The college investigates alleged plagiarism, stresses its strong stance against stealing of words

The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications is looking into allegations that one of its students plagiarized passages from The New York Times during her internship at a Colorado newspaper.

The college is withholding judgment until it fully investigates the case of a UF student recently accused of plagiarism. At the same time, however, the college is emphasizing its unwavering policy against plagiarism of any kind.

“It’s simple: We don’t tolerate plagiarism,” said the college’s dean, John Wright. “There’s no way you can be a student in our college and not know that we consider plagiarism a grave transgression.”

The Department of Journalism’s plagiarism policy, which is posted on the college’s Web site, states: “Students are expected to do their own work, use their own words in papers and reference outside sources appropriately … you will not plagiarize the words, designs, concepts or ideas of others.”

Professors and instructors in the college discuss plagiarism in their classes and let students know that even minor offenses can result in a failing grade and possible expulsion from the program and UF.

“From the first semester of the freshman year, journalism students have the evils of plagiarism pounded into their skulls,” said the chair of the journalism department, William McKeen. “That message is part of every course we teach.”

Master Lecturer Mike Foley, former executive editor of the St. Petersburg Times, tells his students on the first day of class that he would advocate kicking out anyone who “steals the words of others.”

His students, he said, get it.

“This case is a stunning aberration,” Foley said. “Our students know better.”

The plagiarism policy urges students to report instances of possible plagiarism to their teachers, the UF Student Honor Court or the UF Cheating Hotline.

Posted: July 9, 2009
Category: College News