Cheating is bad. So is plagiarism. So is any other form of academic dishonesty.
This sentiment appears on nearly every syllabus that professors hand to students on the first day of classes. It's repeated verbally in classes before big assignments are due. It's printed on posters.
We get it already.
Student Senate doesn't seem to think so, having recently proposed an honor code as an addition to the student code of conduct. While the senate surely has good intentions, such a proposition is clearly superfluous. For the most part, students cheat because they want to cheat - not because they don't know what it is. Signing a piece of paper will do little to dissuade an unethical procrastinator who finds himself with three hours to write a 15-page paper. Thus, the project amounts to little more than a feel-good effort by a senate that cannot figure out how to be effective leaders who serve their constituents.
Next thing you know, they'll be passing party codes of conduct, asking students to refrain from setting fires to couches and throwing beer cans at police.
In fact, the true purpose of this proposition is probably best illustrated by the idea to create an Honor Council charged with educating people about the code. Can you say resume-building senate appointments? There are millions of better causes that motivated young citizens can dedicate themselves to, especially in an area of the country wracked with poverty. Instead of repeating ad nauseam plagiarism is bad and turn in people who cheat
why not be super students by volunteering at a food bank or tutoring a child?
Hopefully, next year's Student Senate will be a little more responsible with their time and efforts.
Editorials represent the views of The Post's executive editors. 4
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