Honorable

I believe the idea of an honor code would benefit Ursinus to a certain degree. I believe more in the unity version of the code rather tan the disciplinary or "rat out whoever you see cheat" version as that creates two moral conflicts internally. When a student has to weigh what is more important to them, a relationship or their academic career, it can become very shady ground, which is why I can understand the code was turned down before. However, if an agreeable code was made between the students and the faculty could be drawn up, I would completely be in favor of it. Just the stigma of having an honor code makes a school stand out compared to others and the code could (for a minority in my view) provide a psychological motivation to try never to cheat during their four years. It was brought up in class that schools with a long standing Honor program tradition usually have a far more powerful code sentimentally because of the tradition. There is no way that the code would really mean that much if just brought about this year, but in 50 years from now the sheer age of the code may be enough to have the future students respect it. And again, the code does not hurt anyone in the least, as long as it does not pit student against student with the snitching policy. I believe that we live in a Machiavellian world and that applies to academics as well. Some students seem willing to do whatever it takes to pass, even if they learn nothing in the process. But there will always be a minority who take the code seriously and will avoid cheating because of said code while they may have cheated without it. And even if the entire student body signing a code of sorts results in just one kid thinking and acting on it, I believe it will have been well worth it.