Sordham university, new york se Honor Code "ommittee Can the Calls For System installment Work? by Tom DiLenge by Matthew Browne The Fordham College Academic Com- Is an honor system suitable for the ittee has initiated a proposal calling for the University? Surprisingly, the success or failure ;radual implementation of an Honor System of an Honor Code at Fordham depends :or taking exams, according to Matt Nolfo , almost solely on an ability to overcome prac- 'C '88, member of the committee. tical limitations. Under the proposed system, students The proposal by a committee of students ould pledge on their applications for ad- ission not to commit any form of academic 'raud prior to or during examinations, and in eturn, exams would not be proctored. News Analysis tudents found in violation of the Honor System, however, would be subject to disci- for the establishment of an Honor System is ilinary action, without appeal, from a special a very lofty goal. It would be hard to imagine :ommittee of nine students, which would con- that anyone could come up with an ethical ob- iist of United Student Government class of- jection to the idea. From an idealistic stan- Icers. Rev. Gerard Reedy, S.J., Dean of Fordham College, met the proposal with caution continued on page 3 Sanctions would range from a one year's irobation, for a first offense, to a one year's iuspension, for a repeat offender. The Honor System would be in effect for both Fordham [College and the College of Business Ad- ministration, and would apply to only Cleanup Jacademic areas, Nolfo said. Nolfo, who stressed that the proposal is still in the earlier stages of its development, Project said that the purpose of the initiative was to promote a greater academic sense at Fordham. "The intention doesn't have so much to do with cheating," he said. "It's really to Underway upgrade the school." Nolfo added that while the proposal would not affect any Fordham student presently enrolled, an Honor System to Mu> O'Neill would be advantageous to the University in Fordliam service groups are preparing tor continued on page 5 the National Hunger Cleanup once again this spring. ""VTliB 0<&oiip Project, an effort to raise ,r#c/hey~fQr various charities by cleaning and ^restoring sUes in urban communities, will b« •h>id for trie second straight year at Fordham. The University's participation in the event last •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••a** year was spurred by the suggestion of past USG Vice-President for Student Life Mary THEM'OVIIES: McCullocb. According to Rich McCouch, SJ., Coordinator of the University's Com- • munity Engagement Program, the Cleanup is no longer under the auspices of USG, but is being directed more toward social clubs and total campus participation. Bill Hoogterp, director of the National Student Campaign Against Hunger, came to goes to U.S.A. for Africa — Hands Across Fordham Wednesday to discuss plan;, for this America, while the Mudents choose how to year's effort. donate the remaining money within their Hoogterp met with heads of all the social community, according to Hoogterp. ' 'Jesuit schools are service clubs on campus to get plans underway McCouch said that Fordham raised for Fordham's Hunger Cleanup. He said that $2,000 for hunger-relief charities last year, leading the way with Fordham and other similar institutions have Among the beneficiaries of Fordham's Fund contributed heavily to the project. raising were P.O.T.S. Soup Kitchen, the this work" "I have noticed that Christian or Bronx Association of Food Pantries, and the Catholic, and specifically Jesuit schools are Guardians of Life, a pregnancy counseling leading the way with this work," Hoogterp and pre-natal care center. said. Brian Bronsdno, CBA '87, President of Half the money raised in the campaign continued on page i5 ••m e&ruary 6, Monday, February 9 ^ee card lor Way TtSB"".: — "JO-A" 195? G^aDJE:*:*'. 7,0.? P'ese-rrs — Ton*: Chapin Tuesday, February 10 Saturday, Month." February 7 ,Amenc2.H Age Presents — S-.'-ev Chishoim. '2:30 PW. Ba* -or.-'. Reception To Fo^ow. 1 : r Men's BasKeib-a !: Rams vs. :"a. -*;a~:* i'S arf»sc. Hprrfe. 2 PW- Home. 7:30 PM Women's Basketbait: Ladv Ra""5 -s, Kartford. Home. 5:30 PM. Sunday. Wednesday, February 8 February 11 Dr»e»e~:s Presents "psycho" Thursday Use this form to list events in the CAB Calendar February 12 Lincoln's Birthday Cir>events Presents — "'HeartDi Tickets on Sale for "Panac^t tivity Period in MGC. Men's Basketball: Hams vs. Cross, Away, 7:30 Of telexes! te ll»or cmnaisitor tr tun mm. sntB' Unarna* t I»ff tst THE RAM/Thursday, February 7,1987/3 Adjudication System Changes Analysis continued from page 1 has not been altered significantly but that the dpoint, an honor code could only be looked procedure has been stated more clearly. upon as a progression in terms of academic life "There is really not much of a change ex- at .Fordham. cept in the language," Moran said. "It's really But noble aims do not always pan out essentially the same document spelled out when applied to actual situations, So it is more clearly — sort of cleaned up." necessary to ask a couple of important A committee of faculty members and questions before proceeding with the idea of students was set up as an advisory board for an Honor System. the adjudication changes, according to First of all, do the students want it? Moran. People who attend school at Fordham are A change in the structure of the seven- used to the system the way it is. Regardless of member University Judicial Council was also how the proposed change to an honor system included in the adjudication revision. For- is perceived, students do not really seem to merly, the U JC was comprised of three faculty have a problem with the current set-up. So it members, appointed by the President of the will be difficult to encourage the establishment faculty senate, three students appointed by the of a new order. | President of the United Student Government, If the students do accept the Honor 5 and the USG President, serving as chairper- System there is another question: will it really e son. Under the new system, the USG work? It is one thing for a student to say he « President will no longer be a member of the will not cheat but it is another thing for him to g UJC, an administrator will be appointed, and live by his words. And even if the majority of « one of the three faculty members will serve as the students abide by the code, abuses of the | chairperson. system by even a few could be disheartening to the many. Rev. Denis Moran, S.J. Moran said that several miscellaneous What is interesting is that mernbers of the by Matthew Browne Assistant or Associate Dean of Students must ambiguities in the adjudication system were Administration are cautious about the idea of The University Administrative Council consult with the Dean of Students before cleared up in the new draft. The revised ver- an Honor System even though they say that its approved a revision of the adjudication system placing a student on disciplinary probation. sion, for example, says that the adjudication success would be a positive step. Fr. Moran which clarifies the role of the Dean of Stu- Moran said that there has recently been a procedure does not apply to faculty members, lot of debate concerning the meaning of pro- mentioned that the size of the University dents in disciplinary cases, according to Rev. administrators and staff, or to Law School would inhibit the establishment of an Honor Denis Moran, S.J., dean of students. bation and that by clarifying the proper students, who have their own system. A procedure for placing students on probation Code and he noted that Fordham has not had According to Moran, the former ad- distinction is also made between dependent a tradition that is compatible with the creation the Administrative Council is attempting to judication system document made it clear that and independent students. In disciplinary of such a system. disciplinary cases involving possible suspen- emphasize the seriousness of the offense. cases involving suspension or expulsion from The Honor System proposal is certainly a sion or dismissal should be heard by the Dean "Last year there were articles in The Ram the University, parents of undergraduate and there was discussion of the fact that students will be notified of such action, accor- creative and ambitious idea and it is a good of Students. The power to impose lesser thing for students to consider. Realistically, disciplinary sanctions, including probation, University probation was meaningless," ding to the document. Parents will not be Moran said. "What we have tried to do in this notified of disciplinary action if the students however, the reservations expressed by the was delegated to the Assistant and Associate Administration indicate that the establishment article is say, 'no, this is serious.' " can present evidence to prove their indepen- Deans of Students. The new document, which of the system will have to overcome many ob- Moran said that the adjucation system dence. will be effective March 1, specifies that the stacles. University Moy nihan To Deliver Speech Seeking by John Strong As part of Fordham's Gannon Lecture Series, New York State Senator Daniel Patrick Computer Moynihan will give a speech entitled "Inter- national Involvements: A View from the Senate," Monday in the McGinley Center. Ballroom and in the McNally Amphitheater of System the Law School.