Honesty and Integrity

Does Ursinus College need an honor code, no, but should it get one, yes. While many of the students here are good, honest people who signing the paper would make no changes to their actions, there are some who the paper would probably make them think twice about what they were about to do. Some may say that it’s just a piece of paper and it really doesn’t make a difference, however read Anya’s post about her cheating happy friend who began to change his actions. While we may not like to admit it, the human race takes great pride in our honor and what others think of us, and due to that pride we want to do things that make us honorable, or not do things that make us dishonorable.
In our honor code we need to specify exactly what cheating is and what the punishment for doing it will be. Cheating is either taking another students answers for a graded assignment and getting credit for material you did not know, or using another students work as your own such as having a friend write your paper or do your homework. The punishment for all forms of cheating should be an automatic zero as a graded assignment and community service hours. Community service because it would teach them to work hard and honestly towards a goal. That is the honor code that I feel would work well at Ursinus College if one was to be instated, which would be a good idea.