| Honor Council Rice
University |
|
Abstract of the Honor Council
Case #19. Fall, 2001
February 18, 2002
Members Present:
Kevin Arceneaux, DJ Brasier, Ayse Celikkol, Chris Conrad, Rebecca Daprato, Andrew Lee, Paul Murphy, Marie Ng, Aaron Martz (presiding).
Ombuds:
Joan Shreffler.
Letter of Accusation:
The Honor Council received a formal letter of accusation from a professor of an upper level science class that accused Students A and B of collaborating on a pledged final exam.
Evidence Submitted:
- Letter of Accusation
- Student A's Written Statement
- Student B's Written Statement
- Student A's Final Exam
- Student B's Final Exam
- Email Deposition of Professor
- Course Syllabus
- Grade Report of Student A and B
- Written Deposition of Expert Witness
Plea:
Both Student A and B plead Not In Violation.
Testimony:
Both Students A and B denied collaborating on the final exam, and both denied even knowing one another. Council members queried Student A and B about numerous similarities in both exams, which were nearly identical in their errors and format. The accused students noted that the similarities were odd but attributed to similarities in the course notes that each used during the open book final. Council members also asked each student to respond to the expert witness' report, which concluded that cheated occurred and inferred from the depth and detail of answers on the exam that Student A copied from Student B. Student B argued that the similarities were common mistakes and that there was no way he could have copied from Student A.
Deliberation:
Most council members felt convincing and credible evidence existed that a violation occurred. They each noted that the number of identical wrong answers could just not happen by chance. However, one council member felt that similarities in the exam could have arisen from similarities in course notes and could not be convinced otherwise.
Straw Poll #2
In Violation: 8
Not In Violation: 1
Abstentions: 0
Straw Poll #2 was made binding.
Since a unanimous decision is required for a finding of In Violation, Student A and B are found Not In Violation of the Honor Code.
Time of Trial and Deliberation: 2 hour and 25 minutes.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Arceneaux,
Trial Clerk
Back to 2001-2002 Case Abstracts.
Back to Rice Honor Council main page.
Last modified Wednesday, March 6, 2002. 10:20 AM
Reach the Honor Council at honor-council@rice.edu