Student Fights University Over Plagiarism-Detector

(Maly) writes "CBC is reporting that MCGill University has lost a fight to have students first turn papers over to an anti-cheating website before handing them in to professors. The student refused to hand in three assignments to the service, received a zero on those assignments, then fought the ruling. The story doesn't have many specifics, such as the venue of the fight (court or some internal university tribunal), but it is an interesting case. As a recent graduate of the social sciences, I find that practice appalling. The student is right to refuse, as he gets no compensation from the service for making money off his original work (assuming it was original!!). Although I don't like the idea, and I'm glad I never went through it, I suppose its analogue would be mandatory drug tests in sports."

Comments

hahahaha

[xeeno]

"As a recent graduate of the social sciences, I find that practice appalling."

Anything that calls itself a science in practice isn't.

Re:Hrmm

[e.colli]

Trust? With students? Are you joking? ;)

I have no sympathy (anti-humanities rant)...

[rokzy]

students doing crap degress like humanities deserve to be treated like the worthless drains on education funding that they are.

if you're too scared to do a subject that has right and wrong answers and you get your degree just by writing a few thousand words of BS, then being asked to prove it's your own BS and not just cut'n'paste whoring isn't much to ask imo.

Re:LOTR: ROTK is a travesty, and here is why.

[drdink]

I know I shouldn't be replying to something that is totally offtopic, and since you're an Anonymous Coward you'll likely never see this reply. However, Dernhelm complaint. Eowyn indeed was called Dernhelm. It is the name she took up after disobeying her uncle, disguising herself in the armor, and going to war. The Encyclopedia of Arda can answer any and all Tolkien questions or issues you might ever have.

Countermeasure

[Anonymous Coward]

Start a sentence ''Two single quotes to start it, end with a single double quote." Continue typing. Sentence after sentence. To end use another quote, "Start with a double quote and end with two single quotes.''

Looks fine in most variable width fonts.

Re: Hrmm

[quivrnglps]

...And TAs coming from overseas, I was happy if they could even speak english in the of chance that i need help....

Were you my 211 TA? I could swear I've heard that sentence structure before...

Before you try to pass yourself off (note the spelling) as a xenophobic English speaker, give me a call and we'll work on your grammar.

Re:Hrmm

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey MORON:

It's in their TERMS of SERVICE. Don't you know what the hell that is?????????

Re:Hrmm

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey retard: I'm wondering what other *IAA's there are out there other than RIAA. I mean, I know of the MPAA but that doesn't match *IAA. Maybe you're to stupid to be posting here?

Re:Well how can they safeguard against this?

[Lars T.]

His own private means? What the hell are you talking about? Check them by hand against every publication ever made? Can you give any evidence for your claim that this company steals IP rights?

You are a typical modern-day American: paranoid, lazy, and you want everything for free - just not work. And if you can't get that, you sue. TANSTAAFL.

BTW, how is your little story about Communism different from McCarthy-inspired Anti-Communism?