Collegian
Page 4
Survey Says.rn
by Ed Miseta
Collegian Staff Writer
Ina survey conducted on campus
in February, 64% of the students
polled admitted to engaging in
some type of cheating. 57% felt
there was a general attitude on
campus that cheating is o.k. as
long as you don't get caught, and
45% said they have cheated on an
exam at Bchrcnd. These results were
obtained from 400 students who
filled out the survey in the Gorge,
the Library, and in various
classrooms. The students were
asked to respond to five questions
with a 'yes' or 'no' answer. These
results arc shown in table I.
The biggest surprise to me was
that while 73% felt that cheating is
not acceptable in any situation,
64% of them still cheated,
answering 'yes' to question four or
live (or both). And while almost
70% felt it was not easy to cheat on
exams, 45% =flatted to do it
anyway. •
I also asked the respondents if
they were male or female, and
whether they were a freshman,
sophomore, junior, or senior. I used
these results to further break down
the -15% of students answering 'yes'
to question four. 132 out of 274
The Lighter Si
by Ed Miseta
Collegian Staff Writer
--If there's one thing I learned
from doing the cheating survey, it's
that students can be pretty creative
in their methods. 'Sally' was
probably the best.
"What can I say," she said. "It's
something that I just happen to be
really good at."
She then rattled off about ten
different methods that she had used
to cheat on exams.
"Being a girl also makes it
easier to lie to instructors," she
i.,11(1. "Especially if you're good
looking:, like me." She then went
on to say, "1 don't particularly
enjoy doing it, but it's so
convenient, I just can't resist."
Well that's nice to hear. She
probably fakes her orgasms too. I
mean, it's more convenient, right?
--I also don't think it's very fair
that students who are really good at
cheating can get better grades than
those who would like to cheat, but
can't because they don't know how.
I feel Behrend should start offering a
course that would train students in
the fine art of cheating. It could be
called Management 311-A:
Business Un-Ethics. In order to
teach the students the newest and
most effective techniques, the
instructor could bring in, as special
guests, people who are really good
Spring Specials
The Fantastic
Difference That'll
Make You Smile
The original family haircutters.
..... : :...o.E.T.,:.iirti : E':.F4krifriksTic..,:pifFEßEN . .cF,.......i.:
males, or 48%, admitted to cheating
on an exam, as opposed to 42 out
of 113, or 37% of the females. The
breakdown by class standing is
shown in table 2.
These numbers arc disturbing, to
say the least. This was a random
survey, and may not be indicative
of the whole population, but I feel
it is fairly accurate.
Many students cheat, it seems,
without stopping to think about the
consequences. A student who cheats
during an exam may get a couple
more questions right, but the act
could cause him/her to fail the
course, and probably be dismissed
from the university. (see The
Policies and Rules for Students, 49-
-20: Academic Integrity). Another
problem with cheating is that a
student who does it once and gets
away with it is much likely to do it
again. A writer once wrote: "Lying
is easy. Lying once is hard." The
sane principle applies to cheating.
And finally, a large number of
students cheating can create an
attitude among the students that
cheating is o.k. This can lead still,
more students to cheat which is a
problem since the final letter grade
of a student might be based on how
he/she did relative to the other
students in the class.
at cheating, lying, and other types
of un-ethical behavior. Possibly
officers and detectives from the Eric
Police Deparunent.
--Talking to cheaters, I was able
to make up a list of about thirty
proven methods for cheating on
papers, exams, lab reports, and
programs. I was asked not to print
it here, since that might encourage
further cheating. The list is,
however, on sale. Please see me for
details.
--The most ignorant person. I
met was a girl (isn't it always a
girl?) who filled out a survey in the
Gorge. She was sitting at a table
with about five other students.
After filling hers out, she told
everyone else at the table to check
'no' for all of the questions.
"Why can't I be honest?" one of
the guys asked.
"Because," she said, "if
everybody checks 'yes' then the
university will clamp down on
cheating, and we won't be able to
do it anymore."
Ah, women. Can't live with
'ern, can't shoot 'em.
--On one of the 'trial' surveys
that I gave out before the big one,
respondents had a choice of 'yes',
'no', and 'don't care'. Ten students
checked 'don't care' for one or more
of the questions. I then asked those
Perm 1---1 24.95
Special
mom
Adult Style Cut 7.95
Special COMPARE
AT $ll.OO
1111-(IIIIIIlIIIII I I I I I I 1 I I l 1 I 1 I II
BUFFALO *OAD
In c lo.6lpar
SU
ElEt.
Coupon Expires April 10th
This problem can be alleviated
only through a combined effort on
the part of both students and
faculty. Instructors must pursue a
more aggressive anti-cheating
policy. This can include watching
students more closely, different
versions of the same exam,
collecting and redistributing blue
books, and having upper level
students help out in , large,
introductory level classes. The
students can also do their part in
helping out. Dr. James Kurre,
Assistant Professor of Economics,
feels that a students witnessing any
type of cheating (copying,
plagiarism, etc.) should inform the
instructor immediately. "In most
cases it's not necessary that you
give the person's name," he said.
"Simply let the instructor know
what has occurred so he/she can
watch for it in the future." I'm sure
most instructors would agree.
Cheating on this campus is a.,
problem that must be dealt with
now, before it gets any worse.
Anyone wishing to express 0.1
opinion on the survey or on
cheating in general is invited to
write to The Collegian. I would;
be interested in hearing your views.
ten students if they thought there
was a problem with people who,.
checked 'don't care' on surveys. Two
said 'yes', three said 'no', and five
said they 'didn't care'.
--I'm sad to report that seven
students were caught copying off
of their neighbor's survey. A note
has been mailed to their parents and
their names are being sent to the
Miami Herald, for future reference.
--Thirteen respondents failed to
check either 'male' or 'female' .
They must be those 'she-males' I've
seen and read about in magazines.
--There were also a few who
failed to check either freshman,
sophomore, junior, or senior. I
guess I can understand that. They
didn't know I would be asking that
question, and therefore didn't have
the answer written down on their
-- Here arc two good stories that
were related to me, by instructors.
There was a student in one class
whose exam score was in the low
thirties. Comparing that exam
against one of the other. answer
keys produced a score in theypper
eighties. "We should sit down and
write a paper on this," wrote the
instructor at the top of the student's
paper. "The odds of it happening are
probably a million to one." The
Haircut Service Includes
* Shampoo
* Precision Cut
* Style/Finish
* No Hidden Extras
Behrend Student Discount
Additional 10%
4309 Buffalo.,Road
Corner of Buffalo and
Nagle lidads ' • '
next to Burger' King
Mon. -Thurs. 8:30=8:30
Fri.- 8:30-1:00 "-
Sat- 8:30 - 5:00
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY
student was then given an 'F for
fine effort.
' Another professor told me the
story of a student who took a cheat
sheet full of formulas into an exam
with him. The problem? He
mistakenly stuck it inside the exam
COMPARE
AT $37.00
check made payable to the Collegian at the Rub desk.
,Pjease print your name, address, and phone number on
the back of your ads. . _ •
• - -Ads will be published at the discretion of the editors.
Ads not published will be returned with payment.
,
'QUESTION .- .
NO
1) DO YOU THINK THERE IS A GENERAL:ATTITUDEE: 4 y A
' ON CAMPUS - 'THAT CHEATING. -7
IS OK AS LONG AS v ‘ l . ) f h, - 1 . - 37 0
--YOU DON'T GET CAUGHT?
2 DO YOU FEEL IT IS EASY TO CHEAT ON MOST -
6
'EXAMS AT THIS'UNIVERSITY? ' 3 I / 697
o a
3 DO YOU PERSONALLY BELIEVE CHEATING IS Wall -7 - 2 01
ACCEPTAB E IN OME SITUATIONS? i ~)/0
4) HAVE YOU EVER CHEATED ON AN EXAM AT EMMA
BEHREND? - -
5) HAVE YOU EVER COMITTED ANY OTHER TYPE
OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AT BEHREND?
42 % 5
- (COPY SOMEONES HOMEWORK, PLAGIARISM, 8 .
INFORMATION FABRICATION,' ETC...)
ANSWERED YES TO QUES. FOUR
, FRESHMAN 25 OUT OF 78 = 3 270
SOPHOMORE 66 OUT OF 129 --= 51 7.
JUNIOR 37 OUT OF 8 4 ----`T %
sEtaoß 49 OUT OF 102 =4 6 Z
Collegian -.. -',!r*
*" .. •- . ..*;* - Cla.sifieds
Personals
1.
Kim S. Interested? Can we
meet? Y.S.A.
hey 706 Its National Bruce
Week.
Kim Sendek: Want to study
Geo . Bliv? —The dreamer—
Turn on the lights-I can't see
MEM
Hey Everybody Happy
Shamrocks Da !
Wanted
Wanted: Slim
,athletic,attractive, male gerbil
seeks female counterpart to travel
the open roads and share my new
found freedom. I am fond of
cycling , beer, and female midget
rollerderby. Have skates will travel.
Kinky biologically confused types
need not applSi send photo c/o
Colic...an Office.
Ads will cost $l.OO for 3 lines and 5.50 for - each
additional line. There are 34 characters per line.
Turn in your ads in a sealed envelope with cash or
Table I
Table 2
before turning it in. The professor
had a surprise when he opened it
up, and the student had a surprise
when he got it back. I'm sure by
now he has a fine career pumping
gas at Kwik-Fill.
opinifp
--So just what does al
mean anyway? I don't know
you, but it tells , me that a
Behrend students can look fo
to a successful career in po
Attorney General anyone?
For Sole
For Sale: Bird cages big and
small. Call Bill or Deb. 454-3355
For Sale:Gourgeous Brooks
Brothers Leather Loafers. Never
Worn. size' 10 1/2. ask for
Steve.sh. 898-0106
For Sale: Citizens Band
Radio. Solid, great
reception,w/antenna. For more
information call 898-0106 ask for
Steve.
For sale Twin size water bed
with heater and pump $150.00 or
best offer. 825-8873 Rick
Miscellaneous
Meeting All junior and senior
Communications majors are
required to attend an informational
meeting at March 17 at the
Brookside at 12:00 Other majors
are also encouraged to attend.-D.B.
Missing; Killer gerbil
answers to the name Spike. White
with brown patches. Fond of beer
popcorn and female midget roller
derbyists. Last seen- cycling on
Jordan Road. Contact Jim - and Terry
899-0795