The Modern Languages patio after yesterday's snow -- photo by Barb Hallett

US presidents: Kennedy Bush or Gore?

Daily Bulletin

Surprisingly few cheaters, report shows

"Our students are really quite good," says kinesiology professor Jay Thomson, long-time chair of the UCSA. "Based on the number of opportunities that twenty thousand people have to cheat, it's quite remarkable."

The UCSA's annual report says the number of students involved in formal discipline proceedings was up to 144 this year from 118 in 1998-99 and 84 in 1997-98. "Incidents of cheating (which includes excessive collaboration) and plagiarism have increased . . . particularly among third-year students," Thomson writes. He said in an interview that he has no idea why there should be a bulge in misbehaviour among third-year students.

In the past year, a total of 105 cases were classified as "cheating" and 26 as "plagiarism". There were also 9 cases of "misrepresentation", 4 of "harassment, discrimination, unethical behaviour", and 3 of "misuse of resources".

The report notes that the huge majority of cases are handled by the associate deans in the six faculties. Appeals come first to a faculty-level "tribunal" and then, if necessary, to the UCSA itself. That's not counting minor examples of possible cheating that might be noticed by individual professors and never reported to the authorities, Thomson explained in an interview. "We all handle minor indiscretions just at an educational level."

The report encourages faculty members to do more by way of telling students about "accepted academic practices, levels of tolerance, the standards of the discipline", and the meaning of "plagiarism" -- passing off other people's work as your own. About plagiarism, Thomson particularly recommends a web site from the University of British Columbia.

Three appeals came to faculty tribunals this year, the report notes: one dealing with plagiarism ("substantial sections of text taken from two Internet sources"); one dealing with misrepresentation ("altered answers on midterm and, on two occasions, resubmitted modified answers to gain additional marks"); and one dealing with a deferred exam.

At the UCSA level, the only case dealt with this year was one that Thomson describes as "stretching the limits of the institution". It involves a student, now an ex-student, who was not happy with the way some information was recorded on his (or her) transcript. An appeal led to a complaint that university officials had shown "bias and prejudice".

The UCSA agreed to some of the changes the student wanted on the transcript, but the student began sending thousands of e-mail messages to students, faculty and staff in the faculty where he had been registered, complaining about how he had been treated.

Thomson says he eventually took the unprecedented step of sending out an e-mail statement himself, declaring that "There there is no substance to the unethical behaviour grievance. The two professors and others involved were performing their duties as required by their administrative positions. Further, I have found that the appellant's widespread and public attacks constitute harassment; the distribution of unsubstantiated allegations was vexatious in nature and contrary to UW policy."

But the public attacks continued, the UCSA report says, and a follow-up e-mail message was sent out several months later, on behalf of the provost. It noted that "the allegations had been investigated by the most senior student appeals body within the University and been found to be without substance."

Again this fall, thousands of students received the allegations by e-mail, and the case is well beyond anything the UCSA can handle, Thomson now says. "The university is pursuing matters."

Program links environment and business

The honours co-op Environment and Business is, says the environmental studies faculty, the only one of its kind in Canada to give students an integrated education in environment and business along with nearly two years of co-op work experience.

"While environmental issues and business have often been seen to be in conflict with each other," a news release says, "there is an increasing demand for professionals who understand both topics. As well, government downsizing has given companies more responsibility for their environmental performance.

"The honours program, which is co-op only, will teach students about ideas such as sustainable business, environmental management systems (EMS), green mutual funds, eco-industrial parks where the waste products of one factory are the inputs of another, developing business plans for alternative energy suppliers, and how to analyze the environmental record of global companies."

Environment and resource studies professor Ian Rowlands, director of the program, says Environment and Business is "transdisciplinary" and bridges the gap between the two theme areas, creating a new area of study.

"Traditionally," says Rowlands, "environment and business have been quite separate entities. But to move forward, we need to begin to integrate them. Environmental specialists need to understand how business operates, and business needs to take an ecosystem approach.

"Graduates of this program will not only be able to speak the 'traditional language' of either environment or business, but they will be at the cutting edge of the development of new ideas."

The program's 30 students each year will spend five co-op work terms in jobs relating to their studies – experience that, as the news release points out, will give students a chance to explore the range of careers available, to earn money to help finance their education, and to develop a network of contacts for their career.

The first class of students will enter the program in September 2001, says Andrew Smith, recruitment and promotion coordinator in the ES faculty.

Against the flu virus Flu shot clinics continue in the Student Life Centre, with people whose names begin with G through L being welcome today (11:00 to 5:30). Tomorrow it's M to R, Friday it's S to Z, and Monday and Tuesday all students, staff and faculty are welcome. Another kind of virus The "W32/Navidad" computer virus has been spotted on campus, says a report from Sensible Securities Solutions, distributed yesterday by the information systems and technology department as part of its virus warning service.

Staff association looking for help

He lists the current need: "three for the Nominating Committee itself, one for the Employee Assistance Program, and one to replace the UWSA's recently departed Vice President.

"Unless I'm mistaken, we're also still hoping for applicants for the position of SA Executive Committee Secretary, which people may be avoiding out of fear of having to take minutes. It doesn't."

McKone said the nominating committee and EAP posts involve a two-year commitment starting January 1. The UWSA Nominating Committee nominates or appoints regular full-time and regular part-time UWSA members as representatives to UW or UWSA standing committees or ad hoc committees requiring staff representation. The EAP committee includes staff, faculty and other representatives and manages the Employee Assistance program. What's currently needed for EAP is an alternate, someone who performs the duties of the regular member when the regular member is unavailable.

As well, the UWSA nominating committee is seeking a volunteer to fill the position of vice-president with the Staff Association Executive Committee (SAEC). This appointment is effective immediately, and lasts until May 30, 2001. It's a replacement for Grace Schaefer of the registrar's office, who was elected to the vice-presidential position last spring.

Says McKone: "To be considered for one of these positions, tell us why you'd like to serve on the committee, along with any relevant abilities, information or experience you would like the Nominating Committee to consider; include your name, department, extension, e-mail address, and years of service at UW. Submit this information to the chair of the Nominating Committee, Paul McKone (Engineering Computing, CPH, or pdmckone@engmail) by November 30.

"We encourage all interested staff members from across campus to consider these opportunities and submit an application. Individuals who are not members of the University of Waterloo Staff Association may join by contacting Barb Yantha (extension 3566, or e-mail at staffasc@mc1adm)."

Noses and skullcaps mark the attackers as caricatures of Jews. The scene in masks emphasizes the theme of antiSemitism in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice", staged this week by UW's department of drama. School performances start this afternoon and public performances tonight, in the Theatre of the Arts. Tickets: 888-4908. (See more on the front page of today's Gazette.)

Careers in math, and other events

Brubakers, the cafeteria in the Student Life Centre, will offer a "customer appreciation lunch" today, says Jeannie Watt in food services. "There will be lots of $1.99 specials, and our suppliers will be working to help serve our customers."

In a health studies and gerontology seminar starting at 12 noon, Anindya Sen of the economics department will speak on "Estimating the Impact of Anti-Drinking and Driving Initiatives with Blood Alcohol Data" (Lyle Hallman Institute, Matthews Hall annex, room 1633).

The end-of-term student recitals continue at Conrad Grebel College. Today at 12:30 in the chapel: Karen Yeats, recorder; Andy Wong, piano; and Angie Logan (flute), Jennifer Vording (mezzo), Cliff Snyder (double bass), Anna Janecek (soprano), Stacey Hoffman (soprano), and Andrew Jones (tenor), all accompanied by Heidi Lindschinger on the piano.

Xentel Direct Marketing brings the Murray Hatfield Magic Spectacular to the Humanities Theatre today, with three shows for children, at 1:00, 5:00 and 8:00.

A panel on "Careers in Math and Computer Science" starts at 4:30 this afternoon in Math and Computer room 4021, sponsored by the Women in Mathematics Committee. Five math graduates will speak: Posey Chen (computer science 1999, now with Janna Systems), Brenda Cripps (management accounting 1989, Maclean Hunter), Tina Eden (math teaching option 1995, Forest Heights Collegiate Institute), Megan Hall (math and business 1998, MKS Vertical Sky), and Jennifer Tscharke (actuarial science 1986, Munich Reinsurance).

Tonight brings a "mixer" at the Graduate House, and excitement is high. "The theme is 'An Evening at Camelot', writes Rose Vogel. "There will be a singer-songwriter, Heather Dale, performing music based on Arthurian legends, in addition to DJ music for dancing, lots of prizes and challenges, and of course assorted goodies! Those dressed appropriately will be invited to sit at the King's table, so polish up your armour and wear your finest sackcloth!"

CAR

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@uwaterloo.ca | (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
| Yesterday's Bulletin
Copyright © 2000 University of Waterloo