The Death of the Single Sanction?
The Honor System is the defining value of Washington and Lee University, building leaders of excellence and integrity for over 150 years. And during a time of cultural upheaval at our alma mater, the Honor System stands almost unanimously supported by conservatives and liberals alike. Indeed, a recent survey conducted by The W&L Spectator indicated that over 95% of the student body believe that an “Honor System is important for a university.”
But unanimity does not extend to the Single Sanction. According to the same poll, only 52.1% viewed it favorably. Both conservative and liberal students have expressed reservations about a “one punishment” policy. As one senior recently remarked in the Ring-tum Phi, “The fatal flaw of the single sanction is that it attempts to simplify a world abounding in complexity … It cannot account for the type or frequency of the violation, the student’s background, or, notably, the presence of an apology.”
Reformers have pointed to peer institutions such as the University of Virginia, which eliminated their single-sanction system in 2023. To many of our rising generation of Generals, the Single Sanction is a dated punishment in need of revision. The Executive Committee of the Student Body has even convened the White Book Review Committee out of cycle to consider amendments to student governance, including, of course, the Single Sanction.
Understandably, alumni are concerned that this cornerstone of our Honor System may soon change. But what can we do about it?
First, I want to commend the Board of Trustees for taking this issue seriously. Like The Generals Redoubt, they recognize the profound value of our unique system of student governance. I was encouraged to learn that trustees devoted part of their October meeting to discussing the Honor System and ways to reinforce it within the campus community. This is certainly a step in the right direction, and we hope that the entire administration will echo this commitment!
Of course, the Honor System is and must remain student-run. Alumni interference would undermine that independence, and by extension, the entire System. But that doesn’t prohibit us from advising young Generals. Students often seek counsel from alumni, and those conversations remind them that they are inheriting something sacred — a legacy of trust that has shaped generations before them.
To help foster those conversations, we are launching a new podcasting series — made possible by the Charlie Kirk Fund for Media Excellence — that celebrates the Honor System and implores our community to reconsider their skepticism of the Single Sanction.
“On my Honor…”: Community conversations about Washington & Lee's Honor System, will premiere this Wednesday, November 5 at 6 PM. This five-episode series will feature a variety of students and alumni discussions on the Honor System, its possible reform, and its place in the future of Washington and Lee University. Recorded in the George Washington Parlor of historic Fancy Hill, this segment is the focus of our digital initiatives through December, and will, we hope, reinvigorate passion for our alma mater’s greatest tradition!
This podcast also accompanies a new fundraising effort of the same name. Now through December 31, 2025, we are raising $75,000 for our Seventh Annual Fund. Thanks to several generous donors, every dollar will be DOUBLED through a matching challenge.
Can we count on your support to pledge “On My Honor” today? Together, we can help preserve the spirit that has made Washington and Lee truly exceptional.
Learn more about this campaign and upcoming initiatives by CLICKING HERE
Sincerely,
Kamron M. Spivey
Executive Director
The Generals Redoubt