In the curse, Communications in Business 316, we had to do a 4-5 person group presentation last semester. In our group the four of us split up the work among ourselves and meet regularly to discuss the results.

Our first meeting was scheduled for the same day we have got the assignment. It was just a short meeting in which we would decide how the work would be divided. Paul Thompson, a member of our group, said he could not come due to a review session in another class. That was all right since everybody else was there to get the work done. He never did show, then or later up, until the presentation. The three of us did the presentation alon, but on the very last slide of the presentation there were four names. All four of us got the same grade. But not all four deserved it.

Here at The Citadel we have an enforced Honor Code. The Honor Code states:

Under the code we reported Paul for an Honor violation. He was stealing from the group effort and he lied on the last slide when he put his name there (without our knowledge nor consent) with all the other names. He paid the price for his dishonesty and is no longer with us.

The Cadets in the South Carolina Corps of Cadets enforce the Honor Code. The toleration statement of the Honor Code hangs like a sword over the heads of the cadets, not wanting to be accused of toleration, cadets will report any violation or suspected violation. Even though the class unity at The Citadel is greater than at any other school, it does not keep cadets from reporting classmates for Honor Violations. Because the belief in the Honor System is greater than the threat of getting reported for toleration and that belief is much stronger than any class unity.

The business world has a similar Honor Code, even though it is not written out as it is at The Citadel. In order to conduct business trust is essential. If that trust is violated an Honor Violation has been committed. But in the business world the Honor Code is more inclusive.

Fiduciary trust means loyalty. While stealing here at The Citadel means to take something away from somebody, in the business world stealing means not doing what you are supposed to do. In the business world if you do not give your best you are stealing from the group effort. Cheating does not only mean to aid on a test but to cheat your company of a good idea or your best effort, for example. Lying, however, is the same. While it is called making an 'official statement' at The Citadel, it is just making a statement in the business world.

The Honor Code here at The Citadel only gives us a guideline to live honorable lives. But in the business world it is crucial to be successful. Cadets here at The Citadel learn how to live by the Honor Code. In the business world each member of a company has the fiduciary duty to the shareholders or owners of the company and nobody else. Here at The Citadel we have no fiduciary duty to anyone but ourselves; to give our best and succeed.

Because forced not to cheat at the Citadel, we learn to work hard to achieve our goals. This prepares us in two ways for the Business world. First, we learn to be honest in whatever we do. Second, we realize our potential and that we can achieve everything that we set our mind to do. This prepares us for business centered on truth. While many other colleges have Honor Codes, ours here is enforced. Each time we see one of our classmates leaving the school for an Honor Violation we are reminded of it.