Honor council processes require fixing

By Paul Anzel     11/6/08 6:00pm

Many years ago, back when I was a high school senior, I faced a choice between many excellent colleges and universities. In the end, I decided on Rice. There were a number of reasons why I made this decision: financial aid, my time as a prospective student and the knowledge that the Rice name would take me far. And there was one other thing that really struck me - the Honor Code. None of the other places mentioned anything like it, and I was really impressed that Rice trusted its students enough to give them a fair bit of flexibility with their papers and exams.As my Rice career draws to a close, I can say that the Honor Code has worked very well for me. I appreciate being able to do my math and physics in the Rice Memorial Center with a steady supply of coffee and to be able to take a test when it's most convenient for me. Though I've had some very long timed exams (those 5+ hour ones), the problems I've had to tackle are extremely interesting. And I like being able to consult my notes and books during a test; memorizing a bunch of formulas is a pain, and in real life I can generally look something up if I don't know it.

I have, however, had one bad encounter with the honor system. Just over two years ago I was the subject of an Honor Council hearing. And while I was found completely blameless, I can assure you that the experience was not fun.

There is one aspect in particular that sticks out in my mind.

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When the Honor Council receives word of a possible violation with your name on it, you will receive an e-mail stating (wording not exact): "You have been implicated in a possible Honor Code violation. The date for your investigative hearing is ____. Be there." You get the contact information for your ombudsman, and that's about it. Crucial among the information missing is what exactly you have been accused of - you are not told until the investigative hearing. In my case, that hearing was pushed back to the Thursday of the following week, 11 days away, due to scheduling conflicts for some of the council people. I've talked with a couple of others who have gone through the Honor Council more recently, and they too spoke of a fair amount of time before their first hearing.

Let me assure you - and I'm sure others will back me up on the experience - those 11 days were torturous. It all felt so Kafkaesque. I try to be honest, but had I done something inadvertently? Did someone think I did something? Would I be wrongfully convicted? Worse, my case was at the very beginning of the fall semester for an issue that happened during finals of the previous spring, so I had all summer to forget about any issues that could have come up.

In the end everything turned out well for me. A few people who were in my Honor Council hearing even apologized to me later for having to go through the whole ordeal. I forgive them. But the system as it stands deprives Rice students of procedural due process and needlessly lets students suffer during the period between finding out they are accused and finding out the charge they must face.

So, the question now is what to do. Here's a start: On Nov. 11, from 8-10 p.m. in the Duncan Hall auditorium, the council is holding a mock trial and panel. Don't think you don't need to concern yourself with this because you're a blameless student - a test can be stolen, you can accidentally drop a citation during editing or something else. Go so you have an idea of what to expect. And if you agree with me or have any other qualms with the Honor Council, this is your chance to voice them. If you're unable to go then have someone go in your stead or e-mail your favorite council-person. I'm writing a letter to the council myself on this, and if you'd like to add your name in support you can feel free to e-mail me at anzel@rice.edu. From there we'll see what happens.

But for now: Nov. 11, 8-10 p.m., Duncan Hall auditorium. Go!

Paul Anzel is a Will Rice College senior.

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