friday,october 9, 1987
cabrini college, radnor, pa. 19087
vol. xxxiv, no.4
Parentsweekend1987
House 5 (left) displays their talent in the annual Homecoming Day Parade; h?wever, the women of Woodcrest took the title of Best Float 1987. Homecoming kmgs and queen_swere chosen for_each class: overall,Peggy Emmerich and ~et': Casazza (p1tured above); semors, Christy Mason and Kevin Corcoran; Juniors, Kelly Lyons and Jeff Moore; sophomores, Angie Corbo and Lenny Strobel; and freshmen, Kelly Boyer and Dan Sheldon. (photos by Mike Stevenson and Monica Palko)
utureholdshonorcode, Plagia · • facultystrivesfor honesty~~~!!reahz~ga£'"!~,!:kup editor'• note: This Is the answer to last week's "What's the scoop?" conceming an academic honor code.
by RebeccaRebalsky Although the implementation of an academic honor code at Cabrini is still several years away, four faculty members are working to make it a reality by first developing a comprehensive, school-wide policy on "academic honesty." Dr. Marice Bezdek, professor, English and communications; Dr. Maragaret McGuinness, professor, religion; Sr. Julia Toto, coordinator, secondary education; and Dr. Arthur Young, associate professor, English and communications, are members of the committee on academic honesty, an ad hoc committee of the Faculty Senate. The committee was formed roughly a year ago in response to teachers' complaints about the lack of specific guidelines for them to follow when dealing with students who had cheated on a test or plagiarized a paper. Bezdek, who chairs the committee, said that the members will try to "foster critical thinking and academic honesty on campus" as well as develop disciplinary procedures to apply to student offenders. Cabrini's current cheating policy, stated in the faculty and student handbooks, says, in part, "Individuai professors
ins-de perspectives.... 2 news ............ 3-4 features........ 5-6 aports .......... 7-8
should exercise their own judgment of the course of action to be taken if a student is The recent "Joseph Biden scanfoood cheating." dal" has raised questions concerning the consequences of plagiarism. Here at . The negative aspect of this policy, c b · · h · dard · s.aid Dr. Mary Ann Biller' academic dean, a nm, t ere IS no stan policy for plagiarism. The Biden incident has initi1s "There may be some iniquity, a student who does the same thing in two classes ated concern for a possible honor code. could get two different reactions." This is Dr. Joseph Romano, vice presih dent for academic affairs, thinks that w ere Biller, in her "overall position" of students don't fulfill their obligation of academic dean, becomes involved. "I have finding out what plagiarism is. some problem if student A is treated differently than student B," she said. According to Romano, plagiarism at Cabrini usually involves direct Young agrees. "It is important to quotes and the penalty is determined by establish a uniform policy to protect both the severity of the crime. First time offenders are likely to fail the assignment. A more student and teacher." serious offender could fail the course. Young said that the academic Dr. Marice Bezdek, professor, honesty policy will ultimately include a English and communications, says that philosc:iphyof academic honesty, which he right now the instructor has the fmal say has written, examples of academic dishonin determining the penalty of the crime. esty, and stated guidelines for dealing with Bezdek has experienced plagiarism in one infractions. of her classes and ended up failing her .. As part of their preparations for student's paper, which resulted in the writing the report, committee members student failing the course. have researched the plagiarism policies at Dr. Arthur Young, professor, area colleges, and are surveying Cabrini English and communications once failed a students to fmd out their opinions on student for the entire course. academic honesty. Cindy Rich, a junior at Villanova, "All on the committee would has an interesting tale to tell. Backin her w~lcome student input," McGuinness junior year of high schooi she wrote a paper on the novel Wuthering Heights said.when her_old boyfriend was a senior, he more honor ccxfe on 3 had to wnte a paper on the same book and
Local anchorman ·speaksat Cabrini (page 3)
bibliography sources. She did not grant him permission to use the content of the paper. However, heupcopieditverbatim. Ironically, Rich's speech teacher was a good friend of her boyfriend's English teacher--the same teacher who had seen Rich give an oral presentation before. He recognized a style in the boyfriend's paper that was very much like Rich's. Also, her boyfriend's style of writing was not of such high quality. As a result of his plagiarism, he failed the class. Rich stressed that, even though it may seem like there is no way of getting caught, there very well may be.
Some appear to take the consequences of plagiarism very lightly. A senior here at Cabrini who prefers to remain nameless, said, "I' knew In:Y chances of getting caught copying were -;limbecause I knew I was a good writer." If, however, a teacher emphasized not to plagiarize, it would tend to intimidate her. Another source, who also chooses to remain anonymous, said that he had plagi~ed in college and never felt guilty about 1t. According to Bezdek, there is some thought of an honor system being initiated at Cabrini. more plagiarism on 3
Inside look at women's cheerleading (page 8)