February 20, 2000

Honor Council Minutes

“Which professor will I sleep with?” Jenn

Present: Katie Brinner, Koby Feingold, Lev Miskoen, Mike Ranen, Audrey Ference, Randy Ko, Lucy Lyon (Co-Chair), Noel Pacheco, Scott Burau, Sarah Domby, Jenn Louie (Co-Chair), Ari Worthman, Hannah Dickinson, Mike Freedman, Celeste Moore, Ethan Sorrelgreen

I. Moment of Silence

II. General Discussions

Several of the committees that you were introduced to last week have already met and started planning the basics. You’re going to get a serious rundown of committee happenings; it won’t normally be this extensive. The Faculty Relations gang met and decided that the orientation program used to introduce new faculty to the Code might be a little under par. Usually, the Honor Council co-chairs speak briefly to the new faculty about the Code and answer any questions. The committee believes a lunch sponsored by Honor Council with HC representatives and new faculty would be a good idea; they will be visiting with Elaine Hansen about the matter. Someone mentioned that many faculty members do not receive abstracts as they should – we’ll certainly be checking that out. A suggestion raised was to invite faculty members to regular Council meetings, and Jenn also questioned having two abstract discussions so that the faculty can attend.

HCO Relations Committee met with the HCOC heads, Marika Athens and Lisa Berenson. Our subcommittee is willing to get involved in whatever capacity the HCO program requires. One hopeful is to have HC members attend some HCO trainings after Spring Break. Ah, the break… We’ll keep you posted on what we’re doing with HCOs.

Katie has done a lovely job with the Honor Council board in the Whitehead Campus Center – do drop by and take a look. If you ever need to get a hold of Council, that will be your base of information.

The Admissions kids went to a ‘spec dinner’ this past weekend, where there were several prospective students with questions galore about Haverford and the Code. They were asking some questions about consensus and the like. Ari mentioned a concern that in the past, when someone called the Admissions Office and had a question about the Code, they were directed to Honor Council, where the phone would ring endlessly or it was just an answering machine. We will most likely be readjusting the machine so that prospectives can get in touch quicker with a Council member.

We spoke about the status of the Comment Board and whether or not a community forum to discuss it would be productive or useful. Jenn said she has heard people saying that the Comment Board is getting out of control and that people don’t feel comfortable putting stuff up there. Koby said it is good to have something controversial happen so as to spark dialogue and to bring problems into the open. So, then, we have decided to hold a Discussion about the Comment Board on Monday, February 28 at 10.15 in Founder’s Common Room (unless otherwise noted). Watch for reminders!

The Retreat will take place this weekend (February 26 and 27). Kate Sedgwick will be leading a good deal of our retreat, and Louie Tritton will discuss consensus and the like. We will be staying the night off campus and will return to homebase to hold our actual trainings.

Mr. Ranen told us that he had spoken to the Morristown Friends Honor Council recently, as they are currently trying to form an Honor Council-type organization. He answered some questions and, upon reflection, said they were “nice kids.”

As there is a detailed Secretary’s manual, we will be compiling a similar guide for Chair – especially after the Executive Council resolution passed at Plenary. Now there is no semester-length staggering of Chair and Secretary. Not a problem, not a problem…

Plenary took place this evening, and the Honor Code was passed with 317 votes (312 was the required number based on the number of people in the fieldhouse at the time). There were 118 votes of the Nay-type and 34 abstains. Thursday & Friday, Honor Council representatives will be in the Dining Center during mealtimes and in the Campus Center both days to collect ratification cards. If you have any questions about the procedure or the Code, please contact us.

III. Confidential Portion

IV. Moment of Silence

These minutos are not necessarily the view of Haverford College but rather represent my feeling of the meeting as it took place this evening. And might I say that as I type these, I can barely keep my eyes open. The only thing that keeps me going as I type (besides the intriguing content of the minutes) is FM 92.5 – all country, all the time. Live a little and give it a listen. And you know what else helps? Cadbury Eggs – don’t pass them up this time of year. Have a good one, folks. Don’t forget to turn in your ratification card marked Yes or No for the Code.

*** Weekly meetings held in the Pendle Hill Room of the Dining Center at 5:00 PM every Sunday! Come by with your suggestions and comments – it’s a nice room, a good change of pace, and good let Council know what you think…