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

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