Why I dislike the single sanction system

This February, the Honor Committee proposed two possible options that could change the University’s sanctioning power. The University of Virginia has held a single sanction system for upwards of 175 years, and this February we had the opportunity to decide to keep it or potentially adopt a new multi-sanction system. 

Option 1 upheld the University’s past standard of single sanction, while option 2 opened the possibility for a multi-sanction system where crimes would be punished with differing severity, not purely expulsion.

Caroline Herre, Vice Chair for Education within the Honor Executive Committee, said that participating in these elections is extremely important: “Last year, 19 percent of students voted and that is a terribly small percentage of the student body – especially one that values student self-governance.”

Neither option reached the required 60 percent majority support to pass the University’s elections. 

It is surprising that in a University where student self governance is held so highly and regarded as a valuable differing point from other top schools, only 30% of students voted on a referenda that could change the entire basis of honor at their school.

It is our responsibility to assure that our voices are heard. A majority of Honor Committee members support maintaining a single-sanction rule as it keeps power within their hands. A multi-sanction system would require the introduction of a third party- an idea that the Honor Committee tends to refuse as it may take power away from the students that make up the Committee.

Though UVA puts a large emphasis on student self-governance, I believe that the introduction of  a multi-sanction system would only be beneficial, as a group of college students deciding on their peer’s expulsions can be biased either way.

A possible multi-sanction system, though going against tradition, would allow for fairness and differing levels of punishment.

Many argue that the Informed Retraction is a good middle ground without having to change completely to a multi-sanction system, yet IR still requires a student to leave the University for two weeks, even if the wrongdoing was relatively minor.

I believe that the punishment should fit the crime and expulsion as punishment for most wrongdoings is an extreme measure.

UVA’s focus on honor can still be achieved even with a multi-sanction system, it would merely allow for lesser punishment for lesser crimes. Expulsion from a university is something that nobody should take lightly as it has large repercussions on an individual’s life.