Newsgroups: comp.admin.policy
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!malgudi!osc.edu!karl.kleinpaste
From: karl.kleinpaste@osc.edu
Subject: Re: E-mail Privacy
Message-ID: <1991Jun17.020117.9278@oar.net>
Sender: news@oar.net
Nntp-Posting-Host: ashley.osc.edu
Organization: Viento Gigabit Testbed, Ohio Supercomputer Center
References: <1991Jun14.173019.1085@eng.umd.edu>
Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1991 02:58:57 GMT
Lines: 32

russotto@eng.umd.edu writes:
   When is the last time you reported someone for speeding?  Or shoplifting?

To my knowledge, I have never witnessed shoplifting.  But it's irrelevant.

When was the last time anyone actually spent the effort of a few brain
cells to read what I wrote?  I wrote, "failure to report _certain
crimes_," not "it is _in general_ a crime not to report a witnessed crime."

   But if you see it, and report it, you end up putting the alleged
   cheaters into a system where their guilt is assumed, they are
   denied the right to defend themselves, and can suffer the ultimate
   in penalties.

I have not merely seen it and reported it (twice), I have been the
instructor responsible for instigating procedures regarding it (once).

All you're doing is passing the buck, I'm sorry to say.  "I can't
convinct someone I genuinely know to be guilty -- they might actually
suffer the consequences of their actions."  A poor ethical position,
and an interesting outlook for someone who might someday be called to
jury duty.

If your "academic misconduct" system truly is managed as badly as you
describe, then a lack of action by those who see such situations for
what they are and do not act against it to reform its operation into
something sane is, once again, part of the problem.  You say there is
no defense for the accused, and you have not attacked this grave problem?

It's _your_ system.  When are you going to begin the task of its repair?

--karl