Most students found responsible for Academic Honor Code violations serve their suspensions quietly, preferring to stay tight-lipped about a subject that usually prompts rumor rather than public discussion.
But Gino Beniamino '04, found responsible for an unintentional violation of the Academic Honor Principle in winter 2002, will tell his story today during a community hour at noon in Collis Common Ground.
Beniamino was found responsible for making use of material in a lab partner's report in an unauthorized way. He was accused of violating the principle in summer 2002 and received a two-term suspension in winter 2003.
Beniamino acknowledged the use of his partner's work but said that he was working under the pressure of a deadline and did not realize that he was violating the principle. The assignment allowed the partners to collaborate, but according to Beniamino, he unknowingly used too much of his partner's information in his own.
While Beniamino did accept responsibility, he did not agree with action taken by the Committee on Standards.
"It was very frustrating for me because to this day I still feel like I did nothing wrong," he said.
As soon as Beniamino was accused, he contacted his class dean, who advised him to transcribe exactly what took place. Beniamino was allowed to participate in his Fall term Foreign Study Program, and when he returned to campus in the winter for his hearing, he was glad he had the transcript. Beniamino said that his solid account of why his report overlapped with his partner's enabled him to receive a two-term suspension rather than a harsher sentence. Violations of the honor principle typically warrant a four-term suspension. Beniamino's lab partner was found not responsible and therefore did not receive any disciplinary action.
Students are often found responsible for unintentional, uneducated violations of the honor principle. According to April Thompson of the Undergraduate Judicial Affairs Office, this is because Dartmouth's definitions of violations focus on responsibility rather than intent.
"When the COS deals with these issues, the first question they ask is whether the student is responsible rather than intent and that's out of fairness," Thompson said.
Beniamino expressed his hope that the academic careers of uneducated offenders not be interrupted.
"There's got to be more communication between the professors and the students," Beniamino said. "If you don't know that you are doing something wrong, then that's the fault of you and your professor."
Beniamino said that in his particular case he "didn't have a leg to stand on" because his professor explained his expectations with respect to the honor principle in depth in his syllabus.
Still, Beniamino persisted that he would rather see an offender receive a zero on the assignment then have their academic career disrupted.
"The biggest change that I would like to see is some kind of leeway for a first time offender. I think that will make the honor principle stronger because it will only apply to clear cut cases and not these 'gray area' cases."
Thompson noted that lesser punishments are often imposed on students who are found responsible but unaware. She also noted the efforts of the Honor Education Committee to increase awareness and understanding of the principle. Tuesday's community hour is part of the committee's agenda.
Beniamino served out his suspension in the Hanover area and began taking classes again Summer term 2003, after having reapplied to the College.
