Volume CXXXII, Number 4 October 4, 2002 f

The truth about academic honesty

The creation of an Academic Honesty Workshop for first years would seem unnecessary to many. Created to raise awareness about the penalties for plagiarism, incorrect source citing and other academic dishonesties, the workshop received mixed reviews. Some students felt it was necessary, or at least helpful, while others were indignant. But in the words of every coach on the face of this earth, "You have to stress the fundamentals."
Between September 27 and September 30, three reserve CDs were taken from the music library. The jewel cases were returned to the library monitor, but they were later found to be empty. In an Orient interview, creators of the new workshop said, "The Honor Code is a fundamental part of this community, however it is rarely discussed." The disappearance of the reserves itself forces a dialogue.
Bowdoin is the kind of institution students pride on being academically casual-not in terms of intellectual ambition, but of personal ethics. "Cutthroat" is not even on the list of characteristics to describe the College's atmosphere. So it appears that the "despicable act for which there is no excuse" (as one music professor put it), is either intentional theft or a simple misunderstanding. As there is a CD burner in the library, the latter scenario is unlikely.
The Academic Honor Code in the Student Handbook forbids "depriving learners of access, including computer access, to library information through intentional monopolization, mutilation, defacing, unauthorized removal of books or other materials from college libraries, or purposeful failure to return library materials on a timely basis." Considering the large amount of resources the College has for its student populace, this seems justified. Students and faculty are given virtually unlimited access to all of Bowdoin's equipment, be it technological, scientific or literary. So why abuse it?
The College grants us free access to countless resources-from computers and printers to sports gear and recreational equipment. To exploit this privilege for one's own personal gain is not only a rejection of the Honor Code, but also a universal sign of disrespect to every peer. Continuous theft, even by only a few individuals, will inevitably reduce the liberties of the Bowdoin community.
It is important that the fundamentals of the Honor Code pervade every part of the Bowdoin experience. Without basic civility, the College community will flounder in its attempts to impart honor to the academic atmosphere and ultimately into the students themselves.