Plagiarism
proves pricey
By
Carlos Amador
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing writer
As the semester comes to an end and the due dates for final papers are fast
approaching, some students may be tempted to take a few shortcuts in the area
of originality, also known as plagiarism.
The consequences of cheating at Cal State Long Beach vary according to circumstances,
but students who cheat or plagiarize may be kicked out of a department or the
university and risk failing classes.
CSULB, in accordance with Academic Affairs, defines plagiarism as the act of
using ideas or the work of another without giving credit to the proper sources.
Policy statement 85-19, found on the university’s Web site, states, “These
acts are fundamentally destructive of the process of education.”
Director of Judicial Affairs Steven M. Katz said, “One of the purposes
of college is to learn how to learn in order for the mind to grow further.”
Katz said copying does not add to the body of knowledge.
“
Copying takes away from the process of education,” he said.
“
The college professors aren’t stupid. We, as students, should not be
either. If you plagiarize, they’re going to find out and you’re
going to get in a lot of trouble,” said political science graduate student
David de la Torre.
“
Plagiarism and cheating harms everyone,” Katz said. “[It reduces]
the value of degrees and therefore lower[s] employers’ perception of
students and the campus name.”
According to the policy, that trouble is decided by the professor. There are
a few ways the cases can go, depending on the severity of the cheating or plagiarizing.
Professors have the choice to do as little as nothing, reprimand orally or
require the student to rewrite the assignment.
According to faculty members, a zero on the assignment and a reduction of the
final course grade is more common.
The students may receive a failing final grade. The students may be referred
to the Office of Judicial Affairs for possible probation, suspension or expulsion,
as stated in university policy.
“
Plagiarism is cheating, and not OK,” said journalism professor Gary
Robbins.
Katz said only about a dozen cases reach his office per year.
“
Each case is different, but sanctions remain consistent within their categories,” Katz
said. “It all depends on the severity.”
Katz emphasized Judicial Affairs does not have anything to do with grades.
“
My office reviews the case and then formally agrees to a sanction, probation,
suspension, expulsion, etc. with the dean of the department from which the
case originated,” Katz said.
Only professors deal with course and assignment grades, he said.
“
Everyone has an individual, interesting voice,” Robbins said. “There
is no reason to plagiarize. Plagiarism is horrible and discredits students,
newspapers and organizations that print plagiarism.”
|
