James Dama
The vice president’s role is largely undefined since the bylaw changes last year. I am running for the opportunity to define the focus of the new vice presidency. I’d like any chance to work with the honor code. It’s a great idea in its current incarnation. I doubt you care much about my motivations. Here’s what you do need to know.
First, the honor code I am interested in strengthening is a covenant among students and faculty in which everyone promises to respect each other to the limited degree required for mutual trust. I do not support spreading the honor code into nonacademic life and pretending that violating policy is dishonorable. Policy has its place. Pretending that policy can be a substitute for conscience does not.
Second, I am not entirely inexperienced in these matters. My high school had a strict honor code and I was involved with student protest against faculty hypocrisy related to the honor code as well as with a general push towards honesty among students, especially between leadership organizations and the rest of student body. I have not served on the BOC or the CRC, but the issues involved here are not new to me.
I will take this position seriously. It matters to me a great deal. If you feel the same, then find a way to talk to me about this. I’m not interested in being a lone juggernaut plowing through subtle policy decisions. Don’t hesitate to ask for a conversation.