Honor the Honor Code

I recall having to appear as a witness in a student’s hearing, apparently for copying off another’s paper. It was conducted with great seriousness, and a lot of respect was given to those who testified. I remember feeling that I was a part of a great system that had been devised by very enlightened persons — a system whereby students were examined by other students whose recommendations were binding to the authorities. 

I interview applicants to Princeton from Bangladesh as an ASC volunteer. The climate of the examination rooms in this country is so dramatically different that when I explain the Honor Code to these students they are totally amazed, if not perplexed.