The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 82, No. 27, Ed. 1 Friday, April 28, 1995 Page: 3 of 20
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opinion
THE RICE THRESHER FRIDAY, APRIL 28. 1995 3
Honor Council upholds academic honesty by fair means
I WAS very happy to see last week s
article in the Thresher concerning
the Honor System. Serious public
discussion is exactly what we need
to foster the system's improvement
and thus broaden its support. It is
also exactly what the Council needs
to help it uncover and correct stu-
dents' misconceptions.
Although I commend Sei Chong's
idea of going "behind
the Blue Book," there
were some omissions in
her article that I think
may result in some con-
fusion among readers.
But thanks in large part
to her article, the coun-
cil plans to publish a se-
ries of letters in the
Thresher next fall deal- ■■■■■■■
ing specifically with investigations,
procedures and deliberations.
We want the student body to
know exactly what we do, not only
because you simply have the right to
know, but because we want you to
be able to debate the issues sur-
rounding the Honor System accu-
rately and fairly.
I'd like to begin by highlighting a
very important detail that is all but
KHONOR
COUNCIL
Lauren
Kern
ignored in the Thresher's article.The
main student interview used in the
article concerns a case from nearly
four years ago.
Not one current member of the
Honor Council nor one current om-
budsman served during Erica
Ollmann'scasein November of 1991.
In fact, many of us were not even
Rice students at the time Ollmann
was brought before the
council.
I can't tell you ex-
actly what happened in
her case; I do not know
the circumstances sur-
rounding it.
And I'm finding it
rather difficult to re-
spond to several of her
criticisms as they seem
to be based on second-hand, specu-
lative and somewhat biased hear-
say.
Not only do we have ai^ entirely
different council today than we did
in 1991, but that year with all its
criticism marked a dramatic move
for improvement within the Honor
Council. I'd like to address three
areas of criticism that pervaded last
week's article from the perspective
of a current Honor Council member
and current policies and procedures,
as I'm sure this is what today's stu-
dents are most interested in.
6 [I]f the system were to
... accommodate a more
adversarial trial process,
we would lose the
purpose of these trials: to
find the truth, no matter
on whose side the truth
_ may lie.
First, let's look briefly at the fair-
ness and justice of trial procedure.
Several students quoted in last
week's article set forth the idea that
the system is flawed because the
council represents judge, jury, pros-
ecution and defense in its trials.
RPC defines mission, asks for input
AS THE end of the year ap-
proaches, we want to do some-
thing kind of out of the ordinary.
We want to welcome you. The
new Rice Program Council held
its first full meeting
last Sunday.
We are excited
about the upcoming
year and are full of
new ideas. Just to
give you a taste, the
Socials Committee is
planning a Disco
Night, a Rodeo Kick-
off Party and a Movie
Trilogy Marathon
plus all of the regular
RPC events.
A new addition to
the RPC this year will
be the Spirit Commit-
tee. Hie focus of the committee
is to promote school spirit and
awareness of campus activities.
Aside from our own ideas, we
are interested in the student
body's ideas. We aren't mind read-
ers, so we need to hear from you.
Anyone can apply to be a part of
the Program Council. Applications
for RPC membership are available
at your college from
your RPC representa-
tive.
The RPC is com-
posed of five different
committees, including
Student Services, Pub-
licity, Socials, Formals
and Spirit.
If you have ques-
tions, drop by the RPC
office anytime, or give
us a call at 5274839.
We are always avail-
able to listen to your
suggestions. -
Even if you are not
interested in joining our organiza-
tion, we invite you to attend our
meetings on Sundays at 9 p.m. in
Miner Lounge next fall. Please come
and voice your opinions and ideas.
Rice Program
Council
RYAN LEVY
JENNIFER UN
PRESIDENTS
KARI HOFFMAN
INTERNAL VICE PRESIDENT
KATHYWANQ
ERIKA WINDHAM
EXTERNAL VICE PRESIDENTS
ANOIE CHEN
SECRETARY
TRAVIS HOPP
TREASURER
ALLISON BRADLEY
PARLIAMENTARIAN
At the beginning of each meet-
ing after the welcome, we will set
aside time to listen to what stu-
dents have to say.
We are looking forward to a
great year.
The constitution of the RPC is
very specific in its definition of
our mission.
"The purpose of the Council
is to offer members of the Rice
community an opportunity to par-
ticipate in programs of social, cul-
tural, educational and recre-
ational value. The Council shall
endeavor to present programs
which represent and foster par-
ticipation among the members of
the Rice community."
We believe strongly in this
mission statement and will use it
to guide our decisions in provid-
ing the best programming pos-
sible for the Rice community.
Thank you for giving us the
opportunity to serve you next
year.
I won't forget dynamic Rice community
In a few weeks, the Thresher will
put out a special post-graduation edi-
tion. In that issue, I'll use my last
column to make a few remarks about
graduation and the real-world future
into which the Class of '95 will be
entering as it marches
collectively through the
Sallyport under the gaze
of Willy's watchful eyes
— eyes that I suspect
will still be shedding a
tear or two over the de-
struction of the Pub.
In this edition of
"Robert's Rules," how-
ever, I want to reflect on
the past rather than
prognosticate about the
future.
In other words, I'm
going to forego dishing
out the usual wit and
wisdom about the burn-
ing issues of the day to
which you've grown ac-
customed and engage in some senti-
mental remembrance of times past
and some genuine words of thanks
to people I'm leaving behind.
Although I'm not graduating this
year, the next time I return to Hous-
ton I will have spent the fall semes-
ter gaining some work experience
in the real world and the spring se-
mester finishing up the last fifteen
credit hours I need to complete my
degree in a study-abroad program in
London. Therefore, there's no time
like the present for me to wish Rice
ROBERT'S RULES
Bert
University a fond farewell.
As the last week of classes ends
and finals begin, I can't help but
remember the first time I set foot on
campus as a freshman and the sense
of excitement mixed with trepida-
tion I felt as I rushed
from classroom to
classroom during my
first day of classes.
I'll never forget
how my mother cried
as she said good-bye
before the start of 0-
Week, nor will I ever
forget the endless se-
ries of political argu-
ments that seemed to
follow me wherever I
went.
As a freshmen, I
honestly thought that
my open-minded ex-
posure to Rice profes-
sors and students of
different political be-
liefs — and by different, I mean lib-
eral — might somehow change or
soften my world-view.
Well, after almost four years of
history classes, political science
classes and arguments over every-
thing from the viability of Commu-
nism — my God, I still know people
here who honestly believe that the
recent demise of the Soviet Union
was a fluke and that the workers of
the world really should unite to form
some grand workers' revolution —
to environmentalism.
I can truthfully say that I feel
more confident about my conserva-
tive beliefs than ever before. To make
this declaration before you now is
not the very height of arrogance; it is
simply a statement of truth and a
recognition of the fact that it was I,
Although you voted
for Carter and Mondale
and actually support
national health care,
you re a damn good
professor and friend. '
not Senator Phil Gramm, who was
the first to use the line that "I was
conservative before being conserva-
tive was cool."
Along the path to my political
self-affirmation, I met some people
along the way who made the journey
both enlightening and entertaining.
To Professor Matt Taylor in the His-
tory Department, I can only say
thanks for helping me wade through
the history of the Cold War and to
think critically while doing it. Al-
SEE GOOD-BYE, PAGE 4
Bert Gall is a Lovett College senior.
It is a misconception, however,
that council proceedings should mir-
ror a criminal trial outside of Rice.
The fact is that criminal charges and
an Honor Code accusation are en-
tirely different things set in entirely
different environments. I fear, along
with many others, that if the system
were to be changed to accommo-
date a more adversarial trial pro-
cess, we would lose the purpose of
these trials: to find the truth, no matter
on whose side the truth may lie.
Honor System proceedings
would become more about techni-
calities and legalistic arguments than
about finding out what actually hap-
pened.
The key to understanding the per-
spective of an Honor Council mem-
ber is that we don't look at cases in
terms of sides but in terms of truth.
All of our procedures lead us away
from partiality.
These procedures have been
cleaned up and formalized consider-
ably since Ollmann's case.
For example, the council now has
formal non-voting investigators who
gather the evidence for each case
(both for and against the accused),
thus largely removing the potential
for bias in the chair, who used to
conduct all investigations on his own.
We have also established the proce-
dure for allowing the accused to
spend time studying all material evi-
dence before the trial so that he can
prepare a defense.
In response to the criticisms re-
ceived in 1991, the council has striven
toward consistency as an ideal, es-
tablishing consensus penalties and
considering case precedent in its
decisions.
' [Ombudsmen] protect
the rights of the accused,
and perhaps most
importantly, they watch
carefully for any bias in
members. ?
The second major criticism of
the Honor System in Chong's article
deals with the behavior of ombuds-
men. Ombudsmen serve as a funda-
mental check on the powers of the
Honor Council.
They keep the council in line with
its procedures, making sure for ex-
ample that character testimony is
not considered in trials and hear-
ings and that investigators are not
allowed to serve on the trials for the
cases they are investigating.
SEE HONOR, PAGE 4
Lauren Kern is chair of the Honor
Council Student Relations
Committee and a Brown College
sophomore.
Willy speaks out on Rice
Since this; s my last column of
the regular season, I thought I should
whip up something quite special.
Naturally, if this were television,
there would be some sort of
cliffhanger in which I get shot or flee
the country or something like that.
Well, actually, I've already fled
the country, and by the time you
read this I will already be in Bogota
putting a false bottom into my speed-
boat.
After all, I have to pay
off those student loans
somehow.
And let's face it, I
haven't been getting the
kind of tips I used to be-
fore I broke my hip table-
dancing.
Now that we've
settled that business, on
to the topic of this column: William
Marsh Rice.
Yes, as a dabbler in the occult, I
have had discourse with the dead on
occasion.
Using only a Crystal Ball™, the
Dion Warwick Staff o' Voodoo Might
and a copy of the Necronomicon
(autographed by the Mad Arab him-
self) I called forth William Marsh
Rice from beyond the grave in order
to play 20 questions.
He was grumpy, but willing.
The following is a "partial tran-
script of our conversation (I have
edited out discussion of topics which
would not interest most people ...
the nature of life after death, how
many angels can dance on the head
of a pin, who'll win the next Super
Bowl, stuff like that).
JS: William Marsh Rice ... I want
to speak with William Marsh Rice.
RN: Jym? Is that you? You know
there's something I was going to tell
you the other day. ...
JS: Not right now, Mr. Nixon. I
want to talk to William Marsh Rice.
RN: Hey, Rice! Crystal Ball™ for
you. ... (Sound of ghostly footsteps
can be heard.)
WR: What? This better be good. I
was just getting up a card game with
some old friends.
JS: I'd like to ask you a few ques-
tions. I write for the Thresher.
WR: The Thresher?
JS: The newspaper at William
Marsh Rice University.
WR: Oh, oh. That's right. So what
can I do for you?
JS: I was just wondering what you
think of your educational namesake
Jym
Schwartz
today.
WR: Well, things didn't quite turn
out the way I planned it. ... But
overall I guess I can't complain.
JS: Why not?
WR: Because I'm dead. What are
you, stupid? Did you say you're a
student?
JS: What sort of things didn't you
expect to happen at Rice University?
WR: Well, 1 guess the biggest
problem is this whole
tuition thing. If I were
still alive, the endow-
ment would have
been invested prop-
erly such that Rice
could still be free. But
then again, not every-
body has the genius
to make money like I
did.
JS: Where should the endowment
be invested?
WR: Alternative energy sources.
Hydrothermal, solar ... that sort of
thing. The oil will run out soon
enough, and then what are you go-
ing to do? People who control re-
newable energy sources will run the
world 100 years from now.
JS: What do you think of the stu-
dents?
' JS: Any thoughts on
the integration of men
and women within
colleges ?
WR: Seems to me that
sort of thing promotes
fornication. '
WR: Hm? Oh, eggheads, the lot
of'em. Worrying about "are we intel-
lectual enough" or "who has the
more difficult curriculum." ... If 1
still had to eat, it would make me
chunder. What a bunch of simper-
ing status-seekers. These kids
should be concerned with their own
SEE WILLY. PAGE 4
Jym Schwartz is a third-year graduate
student in the Department of Geology
and Geophysics.
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Klein, Charles & Rao, Vivek. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 82, No. 27, Ed. 1 Friday, April 28, 1995, newspaper, April 28, 1995; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth246512/m1/3/: accessed June 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.