The Student Government Association passed a piece of legislation last year urging the university to create an honor code, not to hold students accountable, but to acknowledge the fact that Northeastern students take their education seriously.

Though no action has been taken thus far, the SGA continues to push forward on their initiative.

According to the SGA, the administration has asked the student governing group to survey more students and to do more research before the university gives the OK to enact a newly revamped honor code.

But the student government voted and they will not relent, they want a more aggressive and visible honor code.

As it stands now, the “academic honesty and integrity policy” can be found on the Judicial Affairs link found off of the main Northeastern Web site and on page 72 of the student handbook/planner sent out by the university this past summer. The current code of academic conduct was developed in 1999 by the SGA and then reviewed by then Director of Judicial Affairs for Student Life Jeannine Beratta. The policy was then approved by the faculty senate.

So why go through the motions again?

The advocates of the honor code argue that students need to be reminded every time they take a test, or every time they look at their syllabus in various classes. Visibility, not accountability, is key.

This is an oxymoron of sorts. If students are academically honest and serious about their education as the SGA suggests, what will a disclaimer on a blue book or a bubble sheet do? If the students want to be taken seriously by the university administration, signing on the dotted line is not the solution.

An honor code should not be discouraged altogether. Various departments make reference to the current integrity policy on syllabi now. The journalism department highlights the plagiarism policy for every class offered, and other departments should follow suit. Northeastern students have enough sense to know what is right and what is wrong.

Respect can not be earned through printing thousands of costly newly crafted forms. In the eyes of the administration, the signature on the blue book or the syllabus is not what will earn the respect. It is the grade earned within the blue book, which is the way it should be.

In order for the university to reach widespread academic acceptance across the nation, an honor code will not get the job done. Academic accountability will be best defined by superb academic performance.

The Student Government is correct, the power and direction does lie in the students’ hands.