If that is the student's fourth documented occurrence of plagiarism, you can rest assured that there was a whole lot more that was undocumented. I have no doubt that many students "borrow" so extensively from the internet and published works that they may not even be aware that it is plagiarism. Plargiarism is unacceptable and students should be taught that it is unacceptable, each case in which the act is allowed to go unpunished merely reinforces its acceptable nature.
Roman Jesien, Science Coordinator Maryland Coastal Bays Program 9919 Stephen Decatur Highway - Suite 4 Ocean City, Maryland 21842 410-213-2297 phone 410-213-2574 fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.mdcoastalbays.org -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Andy Dyer Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 11:45 AM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: plagiarism I am currently pursuing an undergraduate case where I will advocate that the student in question be expelled for the 4th documented occurrence of plagiarism. We cannot, in good conscience, allow students that cheat to graduate from our departments. I consider plagiarism to be intellectual dishonesty of the worst kind. It is premeditated cheating: planned and intentional. What could be worse than plagiarism at the next level? Now, I understand that there can be mistakes. I helped publish a MS thesis a few years back that had direct uncredited quotes, but I believe the student had written the quotes into a note book from papers on the subject and then later failed to recognize that the notes did not represent his/her own writing. Sloppy, but excusable, and I caught it in time. And I became more careful after that. Bottom line, if it's intentional, it's serious and should not be tolerated. Andy Andrew R. Dyer Assoc. Professor of Ecology Dept. of Biology & Geology University of South Carolina Aiken 471 University Parkway Aiken, SC 29801 Vox 803-641-3443 Fax 803-641-3251 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Alan Wilson Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 7:46 AM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: plagiarism Dear All, I recently reviewed a manuscript that plagiarized from at least two of my papers. Based on my findings, the editor quickly rejected the manuscript and discouraged the authors from submitting it elsewhere. After sharing the experience with my colleagues, I was surprised at the disparity in their reactions. Some were disgusted by the plagiarism (as I was), while others would have been flattered if their text had been copied. Although I am happy to know that the manuscript was rejected, I am not totally convinced that the punishment (i.e., rejected manuscript) fit the crime given that the manuscript may have been rejected anyway - regardless of the plagiarism. My questions to the group have to do with how you feel about plagiarism and plagiarists. (1) Is this a common phenomenon? (2) How should plagiarists be handled? Thanks for your feedback. Alan Alan E. Wilson CILER - University of Michigan 2205 Commonwealth Blvd. Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] office: 734-741-2293; cell: 770-722-9075; fax: 509-356-5349 website: http://ciler.snre.umich.edu/research/profiles/wilson/wilsonprofile.html
