Voices of Experience

Students who are found “responsible” for academic honor code violations at Elon are often assigned an “academic exercise” to help them reflect on their honor code experience.  These letters are to be addressed to new students at Elon who are enrolled in the fall orientation course, Elon 101.  Authors are specifically told not to identify themselves or mention the class in which the violation occurred.

As you read the honor code letters, ask yourself the following questions: 

1. What circumstances and what reactions to the circumstances caused this person to make the choice he/she did?

2. What would you do in similar circumstances?

3. What would making an “honorable choice” have cost the person involved?  How would the person have been rewarded?

4. What do you think are the most damaging consequences of violating the academic honor code?

5. What advice would you give to the authors of these letters?