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Abstract of the Honor Council
Case #16. Spring, 2001
August 31, 2001
Members Present:
Aaron Martz (presiding), Chris Conrad, Ricardo Vargas, Alejandra Shaw, Ayse Celikkol, Candice Hance, DJ Brasier, Stephen Zak (observing)
Ombuds:
Maeve Quigley
Letter of Accusation:
The Honor Council received a formal letter of accusation from a TA of a lower level science class that accused student A of plagiarizing parts of two extra credit assignments.
Evidence Submitted:
Letter of Accusation
Student A's statement
Copy of assignment A
Copy of article A
Copy of assignment B
Copy of article B
Copy of instructions for assignment (includes reference to Honor Code)
Plea:
Student A pled In Violation.
Testimony:
Student A began her testimony by explaining that she was experiencing some medical problems at the time of the violation. Student A then admitted that she had committed plagiarism unintentionally and expressed regret.
Deliberation:
The Council discussed the many mitigating circumstances that surrounded Student A's situation. The council found that the requirements for severe-emotional distress were met through her medical condition. Severity, cooperation, and unintentionality were also taken into account (although some council members dissented on the unintentionality argument). The council also took into account the fact that the assignments in question were completed for extra credit. The Council also determined that under the Honor Code, Student A did not commit an Honor Code violation for her use of similar ideas in article A and B. Because this was the only allegation for assignment B, the council decided that Student A made no Honor Council violation for assignment B. However, the Council did decide that Student A was in violation of the Honor Code due to her plagiarism of ideas from article A in assignment A.
Straw Poll #1
In Violation: 7 + 1 (Observing)
Not in Violation: 0
The consensus penalty for such a violation is an F in the course. Other penalties proposed included reduction of final grade in the class by a third, and loss of credit on the assignment.
Some debate occurred about whether the appropriate penalty was a third reduction of Student A's final letter grade or a loss of credit for the assignment. The council decided that due to the mitigating circumstances and the fact the assignment in question was an extra credit assignment the council decided that the most appropriate penalty was loss of credit on the assignment.
Straw Poll #2
F in the Class: 0
Reduction of a third of a letter grade: 0
Loss of Credit on the assignment: 7 + 1 (Observing)
Abstentions: 0
Straw Polls 1 and 2 were made binding.
Thus the Honor Council finds Student A in Violation of the Honor System and recommends that she receive a loss of credit on assignment A, and that a suspension clause be attached to her record.
Time of Trial and Deliberation: 45 minutes
Respectfully Submitted,
Chris Conrad,
Trial Clerk