The Point of an Honor Code

Every college, including Ursinus should have an honor code. Every student should be trustworthy and not cheat no matter what the situation but there would need to be strict rules to punish those who did not follow the honor code and rules for what was and was not an honor violation. Students helping each other with their homework or with studying would need to be okay because that is a good way for people to improve in an honest manner. A person can't cheat by studying. They will either know it or not know it. However, giving answers to another student or a general overview of the quiz before, after, or during the quiz would definately be an honor violation. It gives an unfair advantage to certain students because they will know the contents of the quiz before they take it. Just rules will not give the honor system strength. In order to enforce the honor code, an honor board would need to be installed to look at the situation with unbiast eyes. This honor board would need to be made of both students and professors with everybody having equal say on the board so as to have a fair advantage so that neither side could try to rule the board. The punishments would have to be severe. The lightest violation should be a suspension. A good school does not need cheaters in it so they should be weeded out as soon as they are caught. With only the top students with the top characters at Ursinus, it would become truly a top college.