Investigation Abstract of the Honor Council
Case #20, Spring 2005
April 18, 2005

Members Present:
John Horstman (presiding), Mariam Chugthai (investigator), Travis Youngblood, Loyola Gressot

Ombuds:
Risa Gordon

Letter of Accusation:
The Honor Council received a letter of accusation from a student in an upper level management course indicating that another student in the course had written notes on his desk before an exam and covered the notes with his calculator

Evidence Submitted:

• No evidence was submitted

Investigation:
Student A argued that before the exam she was still worrying about the last exam that she had taken.  As a result, she was scribbling down summations relating to the previous exam.  She stated that the exam in question had been qualitative, so that scribbling these summations could have been of no help to her.  The Council members felt like they needed to find out if anything could be gathered from looking at the desk in question.

Additional Evidence:

• Pictures of the desk in question
• Test prompt
• Syllabus
• Deposition of professor
• Seating chart for the test

Second Investigation:
The pictures of the desk only showed that the desk was now clear of any writing.  As a result, the Council members felt that no evidence could be gathered to determine whether or not the scribbling on the desk could have been an unauthorized aid on the exam.
Respectfully Submitted,

John Horstman
Chair
Rice Honor Council