Honor Council Rice University  
 

Abstract of the Honor Council
Case #8, Fall 2002
February 4, 2003

Members Present:
Joan Shreffler (presiding), Anna Ahrens, Kevin Arceneaux, Landon Jennings, Jason Love, Marie Ng, John Pitcher, Geneva Rhee, Evan Van Ness

Ombuds:
Travis Youngblood, John Fossum (observing)

Letter of Accusation:
The Honor Council received a formal letter of accusation from a professor in an upper-level social sciences class. The letter accused Student A of changing some of her answers after taking an exam and submitting them for a regrade.

Evidence Submitted:

Plea:
Student A pled In Violation.

Testimony:
The accused admitted to falsifying answers on both exams as cited in the accusation and in the addendum and expressed her extreme regret in committing such a violation. She also asked the Council to consider full cooperation as a mitigating circumstance during the course of penalty deliberation.

Deliberation:
The Council unanimously agreed that a violation had occurred. In an initial straw poll, the Council also determined Student A to be In Violation of the Honor Code.
Straw Poll #1: Is Student A In Violation?
In Violation: 9
Not In Violation: 0
Abstentions: 0

Council members then discussed the possibility of treating the two exams in question as two separate violations and giving Student A two separate penalties, but most members felt that the entire accusation should be given one penalty. The Council also agreed that the accused cooperated fully and in good faith in the matter of the first exam, since the professor did not have copies of Student A's original first exam and therefore had no clear evidence of the accused student's falsification. The severity of the violation, however (the accused falsified answers on two exams), negated some of the effect of the mitigating circumstance.

Straw Poll #4: Penalty
F in course: 0
F+1 semester suspension: 9
F+2 semester suspension:0
Abstentions: 0

Thus, the Honor Council finds Student A In Violation of the Honor System and recommends that she receive an F in the course and a 1-semester suspension from Rice. Additionally, a suspension clause will be attached to her record.

Time of Trial and Deliberation: 48 minutes

Respectfully Submitted,

Geneva Rhee Clerk

Last modified Sunday, February 16, 2003 05:10 PM
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