The Honor Code - A Historical Perspective

As documented in Henry A. Wise's definitive history Drawing Out the Man: The VMI Story from the day VMI began the Honor Code was created by cadets, for cadets and implemented by cadets. Wise recounts how Colonel Francis Smith, the superintendents encouraged the cadets to make their own rules for cadet life and the Corps noting that "cadets framed the honor system in the early months, soon after the birth of the institute". Although the Honor Code and associated system were not written down until after the Civil War when the Corps and the Institute grew, it remained unchanged from its origins that a VMI cadet "does not lie, cheat or steal" Through the existence of VMI society, individuals and groups have sought to change the Honor Code for various reasons yet the single sanction Honor Code remained. Also as chronicled by Wise: The Code has been administered and enforced by the cadets themselves from its beginning, and therefore belongs to the Corps. In the broadest sense, however, it belongs to all VMI men [and now women] everywhere – those who have been cadets, those who are cadets, and most important, to those who will be cadets in the future. It is their most jealously guarded possession. While the Honor System evolved over time, change is impossible unless the Corps and alumni accept it and specifically only if the Corps willingly implements it.