U.Va. students, in vote, reject changes to honor system

By: Times-Dispatch Staff | Times-Dispatch
Published: February 24, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE --- University of Virginia students have rejected a call to overhaul the school's historic single-sanction-based honor system.

The measure was voted down 5,539-2,188, according to tallies from this year's spring voting that were released last night. The proposal needed at least 60 percent of the student body voting in its favor to pass.

Currently, students charged with violating the honor code by lying, cheating or stealing are tried before a jury of eight to 12 students, and, if found guilty, are expelled from the university.

Opponents of the single-sanction argue many honor violations go unpunished because the offenses are deemed "trivial" and do not warrant expulsion.

This year's referendum question called for a multi-sanction system allowing for students found guilty of offenses not warranting expulsion to face punishment of some kind, perhaps suspension.

"I think the most invigorating thing about this entire process is just seeing how invested the student body became on this issue," said Nadia Islam, president of Students for Honor, a group opposing multi-sanctions. "It renews my faith that honor is still well right here at this university, that it does still matter to students."

Carey Mignerey, a third-year U.Va. law student on hand at Maury Hall as results were returned, said he voted against the multi-sanction change because he thought it "waters the notion of what honor is." Mignerey said the honor system is set up to punish the most egregious of offenses.

When asked if this is the last time the single-sanction policy would face calls for amending, Islam said, "Absolutely not."

The measure would have also taken sanctioning out of a jury's purview and placed in the hands of a three-person rotating panel made up of honor committee members. Those on that panel would have sat through the trial and issue punishment if a jury found the student guilty of a violation.

Sam Leven, president of Hoos Against Single Sanction, has said previously that the three-person panel would bring continuity to sanctioning. Leven could not immediately be reached for comment.