This is often simply an automatic response to avoid unpleasantness. An atmosphere of trust, which is essential to an academic community, requires not only that the individuals act honorably but also that they trust each other. Mutual trust rests on a belief that behavior not in keeping with the code of the community will be recognized and responded to. Students know that evaluations of academic work are affected when dishonesty is ignored. When violations go unreported, and violators unpunished, students' aspirations to honorable conduct are undermined and the level of academic trust essential to the University is eroded.
Many students recognize that the erosion of trust hurts everyone.
They understand the need to respond when they see something amiss. While reporting peers is only rarely necessary, there are times when students feel the need to speak up when they observe something clearly out of line. This is third party responsibility - not looking the other way, but speaking out directly to address misconduct. A few words, pointing out inappropriate or dishonest behavior, are almost always sufficient to embarrass the offender and stop the misconduct. To speak up requires the same kind of initiative that we ask of residents in confronting strangers wandering through the residence.