Is Plagiarism Disqualifying for a Senator? (1 Viewer)

[Jack Hays]

Apparently the answer is "yes."eace

Walsh Quits Montana Senate Race

 

[ludin]

The Dems' Senator in Montana apparently plagiarized some of his academic work. How important is that? Does it disqualify him? Will it cost him his Senate seat?eace

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/24/us/politics/montana-senator-john-walsh-plagiarized-thesis.html

". . . On the campaign trail this year, Mr. Walsh, 53, has made his military service a main selling point. Still wearing his hair close-cropped, he notes he was targeted for killing by Iraqi militants and says his time in uniform informs his views on a range of issues.


But one of the highest-profile credentials of Mr. Walsh’s 33-year military career appears to have been improperly attained. An examination of the final paper required for Mr. Walsh’s master’s degree from the United States Army War College indicates the senator appropriated at least a quarter of his thesis on American Middle East policy from other authors’ works, with no attribution. . . ."

since in most college's plagerizing will get you an automatic F on the paper he probably would have failed the course.
some colleges are so strict that you fail the course automatically.

happened to another kid in one of my classes. one kid i never trusted anyway didn't do his work and asked to see my paper. i told him no because i wasn't going to get in trouble.

he convienced another person to let him see his and he copied the stupid thing word for word.

the teacher gave a friend of mine half credit and told him he could have given him a 0 for plagerizing.
after class i went up and told the teacher that he didn't cheat that this other kid did. since he asked to do the same thing to me.
the teacher restored his grade to the 100 that it should have been.

 

[nota bene]

since in most college's plagerizing will get you an automatic F on the paper he probably would have failed the course.
some colleges are so strict that you fail the course automatically.

happened to another kid in one of my classes. one kid i never trusted anyway didn't do his work and asked to see my paper. i told him no because i wasn't going to get in trouble.

he convienced another person to let him see his and he copied the stupid thing word for word.

the teacher gave a friend of mine half credit and told him he could have given him a 0 for plagerizing.
after class i went up and told the teacher that he didn't cheat that this other kid did. since he asked to do the same thing to me.
the teacher restored his grade to the 100 that it should have been.

What you're describing here is collusion. If your friend "let" this guy see his work, which is what he said, he is also guilty of plagiarism.

Did this happen in a high school or college class?

 

[Linc]

Rand Paul plagiarized an entire career and he's running for President.
Not to mention his buddy the Confederate Avenger.
As well as all the flip-flops he's been doing the last few months .

Joe Biden plagiarized an entire speech, and he's VP.

 

[nota bene]

Ah, the "He did it too" gambit.

 

[Linc]

But not until one of your leans did it on the first page of the thread.
Please try to keep up with who is spreadeing the manure .

 

[nota bene]

Thanks, but I really don't keep up with that, irrespective of lean. A hack is a hack, a red herring is a red herring, and others plagiarizing too doesn't make it right.

 

[Linc]

And choosing one without another is an even greater partisan hack, especially with the order of operations .

 

[ludin]

What you're describing here is collusion. If your friend "let" this guy see his work, which is what he said, he is also guilty of plagiarism.

Did this happen in a high school or college class?

he didn't nkow he was going to copy it exactly word for word which is what he did. which is plagerism.
it was a college class.

he actually didn't know he was going to copy it at all. the other kid told him that he wanted to compare answers.

 

[nota bene]

he didn't nkow he was going to copy it exactly word for word which is what he did. which is plagerism.
it was a college class.

he actually didn't know he was going to copy it at all. the other kid told him that he wanted to compare answers.

Sadly, it's still collusion. (And it took time to copy answers.) I think more leeway is given to those still in high school. I don't think any should be given at the college level. Maybe a merciful prof would assign a 50-58 to the lender of the plagiarized material rather than a zero, but many institutions don't make consequential distinctions between the one who provided the material and the one who used it.

I've always admired the University of Virginia's honor code, which is entirely student-driven. Whether it's an undergrad program or law or med school, if you cheat, you're out. Haven't kept up, and I think there was a movement afoot to amend the code, but I hope it hasn't been.

Here's an article you may enjoy, "The Fading Honor Code": http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/13/education/edlife/the-fading-honor-code.html

 

[gunner]

I think a lot of users on this board could benefit from learning how to cite, an author. Furthermore, a great many would benefit from actually understanding and knowing where their information comes from, when they quote Within academia it is very, very important to cite and reference correctly.


Paul

 

[nota bene]

Fair documentation is of paramount importance in the workplace too. Imagine the consequences of using a proprietary eponym in something your org publishes.

 

[upsideguy]

The Dems' Senator in Montana apparently plagiarized some of his academic work. How important is that? Does it disqualify him? Will it cost him his Senate seat?eace

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/24/us/politics/montana-senator-john-walsh-plagiarized-thesis.html

". . . On the campaign trail this year, Mr. Walsh, 53, has made his military service a main selling point. Still wearing his hair close-cropped, he notes he was targeted for killing by Iraqi militants and says his time in uniform informs his views on a range of issues.


But one of the highest-profile credentials of Mr. Walsh’s 33-year military career appears to have been improperly attained. An examination of the final paper required for Mr. Walsh’s master’s degree from the United States Army War College indicates the senator appropriated at least a quarter of his thesis on American Middle East policy from other authors’ works, with no attribution. . . ."

For Senator, apparently not.... Rand Paul is still the Senator from Kentucky. For President, different matter. Are you worried that Rand Paul may have shot himself in the foot and is now disqualified?

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/pol...ns-nsa-suit-president-obama-article-1.1613823
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...s-plagiarism-allegations-and-why-they-matter/

 

[Jack Hays]

For Senator, apparently not.... Rand Paul is still the Senator from Kentucky. For President, different matter. Are you worried that Rand Paul may have shot himself in the foot and is now disqualified?

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul faces new plagiarism allegations over NSA suit against President Obama - NY Daily News
Rand Paul’s plagiarism allegations, and why they matter - The Washington Post

I would never vote for Paul under any circumstances so it doesn't matter. Since the Montana case involved work submitted for academic credit I think that's a more serious matter.eace

 

[nota bene]

I am willing to accept Paul's explanation that being new overwhelmed him and his staff. But the fact is that some of his plagiarism was word-for-word. Many (if not most) academic institutions refuse to excuse inadvertent plagiarism. One of the key components of a freshman English course is teaching documentation, so it's very difficult for me to believe that Paul's staffers weren't aware of what they were doing.

But you're right: Walsh's plagiarism was on his Master's thesis, and at least 25% of borrowed materials wasn't documented. He's derailed his aspirations and is now done-for (I hope) because the world knows he's dirty.

 

[upsideguy]

I would never vote for Paul under any circumstances so it doesn't matter. Since the Montana case involved work submitted for academic credit I think that's a more serious matter.eace

I agree, though dishonesty is dishonesty regardless of the profit. Intentional and substantive plagiarism to me would be a critical character flaw.

 

[nota bene]

And reason to strip Walsh of his Master's, which he did not earn.