Honor, African Drums & Multinational Sheet Cake

Honor, African Drums & Multinational Sheet Cake

"It's real now," the young Sophomore next to me said, before going up to sign next to his name. "Frightened?" I asked him. "No, just awed, I guess."

Last month, we had a celebration where the sophomore class at Ashesi University  (Class of 2017) signed on to the honor code. But before I describe that ceremony, let me back up to an earlier discussion. The crankiest question these sophomores asked Patrick Awuah, their university president, was, "Why do we even bother to vote to join the Honor Code? The Code is such a famous part of Ashesi--we all knew about it when we applied. Shouldn't it be assumed our class is going to join?"

Every Sophomore--about 150 students--signs on. Literally.
photo: (c) Ashesi University

Joining the Honor Code means that every member of the class pledges not to cheat, and to always report anyone they see cheating. (The reporting is the hard part). Once a class has voted to join, their exams will not be proctored. Ashesi's Honor Code is the only one of its kind in Africa.

92% of the Class voted, and all of them agreed to expand the code to: I will not lie, cheat or steal, neither will I tolerate others who do.

It's progress that most of the class joined Ashesi assuming they would sign on. Earlier classes argued vociferously. But Patrick is never one to "assume" that this newest class was going to arrive at Ashesi truly ready to leave behind 12 years where cheating is pretty normal, and teachers often coach students to cheat! Before they get a chance to vote, they spent much of their Freshman year discussing the costs of corruption, practicing (even acting out in skits) ways to stay ethical in sticky situations, and hearing from graduates who assure them that acting with integrity will help their careers in the long run (so don't blow Ashesi's stellar reputation, kids).

Upperclassmen  welcome Class of 2017 to Honor Code

After the vote, there was a ceremony where the upperclassmen welcomed the sophomores onto the code, with lots of drumming at the beginning, speeches, then the actual signing. I asked the young man sitting next to me, as he waited his turn to sign, "How does this feel to you?" He answered, "It's real now," and looked a little frightened. "No, just awed," he assured me. I wished him luck.

Patrick addressing Class of '17, plus U. of Ghana
 volleyball squad who happened to be there.

After the ceremony, I saw a large sheet cake, with writing on it, the sort that's likely to taste bland, and seems a fairly universal sign of a large party with a modest budget. Ghanaians don't eat a lot of sweets, but as I looked at the line for cake, I earnestly hoped there would be a slice for everyone.

A few weeks later, two Freshmen were caught cheating. They went before the JEC--an elected group of students--who voted for their sanction: F in the course. The few infractions each year seem evidence that the code is working.

read the article at www.ashesi.edu.gh

Learning to Be Too Why!

When was the first time someone told you, "You too why!"
...question asked at Ashesi University Freshman Orientation.

You too why! is pidgin for you ask too many questions. And, You too know! means, you want to know too much!  Dean of Students Ruth Kwakwa says that every freshman can remember being shamed as a child for asking too many questions.  So Ashesi University in Ghana has four years to teach, Go ahead, be too why! Be too know! Freshman Orientation is filled with sessions on how to study, instead of memorize stuff; and how to discover who you are and what you care most about. There are sessions based on the book Mindset by Carol Dweck that show why hard work is more important than talent, and that if you believe in a "growth mindset" instead of believing that talent or intelligence is fixed, then you can expand your capabilities.

The upperclassmen run a huge ceremony to welcome the freshmen, complete with drums and a drinking bowl. Oh, and there's no pidgin allowed in class.

Freshman Welcome Celebration Photos

Here to Help - Student Mentors Host Celebration in Cornfield Courtyard

The Village Below Us

Ashesi University has a modern campus perched on a steep ridge. (The picture above is the library). It's cool up here and the mornings are often foggy. Below us is the village of Berekuso, pop. 1,500. We reach the village by a half a mile walk on the road, or by taking a shorter, rough footpath straight down, or via a screaming downhill bike ride, pumping the brakes in preparation for the dirt, potholes, mud and loose gravel at the bottom.

Berekuso is loud. The singing and drumming are not usually amplified during the all night prayer and Gospel sessions on Friday, and for some Sunday services. But other times, Ghanaians love to blast music and announcements through PA systems. There is a barking "news report" at 5 am every morning, which I've learned to sleep through, and blasting Afro-beat dance music many nights, unless the electricity cuts out.  The sun goes down fast at 6 pm and the crickets and frogs set up a fierce trilling. The sun comes up at 6 each morning, with sounds of roosters, chickens and kids playing.

What we can buy:
Bananas, plantains, tomatoes, fiery hot peppers, and onions. Eggs, but you must bring your own carton. Beer, packets of biscuits, cloth, iron railings, flip flops and some "sundries". About once a week, we make the hour drive down a terrible road to Accra for groceries.

Obruni  is said with a smile. We are greeted with huge smiles and the welcoming cry of Obruni!, which means foreigner or white person. We reply Good Morning, and if the person knows any English, they are happy to chat.

Ashesi Students' Community Service Projects in Berekuso

Ashesi students launched an adult literacy program in Berekuso, a project which won a Dali Lama fellowship. Ashesi students also sponsor a top Berekuso student and pay his fees to go to high school; they offer the village kids computer tutoring on campus, and have other programs. Still creating change can be hard, which I'll explore in more depth in a later post.

Most kids don't make it to high school, but last year, a student from Berekuso was admitted to Ashesi for the first time.