This year the honor code has undergone a face lift to make sure cheaters are still achieving the grade they deserve, despite their behavioral slip-up .

“The biggest and most important change [to the honor code]to me is the addition and breakdown of the consequences and the fact that honor code violations will be an administration punishment to include such things as removal from honor societies, a record for colleges to see, and many others; instead of simply giving zeroes,” said Dennis Shows, an editor of the final Honor code document and Chemistry teacher.

Students will no longer “simply be given zeroes” because of the second chance policy.  This policy allows for the student to be disciplined, but not completely penalized academically.  They are able to make up the assignment or assessment for a certain amount of partial credit, decided by the teachers on that specific subject department team.

“If you get a zero, it can cut you off at the knees, and your grade is completely fried,” said Assistant principal Erin Lenart. “ There shouldn’t be an academic consequence for a behavioral issue.”

This policy is very helpful to students GPA-wise, but serious infractions of the honor code will now show up on their college applications.  There are also students who feel that this new policy is too lenient on cheaters and  that a redo is unfair to those who worked hard and achieved a grade the first time, not to mention while doing the morally right thing.

“If you cheat on a test, you shouldn’t get to retake it, you lost that chance when you decided to break the rules,” said senior Hanah Tomey.

Everyones cheated at one point or another, whether it be looking off someone’s paper, copying homework, or discussing with a friend what was on the test before they have taken it.  At WS this happens a lot, though most people don’t realize some of the smaller things are in fact considered cheating.

“There are a lot of kids who don’t understand what cheating is and make a lot of poor choices,” said assistant principal John Thorson.

Although it’s true that cheating is a serious vilation of the honor code and shouldn’t be left undisciplined; second chances will overall benefit students and they will still get their punishment.

“It’s more fair if they’re allowed a second chance so teachers know what you know, and you’re grade isn’t determined by that one incident,” said Sophomore Katherine Novak. “Everyone makes mistakes.”