13, the student body voted to accept an Honor Code proposed by the College Council. Three-hundred twenty seven students, or 71 percent of voters, approved the Code. If the faculty also votes to approve it, new students at the College will be required to sign the Honor Code. The Honor Code consists of the Statement of Intellectual Responsibility, the Statement of Responsibility for Persons and the Statement of Freedom of Expression and will be subject to review every four years.

The Honor Code was the subject of some debate because it recommends, but does not require, failure of the class as punishment for a student who is caught cheating or plagiarizing. The Honor Code states "The normal recommended course penalty for an act of academic dishonesty … is failure in the course."

Members of the College Council felt it was necessary to recommend a penalty, yet to also leave professors with discretion over disciplinary action in cases of academic dishonesty.

"The failure clause, I think, is necessary," said Mihailis Diamantis '04, an AAS senator and a member of the College Council. "The clause on failure simply strengthens the language to indicate that there is an expectation of failure if [a student is] found guilty."

AAS President Ryan Park '05, another member of the College Council, agreed. "What we are trying to do is convey the level of seriousness with which we treat cheating and plagiarism," he said. "Serious transgressions deserve serious penalties and although the ultimate control is left to faculty discretion, we wanted to recommend the penalty be as serious as possible."

Park believes the Honor Code is ideal because it still permits faculty discretion in determining punishment. "What we have done is given an objective, yet strict, standard for faculty to follow so that we can ensure a certain level of fairness between cases."

Dean of Students Ben Lieber, a member of the College Council, was happy about the approval rate and said the overwhelming student support would be emphasized when the Honor Code is presented to the faculty and Committee of Six. "Everyone on the College Council is really gratified by the acceptance by the student body," said Lieber.

Diamantis also believes that the support of the students was very important. "I think the results certainly speak to the general sentiment of the student body," said Diamantis. "Seventy-one percent in favor is definitely a mandate to proceed."

Professor of French Paul Rockwell, another member of the College Council, echoed Diamantis' sentiments. "It is a good thing that [the Honor Code] passed," said Rockwell. "There was an encouraging number of students in favor of it."

Park is also delighted at the response of students. "I feel incredible about the results of the referendum," said Park. "We've put a lot of thought and hard work into this effort and it feels great to know that, overall, the student body agrees with what we're doing."