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October 5, 2009
School looks to clarify Honor Code
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By Sophie ’10 UV Staff
Administrators and faculty who work with the Honor Forum said that they hope to clarify misconceptions about the Honor Code, particularly about how studentreported violations are handled. In light of rumored violations last year and an UltraViolet poll that showed a significant number of students might be beginning to doubt enforcement of the Honor Code, administrators said students need to understand that when students report an alleged violation, accusers should not expect any kind of report back about action the school did or didn’t take or assume that action hasn’t been taken because they aren’t told about it. Students need to have faith in the system, said Assistant Head of School Laura Hotchkiss. “If consequences are needed, they will be taken care of,” she said. One step toward clarification was a meeting between grades ten through twelve Sept 8. Hotchkiss, Head of School Barbara Wagner and Honor Code Advisor Reid Cottingham said they hope the events of last year will create more open communication between teachers and students. “We have to promote more conversation about the Honor Code, not just when there is an issue, but always,” Wagner said. “Concerns that were expressed last spring would not have been as severe if there was more conversation about the process.” Much of the unrest last year was due to students feeling left out after they made an allegation. However, Hotchkiss said this confidentiality is important for the sake of the accused student. “If you put yourself in the position of the accused, you wouldn’t want the accuser to know the outcome. It’s a confidential process,” Hotchkiss said. Cottingham said that an illusion of a lack of consequence stems from a misunderstanding that a violator, if found guilty, will be expelled. “Many students don’t realize that expulsion is not a first-time consequence in the case of an Honor Code violation. There is a second chance,” Cottingham said. Wagner said that she understands students’ perceptions about a lack of consequence. “If your expectation is that the student cheated, and after investigating, Mrs. Hotchkiss does not find evidence that the student cheated, you may think nothing has been done if you don’t understand the process for investigation. Then you'll lose trust in the Honor Code,” Wagner said. Wagner said that a teacher’s explanation to an accuser of the process they will embark on is crucial to putting that student at ease. While they cannot tell the accuser the outcome, or details of the investigation, a promise to fulfill their duty and shed light on the truth is necessary. “If a student reports to a teacher, and the teacher doesn’t say ‘I will follow up on this,’ and doesn’t give the student more information about what the process will be, it may lead to a lack of trust,” Wagner said. Though difficult, last year’s situation led to “an opportunity to be clear about a process that can seem hidden or confusing to faculty and students,” Cottingham said. “I think students take it more seriously now,” she added.
SEPTEMBER PHOTOJOURNALISM WINNER
The photojournalism contest image must be one that tells a story. Freshman Ariela’s photo is of her younger cousin at his fifth birthday party at the popular children’s play place Chuck E Cheese. The variety of focus, with the blurred background and in-focus foreground, expresses the excitement of the boy while creating a unique perspective. Email photos to uvarticles@gmail.com to submit for the next contest. The winner will recieve a $25 prize. Criteria for judging submissions include the emotion and energy in the photo, the story told in the photo, and photo composition. Photo submissions must have been taken between the set deadlines.
School prepares for H1N1
The school dispenses hand-sanitizer and encourages sick students to stay home to prevent the spread of swine flu. By Heather ’11
if a student is out sick, she cannot return to school until twenty-four hours after With no vaccine for the H1N1 flu her fever has subsided, without the use of available until late November, students artificial fever reducers. Bryan said that he knows that students should expect to hear the same phrases worry about missing school, but he wants they have been hearing since pre-school: to ensure that anyone who is sick can make Use a tissue, cover your mouth, and wash a full recovery. your hands. Most pronounced, however, is “We want students to realize that if the administration’s plea to stay home if they are out from school due to a lengthy you’re sick. illness, we will do our best to support them The school began informing the upon their return and help them work out a community about the H1N1 flu, commonly schedule for making up missed work,” he known as swine flu, early spring. At the said. beginning of this year, Head of School He said that the administration will also Barbara Wagner sent a letter to parents be mindful of the fact that both students and encouraging them to take precautions faculty may be absent for longer than usual in terms of talking to their doctors about if they are sick, to observe the twenty-four recognizing, treating, and avoiding the hour policy. spread of virus. Every student should Due to heightened be eating right, getting concerns from the Center “[Common sense sleep, drinking lots of for Disease Control caretaking] is a life skill. fluids, and exercising, the (CDC), Robert Bryan, Relax and enjoy life. Don’t best ways to stay healthy, director of the middle Tinka Brown, physical school, is coordinating get hysterical.” education instructor, precautionary measures said. However, Brown against a H1N1 flu Tinka Brown cautioned becoming outbreak. These regimens, Physical education instructor obsessed with avoiding germs because the focusing on prevention immune system can be and education, include weakened if one isolates oneself. dispersing more hand sanitizer and tissues “[Common sense caretaking] is a among classrooms, and disinfecting life skill. Relax and enjoy life. Don’t get all shared surfaces, such as desks and hysterical,” she said. keyboards, daily. Phoebe ’12, who experienced a mild Students and faculty should follow case of the swine flu this summer, said the what Bryan describes as “respiratory encounter was only slightly uncomfortable. etiquette,” or basic hygiene. “I had a mild tickle in the back of my “We need to work as a community,” throat and a fever, but it wasn’t that bad - I Bryan said. sat at home with my mom and watched bad The administration is stressing the TV all day,” she said. twenty-four hour rule, which states that UV Staff
H1N1 Flu Facts Symptoms: A fever accompanied by a sore throat, stuffy nose, cough, body aches, fatigue, headache, diarrhea, vomitting, chills, and difficulty breathing. People infected may infect others from 1 day before getting sick to 5-7 days after. CDC recommends taking oseltamivir or zanamivir for treating and/or preventing the contraction of H1N1. Information from http://www.cdc.gov/ h1n1flu/qa.htm
She even joked that she would get infected with the swine flu again, just so she could relax. Although the severity of swine flu cases varies, Bryan has been working on contingency plans in case of a large outbreak. While the administration is undecided as to what percentage of infected students would require putting these plans into effect, the plans will follow those suggested by the CDC and the National Association of Independent Schools. The school is also looking at Red Cross and the World Health Organization for advice. “While we hope that classes will not be interrupted and that school life will go on as normal, if circumstances change we will take whatever actions we feel are best for the health and safety of the school community,” said Bryan. At this point in the year, the number of students infected is much lower than that required for an outbreak.