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Plagiarism article in the Australian
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN: FOR THOSE WHOSE LINK ISN'T WORKING
SOURCE: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/newcastle-dispute-collusion-or-confusion/story-e6frgcjx-1226145684349
Newcastle dispute: collusion or confusion
* by: Jill Rowbotham
* From: The Australian
* September 26, 2011 12:00AM
POLICE went to a residence in Newcastle on Saturday to check on the welfare of an international student living there, after a professor at the University of Newcastle became concerned.
The incident is the latest development in a dispute between the university and some 40 of its international students, accused of colluding over, and in some cases plagiarising, assignments for the faculty of business and law.
The Chinese student, who has not been identified, had been very distressed by the situation. He had attended a meeting of the students on Tuesday night, where according to Newcastle University Students' Association president Heather Richards, he ``collapsed as a result of stress'' and was taken to hospital but went home after being seen.
The university's deputy vice-chancellor (academic and global relations), Kevin McConkey, a psychologist, told The Australian he received an email from the student on Friday afternoon. ``The email was assessed by the university and we made multiple attempts to contact him.
``I exercised my duty of care and legal responsibility by contacting the police. On Saturday the police contacted me and said they had located the student and he was safe and well.''
Ms Richards said NUSA understood the email concerned ``the plagiarism cases, the lack of university support and the effect this was having upon him.''
By her count, there were 35 students accused of collusion over at least one, and in some cases, two assignments. A further 10 students were accused of individual plagiarism. According to her the students are distressed over their fates and the length of time it is taking to deal with them.
``A lot of them are very worried because they don't know if they have to take more courses,'' Ms Richards said.
Professor McConkey said he became aware of problem a fortnight ago and became directly involved in negotiations with the union early last week. By Friday morning, the university had made a determination in most cases, that is, declared there was no case to answer, or asked students to fix up their work and resubmit it.
There were four or five cases ``in which students had not responded to requests for information'' and a couple of cases ``that are not minor and those students will be counselled as appropriate.''
Ms Richards said some students were appealing the initial judgements made of their work and others had not yet received formal notification from the university that there was a problem, although they had been told about it informally.
Professor McConkey said the use by some university staff of the term ``collusion'' had been confusing for students. ``A couple of university staff have used the word when it's actually similarities between errors, not necessarily two people colluding.'' The term plagiarism was similarly broad.
The assignments were processed through ``Turnitin'' originality software. Turnitin describes itself as ``the global leader in addressing plagiarism and delivering rich feedback''. Professor McConkey said the purpose of the software was ``to give the students the opportunity to check work before it is submitted.'' Assignments were also checked after they had been submitted which is where potential problems could show up.
``Most of them have been asked to correct errors and re-submit their work,'' he said the students. ``They have seen this as punitive rather than educative.''
Ms Richards acknowledged Turnitin was a tool for students. ``It is clear not all students know how to use it to prevent the appearance of plagiarism,'' she said. She said some students were planning to transfer to another university or to return home.
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