The Honor System is an agreement among all members of the community to live and work together honorably, trusting implicitly in the honesty, sincerity, fairness, and consideration of others. As we believe that all individuals are capable of properly managing their freedom, we do not consider that the Honor System imposes unreasonable burdens on us. However, it is recognized that some individuals may be unable to understand or unwilling to accept these responsibilities.
It is the premise of our Honor System that any action which results in the taking of unfair advantage of any other member of the community violates the Honor System. Academic pressures, selfishness, lack of forethought, and ignorance are the usual causes of Honor System violations. However, the diversity of experience, cultural backgrounds, and outlooks of our members which enriches our lives here at Caltech may also lead to conflicts with the Honor System. Consequently, bodies must exist to counsel, advise, and otherwise assist us all to live within the Honor System and to protect the majority from those few individuals who are unable to conduct themselves responsibly in an atmosphere of trust.
In recognition of the integrity and thoughtfulness of Caltech students, these tasks have been entrusted primarily to student boards by the administration. Interpretations of the Honor Code and details of current GRB operations as part of the Honor System are discussed in the pages to follow.