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My wife and I sent our middle son to Dana College this fall. He went on academic and athletic scholarships. He runs cross country and is majoring in chemistry. Highschool GPA was 3.8+ and he has had a strong history of community service, no trouble ever etc... (My bragging list is long). Two weeks ago he got his first major paper back from his composition prof with a big zero on the front. When he asked she said that he had plagiarized & he found that his roommate also received a zero. He didn't understand how since they'd only discussed topics but no specifics for this paper. His roommate denied copying the paper. Now this is serious because it could jeopardize his scholarships, whether he could run for the cross country team and even risks expulsion from the class or even school itself. When he had a meeting with the prof she laughed at his questions insisting that he very well knew what was going on because the two papers were word for word identical. His roommate again denied he had copied the paper. He said he couldn't show my son his paper because he'd deleted it from his own computor knowing that he'd get the finished one back from the prof. Only later when my son found the plagiarized paper on roommates computor did roommate confess that he had taken my son's paper from his desk and copied it. Roommate said he would tell the prof he'd plagiarized which he did. The prof offered them a chance to do the papers over again and she would give each of them half credit. This was unfair enough but here is where it get really weird. Prof withdrew her offer when she was reminded college protocol stated that she had to take it to the Dean and then to an academic counsel made up of other profs. Great! With a confession from the roommate, my son should be off the hook, get the credit he deserved for the paper and all is well with the world. But no! The academic counsel ruling that both boys will receive zeroes. The roommate because he plagiarized and my son because he did not adequately protect his work allowing his roommate the opportunity to plagiarize. With this "blame the victom" logic, a casualty of sexual assault would be told she should have kept her legs together and then sent to prison along with the rapist. We are trying not to be "helicopter parents" or hovering overhead but instead just being supportive. It is hard. I am hoping he will appeal but know that he might risk even more severe consequences if he does. It is a small thing in the big scope of the world. He is smart and healthy and will certainly make it one way or the other. Darn kid. I guess its time he finds out about life outside mom & dad's house. Sometimes great and sometimes rough. Iowa Guy Tim Lantz PS He has applied for a new roommate.
