One of the greatest things that we have here at Webb is the strength of our relationships throughout our community. Every face is familiar, everyone knows everyone, both teachers and students alike. We exist in a very friendly and comfortable atmosphere. What we have here is unlike anything else in our lives.

However, there is one thing that not everybody seems to be comfortable with. It is the idea on which our actions are based, it holds the principles that define our community, it is the Honor Code. Upon hearing the words “Honor Code” in chapel, some of you may unfortunately be thinking, “Oh no, here we go again,” but I feel that what I have to say is very important. We all know that lying is wrong, that cheating is wrong, and that stealing is wrong. They are not wrong simply because they are against the rules of our school, they are wrong because the commission of one of these offenses diminishes the character and dignity of the person who committed the offense. This person is forced to concentrate on getting away with whatever it is that he or she has knowingly done wrong. If you cheat and undermine your own character, you are basically insulting yourself. You insult yourself as well as others. You insult others by expecting them to believe that something that you have not done with honor, has in fact been done practicing the values of the Honor Code. Is getting away with honor offenses, insulting yourself, and not understanding the importance of your honor a good thing? Of course not!

I’m not here to tell you to follow the Honor Code, you all already know that keeping your honor is more important than any consequence you may have to face. I’m here to talk about our relationships, and about how we need each other to enforce the Honor Code and to strengthen our community. It is everyone’s responsibility, both teachers and students alike, to practice honor and to openly help others do the same. I’m not asking you to turn every person you see cheating in to the Honor Council. I’m asking you to help the people who unfortunately do not understand the importance of honor. If you see a friend cheating, it is completely understandable that you do not want your friend to get into trouble. But it is your duty, as a real friend, to tell your friend that you know he or she has cheated, and to make them understand that what they have done is wrong. A conversation about honor should not cause any tension. If you make a mistake, and someone tries to help you, then that person genuinely cares about you.

If you are worried about a friend, or anyone in our community who does not grasp the Honor Code, it is your responsibility to do something about it. If you feel that you alone cannot help, you can always turn to the members of the Honor Council. We are here to help you, not to hurt you and to punish you. You don’t have to formally turn anyone in, you can simply pull one of us aside and ask for help. This is what you have elected us to do, this is our duty as members of the Honor Council. We cannot completely fulfill our duties without your help. We should all work together and help each other to really establish a true understanding of honor. It may take some time before everyone fully understands and is comfortable with the Honor Code. But I think it is very important for all of us to begin helping each other to act according to the Honor Code.

If you have an opinion or a disagreement with anything I have said this morning, please tell me or anyone on the Honor Council. This is the kind of communication that we need in order to strengthen our community.

Niti Shah

10 April, 2003