2008 Woodie Awards
The Contraband Perspective
Issue date: 10/6/04 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Among McNeese State University professors' most serious and regular complaints and what seems to be an issue that gets a number of faculty more fired up than most issues, is plagiarism. And rightly so. It is an offense that not only reflects poorly upon the university and the instructor for whose class it took place, but it is also illegal in some cases. Since a university thrives in part on its reputation and prestige, it seems to be an offense worthy of relatively serious disciplinary action.
But in cases of plagiarism for which professors involved see need to fail a student in the class and even to file disciplinary action, students who are spared any serious punitive action by the university's disciplinary committee have what by most students' standards would be considered an out. They can drop the class, thus escaping the F that would otherwise result. Aside from this loophole's being a problem in itself, it is a problem in that it essentially discriminates against students in similar or identical circumstances who opt to plagiarize after the last day to drop classes.
And what is the difference between these two situations? Fundamentally, nothing. They have committed the same offense to the same degree. The only thing that separates them at all is timing, which is, or should be it seems, no real factor.
Moreover, students who see fit to fail a class but not be subject to a disciplinary hearing, unless they need the class to graduate that semester, more or less escape punishment. Students drop classes all the time. Which class to drop is a semesterly decision for some students. So, unless their graduation plans are ruined or some other similar issue arises, typical students will not even see having to drop a class as a punishment.
It should be the university's responsibility, for the sake of prestige and credibility, which are two issues in line with the administration's impressive retention, recruitment and overall improvement efforts, to look into this issue.
But in cases of plagiarism for which professors involved see need to fail a student in the class and even to file disciplinary action, students who are spared any serious punitive action by the university's disciplinary committee have what by most students' standards would be considered an out. They can drop the class, thus escaping the F that would otherwise result. Aside from this loophole's being a problem in itself, it is a problem in that it essentially discriminates against students in similar or identical circumstances who opt to plagiarize after the last day to drop classes.
And what is the difference between these two situations? Fundamentally, nothing. They have committed the same offense to the same degree. The only thing that separates them at all is timing, which is, or should be it seems, no real factor.
Moreover, students who see fit to fail a class but not be subject to a disciplinary hearing, unless they need the class to graduate that semester, more or less escape punishment. Students drop classes all the time. Which class to drop is a semesterly decision for some students. So, unless their graduation plans are ruined or some other similar issue arises, typical students will not even see having to drop a class as a punishment.
It should be the university's responsibility, for the sake of prestige and credibility, which are two issues in line with the administration's impressive retention, recruitment and overall improvement efforts, to look into this issue.