Case 3
Dwayne Kirk had a long and excellent relationship with his mentor, Charles Arntzen of Arizona State University, Tempe?until he discovered large sections of his first publication copied word for word in a book by Arntzen. Arntzen excused his use of Kirk?s work without his knowledge or consent, claiming that this is common practice in science, using another researcher?s work, he said, is ?a way to conserve energy?. Arntzen further argued that since Kirk worked on his research team they had a history of sharing materials, and because the book was not peer–reviewed his unauthorized use of Kirk?s work was acceptable. When Kirk complained, Arntzen removed him from research projects. Other students who challenged their mentors? or professors? use of their work, have suffered retribution, such as: failure to defend their dissertations successfully, poor recommendations, removal from research teams, loss of teaching positions, professional ostracism, and blacklisting.
Many colleges and universities have severe penalties – including failure, suspension, and expulsion –for plagiarism. Although institutions vary slightly in their definition of plagiarism, it is universally understood to be taking credit for another?s work without acknowledging the source. Some schools expect students to acknowledge anyone with whom they have discussed their ideas: Harvard requires students to credit others in their papers if they have had conversations with them that significantly influenced their ideas. Lawrence University students are expected to affirm the honor code on all written work, for example, acknowledging if they used a tutor. To ensure proper credit is given, Presbyterian College requires the writing center to report to teachers the names of students who have sought help. Some feel this is extreme: in a survey at the college, one professor argued against such stringent requirements, suggesting that seeking assistance in learning how to write is a normal part of the educational process.
Less strict standards appear to apply generally for faculty in academia. Some lab directors are routinely included as authors on all publications coming out of their labs, although they may have done little of the research and none of the writing. Some professors assign students to write articles or chapters for them, without acknowledging the students? contributions in the publication. Other teachers use excerpts from student papers in their own work, justifying their actions with the argument that these are not the students? original ideas, but are an expansion of the teacher?s ideas. Professors also complain about intellectual theft by colleagues: ideas stolen in the peer–review process, or delaying a review to allow another colleague to publish first. Sometimes failure to cite appropriately is blamed on the pressure to publish to preserve a career, or charged to inadvertent oversight in the rush to meet publishing deadlines, or to confusion when trying to write multiple papers at once.
In the past few years, several prominent professors and scientists published as their own work excerpts from the work of other authors. When exposed, they frequently excused their actions by blaming their students for oversights, protesting that they were unaware of the plagiarism ? e.g. quotation citations accidentally missed by research assistants, or material inserted by research assistants that the professor did not intend to be in the text. Some excuse their actions on other grounds. Laurence Tribe, a Harvard Law professor, acknowledged that he used (unattributed) work of Henry Abraham in his book, ?God Save This Honorable Court?, but claimed he was attempting to write a book for lay readers, without footnotes that can be so intimidating. He also cited the tradition in law of relying on law clerks to do much of the lawyer?s writing, suggesting that this makes the rules of plagiarism murkier for lawyers.
Not all believe it is appropriate for professors to claim credit for their students? work. Richard Lewontin, Harvard Professor Emeritus calls the practice dishonest, and decries the culture of academia that gives those in authority exploitative power over their students ??much as a lord had unchallenged property rights in the products of serfs??