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Judicial Chairs Attemp to Raise Awareness ofthe Honor Code
By Eugenia Hannon '10
STAFF WRITER

The improved concurrents this year were intended to further the understanding of what is perhaps the greatest Sweet Briar tradition: our Honor code. First year orientation has been going through a metamorphosis over the past few years, always with the intent of finding new ways to teach incoming students about the school. This year the Judicial Committee and Co-Curricular Life tried to reform teaching methods, going in-depth enough so that students really understand what the Honor code is all about.

Laura Schaefer ‘07, the Non-Academic chair on the Judicial committee and Natalie Pye ‘07, the Academic chair, felt the concurrents really did what they were meant to do. In Natalie’s words, “Laura and I were glad to be able to have the concurrents; the honor code is such an integral part of life as a Sweet Briar student, and it's important that we get that message across as early and as often as possible.”

Laura adds, “I am very confident that the judicial committee is settling into a method of introducing and teaching the honor systems that balances the importance we place on it and the details of how it works. The concurrents inform students of the details and procedures and provide an opportunity for questions, the test provides motivation to pay attention during the concurrent, and the ceremony and the signing of the pledge canvas creates the sense of pride and community that can be shared between all four classes.”

It seems as if the teaching of the Honor code this year has really been changed for the better, judging from the Judicial chairs who run the program. However, did the first years really get as much information as they needed? Did it stick with them? The Voice took an anonymous survey to find out.

All of the freshmen surveyed believed that the academic and non-academic judicial system is fair and realistic. This is a very promising number, especially compared with the upperclasswoman response—around half do not think the system is fair. Also, about half of first years surveyed think the Honor concurrents changed the way they felt about the Honor code, presumably for the better. All but one of the students surveyed said they liked living in a community with an honor code.

The intimidation factor this year was also an issue. Some students may have felt intimidated by the system and the chairs, but our Judicial system is such a key part of the Sweet Briar community that most of the freshmen do not seem to be frightened. In fact, the survey showed that almost all of the girls are not afraid of the chairs. This is a good thing, as Natalie Pye and Laura Schaefer do not want to be feared members of the Sweet Briar society.

Natalie says, “I think I speak for both of us when I say that I HOPE we didn't come across as intimidating; part of the aim of the concurrents was to introduce ourselves to the first year class so that we would be familiar and accessible, making it less of an ordeal if someone does want to ask us a question or report someone.”

Laura adds to that thought, saying “Well, for the one [concurrent] that Natalie and I showed up late for I hardly think we were intimidating. But, overall I think it gave the first years a chance to meet us, see our faces, and get a feel for who we are as individuals as well as Judicial Chairs.”

Adding a personal touch to the concurrents has clearly led to a greater understanding of the Honor system as a whole. The first years have gotten past the fear of the possibility of being kicked out of school, and have all worked on their Works Cited skills. Now, it looks like the freshmen are really celebrating the Honor code, realizing that it is a wonderful thing that Sweet Briar is very lucky to have.

When students take un-proctored tests, and leave their laptops sitting safely in the library, they should remember that at other skills students do not enjoy these privileges. Sweet Briar students should also thank their academic and non-academic judicial chairs, who clearly enjoy the intense job they have taken on. Alum Denva Jackson ’05 fondly remembers living in a community ruled by honor: “Someone stole my cell phone the other day. In the real world, people are like that all the time. But here you can trust people”