| Honor Council Rice University |
Abstract of the Honor Council
Case #20, Spring 1998
September 9, 1998
Members Present:
Julieann Grant (presiding), Jeff Charbeneau, Steve Friedfeld, Jeff Gavornik,
Erin McCauley, Neilanjan Nandi (observing), Rachel Orkand (observing), Kasia
Solon, and Floyd Walker
Ombuds:
Loan Lam
Letter of Accusation:
The council received a letter of accusation from a professor in a lower level
science course stating that Student A's assignment was identical to Student B's
assignment, which had already been turned in. Thus, the professor suspected that
a violation had occurred.
Evidence Submitted:
Letter of accusation
Student A's statement
Student B's statement
Professor's deposition
Assignment
Student A's Assignment
Student B's Assignment
Plea:
Student A plead In Violation
Testimony:
In her opening statement, Student A explained that she was under severe
emotional stress from extenuating circumstances. Student A acknowledged that
these extenuating circumstances severely detracted from the time she could spend
on academics. Further, she said that such circumstances blurred her judgment,
and thus she copied Student B's assignment without Student B's knowledge.
Deliberation:
The council agreed that a violation had occurred, and examined possible
mitigating circumstances. Members proposed severe emotional stress and
cooperation with the council in the form of a plea of 'in violation' as
mitigating circumstances. The council agreed to include these factors for
deliberation purposes. Some members felt that Student A's emotional stress was
brought upon herself and thus was not directly linked to the violation. Other
members argued that the stress was so great that it warranted consideration in
determining a penalty. Members also stressed the severity of the violation
itself. The assignment was worth 16% of the course grade, and thus fell under
the consensus penalty of an F in the course and a one semester suspension. Lower
penalties such as a loss of credit in the course and an F in the course were
proposed.
Straw Poll #3:
F in the course 5 members (+2 observing)
Loss of credit in the course 2 members
F in the course and a one 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 that a suspension clause be
attached to her record.
Time of Trial and Deliberation: 1.75 hours
Respectfully Submitted,
Steve Friedfeld
Trial Clerk