Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/532

 466 A mSTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO The story of still another effort to serve the public is told in the President's Report for 1913-14, as follows: From October i, 1912, to April i, 1914, Professor J. Laurence Laughlin, Head of the Department of Political Economy, was on leave of absence from the University, acting as chairman of the Executive Committee of the National Citizens' League for the Promotion of a Sound Banking System. In that capacity Professor Laughlin was able to render a large service to those engaged in planning the organization of a new system of banking and currency for the United States. These are illustrations only of the services of a similar nature the developing University was called upon to render outside its own walls. Meantime inside the quadrangles new and interesting develop- ments were taking place among the students. One of the most interesting things in the history of the University was the gradual growth of undergraduate sentiment against dishonesty in college work. This sentiment so increased that in the Autumn Quarter of 1913 the undergraduates voted more than four to one in favor of the temporary formation of an "honor commission." This com- mission was a committee of students to investigate instances of cheating and to recommend to the faculty penalties for those found guilty. The following statement is quoted from the Cap and Gown of 1914, showing the progress of this movement and the under- graduate view of it: At the Council elections in February the Honor Commission was made a permanent organization of the University of Chicago. It is composed of ten undergraduates five men and five women and has regular weekly meetings. It has the power of hearing cases and recommending punishments formerly possessed by the Board of Deans. Both the faculty and students report cases for its decision. Although the Commission possesses full judicial authority and has already acted on cases, its aim is educational rather than wholly judicial. It is working to bring about a clearer understanding by instructors and students as to what constitutes dishonesty, and to secure greater uniformity in the conduct of examinations. It hopes eventually to create a sentiment against cheating, which shall render dishonesty impossible at the University of Chicago. Such were the beginnings of a noble tradition of high honor in all student relations with the University.