As Elon University’s graduating class of 2028 prepared to pledge their allegiance to the university’s honor code in the Alumni Gym on Monday morning, Charlie Cheema (class of 2019) made sure they took one message with them: “Always assume good intentions.”

“The easy way is to fall into the trap of believing that everyone is out to get you and want you to succeed at the expense of everyone else. The honorable way is to trust that people in general want to do the right thing for others based on the worldviews they have developed through their personal life experiences and the life lessons they have learned in their own communities,” said Cheema, who is now a gardener at Elon.

We want to give the best

Cheema spoke to nearly 1,700 new students at the Aug. 26 “Call to Honor” ceremony, where new students pledge to uphold the university’s honor code, which consists of four pillars: honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect.

Cheema talked about a time at Elon when he was having problems and not showing up for class, but the professor was lenient with him and assumed he meant well.

“Maybe you can’t turn something in on time, or you just have a really bad day and say something unkind to someone without considering the consequences. And sometimes, even though you wish you could take back one of those decisions, all you can do is apologize and strive to be better,” Cheema said. “That’s really what the Honor Code is about – constantly striving to be the best you can be while understanding that we’re all human and we all make mistakes.”

As the students reflected on the ceremony, Cheema’s comments made an impression.

“He shared a very relatable experience of what it’s like to be behind, to feel like you can’t talk to anyone, and to be the student that no one wants to work with,” said Kostadina Kaltabanis (graduating class of ’28). “I think by setting that example, he made everyone realize that you can work your way out of the hole you’ve dug yourself into.”

Take on Elon’s challenges

Taylor Cote (Class of ’25), president of the Student Government Association, presided over the ceremony as representatives from each class signed the Honor Code Book, with each class representing a different pillar of the Honor Code.

“These are more than just words. They are a guiding light for every decision we make in life,” Cote said.

President Connie Ledoux Book then led the new students in reciting the “Call to Honor”:

Today we are entrusted with the honorable legacy of Elon University, which to the intellectual, personal and spiritual growth of all its members, to Promoting knowledge for the benefit of all and in the service of local, national and global communities. To this end, we reaffirm our commitment to the core values our university:

• We are committed honestyHonesty in our academic work and in our relationships with others.
• We are committed to showing integrityto be trustworthy, fair and ethical.
• We are committed ResponsibilityTake responsibility for our actions and our learning.
• We are committed respectto be polite, to value the dignity of every person and to respect the physical and intellectual property of others.

With these commitments, we join generations of Elon students as bearers of their honor

“On behalf of the university, I promise you that Elon will do its part to challenge you to grow intellectually, socially and spiritually,” Book said. “I count on you to embrace Elon’s challenges and join your faculty and staff in practicing these core values ​​on a daily basis. I wish you all the most successful academic careers.”

“As student body president, I urge you, the valedictorian of 2028, to do your best and take advantage of the opportunities you will have at Elon,” Cote said. “Never forget your commitment to our Honor Code and you will have some of the best years of your life.”

Following the ceremony, the students went to Young Commons, where they each signed a placard that read “Code of Honor” and received a coin engraved with the word “Honor.”

“I think it’s important to go to a school like this because it’s a community, a home,” said Molly Hazen (graduating class of ’28) after the ceremony. “It’s not just a school. Your teachers care about you and the people around you care about you.”