University President Amy Gutmann urged students to accept individual responsibility and behave with academic integrity at a luncheon yesterday afternoon.
"Just by coming to Penn, you are implying that you will live up to academic integrity," Gutmann said. "I don't think you need to sign an honor code to be obligated to it."
Upon acceptance into the University, students receive an index card-sized note stating the Code of Academic Integrity, which they have the option of signing and mailing back to Penn.
The code prohibits cheating, plagiarism, fabrication and double submission, among other offenses.
University Honor Council Social Chairwoman and College senior Carly Steinbaum, who organized the lunch, said she hoped Gutmann's name would attract students to the meal.
Indeed, many of the attendees admitted that their main reason for coming to the lunch -- which was part of Integrity Week -- was to meet Gutmann and hear her speak.
College senior Will Arbuckle said that, in addition to wanting to meet the president, he was curious about what she envisioned for Penn's future.
College freshman Jack Lowey said he came to learn about the definition of integrity at Penn.
Currently, if students break the honor code, their case is presented before the Office of Student Conduct, where a group of faculty members decide on appropriate action.
"Being here is a privilege," Gutmann said, stressing that integrity is not limited to the classroom.
She urged students to "give back to the community to show that your learning needs to be put to good use."
"Apropos of the notion of [this lunch as] a tipping point: Be salespeople, connectors," Gutmann said. "Do what you can to make this atmosphere as honest and good as it can be."
Gutmann encouraged the attendees to take advantage of Penn's diverse student body. She stated that she loves seeing students from all parts of the world interacting and being friends with one another.
Penn is an "American university with an international perspective, a global outlook and appeal," Gutmann added.
She took time to explain her plans for Penn's curriculum. Gutmann said she approves of inter-disciplinary courses and would like to see more classes that are offered at the graduate schools to be opened to undergraduates.
The UHC sponsored the luncheon, which was held in Houston Hall and catered by Cosi. Attendance was limited to 20 students, who were selected at random through an online lottery.
Rachel Kohn, UHC co-chairwoman and a College junior, said the purpose of Integrity Week is "to take integrity out of the classroom. ... [Integrity] is pertinent to everybody's lives."
