WWYD: Cheating Classmate?

[apirateslifeforme]

I have a similar story...had an accounting final last night, and here is an excerpt from an email from a friend/classmate, who sits behind the person in question:

"The guy in front of me, the one that sits with the Polish girl, was blatantly cheating! He had papers on the chair beside him and he kept referring to them, even moving them to see the ones underneath. I wrote [the professor] a note and told her, on my exam, and pretended to ask her a question. She said she would get up and walk around and check, but she didn't get up while I was there and she never even looked at him as far as I could tell. I'm not usually Miss Goody Two Shoes, but when I'm struggling, honestly, just to pass, it really ****** me off to see someone so blatantly cheating. I wanted to stand up and say, "Hey, this guy's cheating, he keeps looking at his notes on the chair beside him!" but I'm not really the type to draw that much attention to myself. Whenever she had someone at the desk with her, he really went to town on those notes! I was waiting for him to pick up the papers and put them on top of the desk, he was so blatant about it. I can't believe the girl in front of me never so much as glanced at him, she had to know what he was doing too."

Just to explain; we don't have desks, we sit at long tables, hence why we have side-by-side chairs. Also, this was a year-long, two-part class, and a different classmate caught him doing the same thing last semester. Yet he got an A last semester and he was back for this one...

ETA: I personally didn't see anything - this guy sits behind me and to my right. Just sharing the story, however...

 

[dawson5]

For everyone that says MYOB, how would you feel if this was your future doctor?

 

[HunnyPots]

For everyone that says MYOB, how would you feel if this was your future doctor?

I would feel the same because she still does not know for sure that he was cheating. I would not want to ruin someone's career over a "maybe".

 

[Scurvy]

I would feel the same because she still does not know for sure that he was cheating. I would not want to ruin someone's career over a "maybe".

Obviously she can't say anything about it now. But if she'd said something to the professor at the time, the only way it could possibly ruin someone's career is if the other person actually was cheating. No professor is going to give someone a zero or kick them out of the class based on another student saying the person might have been cheating. The professor could have looked at the student's phone to see if he really was cheating. If the student was just texting, that wouldn't ruin his potential career. If he was cheating, then the professor could have done something about it. The only person ruining someone's career is the one who is doing the cheating, not the person pointing out a possible problem to the professor.

 

[dawson5]

The OP said:

I'm glad you understood my post. I wouldn't have said, "People are cheating during the exam by accessing an internet translator via cellphone." I would have voiced my concerns about people texting or using their cellphones during exams. I think it is reasonable, because that is what I saw- someone using a phone during an exam, which we are not supposed to be doing during class, let alone during an exam.

Whether cheating or innocent texting, it was against the rules of the class--unless I am misunderstanding her statement. So they are violating the rules, whether to tell a friend they are half way done or getting the answers to the test. We've been reading more and more about this being a new thing, high-tech cheating. I would bring it up and I would have at the time. If it's innocent "I'm almost done," it's easy to prove. If it someone looking for the answers, well they don't deserve the grade they would have gotten.

ETA: The one thing that sticks out is the secretive little "hiding it under his hat." That speaks volumes, whether cheating or texting, he knew it wasn't allowed.

 

[Carly_Roach]

For everyone that says MYOB, how would you feel if this was your future doctor?

The same way I feel about my current doctors, accountants or lawyers who also probably cheated during his/her college days: it would still be none of my business if I witnessed this kind of suspicious behavior in class 10, 15 or 20 years ago.

I also agree with other posters here. The time to have done something about it was when it was happening. It's too late now.

 

[declansdad]

For everyone that says MYOB, how would you feel if this was your future doctor?

Would cheating on one test really make that much of a difference in his skills as a doctor?


The op didn't see him cheating so there isn't a lot she could do, except ask about the rules regarding the use of cell phones during the exam.

 

[hereyago]

People are funny. They say MYOB, but too often people MYOB with situations that merit not to. Don't be a snitch in school, but tell if someone is bothering you, or if you see a bully do something, which is it tell or not?

My DD's 5th grade graduation last year had teachers speaking. One teacher who I just adore said "if you don't stand up for what is right, you will fall for anything".

People usually don't cheat just once, they have to keep doing it because they are usually to lazy to do the work.

 

[dawson5]

Would cheating on one test really make that much of a difference in his skills as a doctor?


The op didn't see him cheating so there isn't a lot she could do, except ask about the rules regarding the use of cell phones during the exam.

That one test appears to be an end of the year test, I am assuming finals because she said it didn't matter and she was done for the year. So wouldn't that be a test on everything learned over the semester? If it was just one test, probably not much of a difference, but a final? Imagine if it was over something pretty important.

Again, assuming he was cheating, no matter what-- he broke the rules. The OP did say this:

someone using a phone during an exam, which we are not supposed to be doing during class, let alone during an exam.

Sounds like there are rules to that effect.

 

[Dismagic1]

During a college final exam, I think I saw someone cheating. As I got up to turn in my test, I saw a classmate typing on his cell phone. As I walked by, he quickly slid it under his baseball hat, which was sitting on his desk, right in front of his test. Our teacher was on the other side of the room, on the computer. It really bugged me. We're in college. Come on! I felt like saying something, especially on a suspicion, seemed a little busy bidy-ish. When I mentioned it to another classmate, she said this guy is always moving around during tests. He was not ordinarily in my line of sight during tests. I suppose he could have been texting, but what is so important that you would risk a cheating accusation by messing around with your phone during a test?

Say nothing, do nothing. You have no hard proof and there is nothing the professor can do as not only is it your word against his, the professor doesn't have the right to look into his cell phone since it's college, not high school. Also, the person you're accusing would know who you are and that's not the best thing for you.

 

[Dismagic1]

People are funny. They say MYOB, but too often people MYOB with situations that merit not to. Don't be a snitch in school, but tell if someone is bothering you, or if you see a bully do something, which is it tell or not?

My DD's 5th grade graduation last year had teachers speaking. One teacher who I just adore said "if you don't stand up for what is right, you will fall for anything".

People usually don't cheat just once, they have to keep doing it because they are usually to lazy to do the work.

This is pretty self righteous. This is cheating on a college exam. The only person getting hurt is the person who is cheating because they're not learning the material. How is the OP affected by someone cheating on an exam?

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

What researchers are finding is that it's not the laziness that is the main motivator for cheating. The smart, success-driven student is actually far more likely to be cheating. They do it in order to prevent "failure," which to them may mean not getting into a top-5 university. In other words, it's not that they fear an F, they fear a B+. It's just a homework, becomes it's just a test, becomes it's just a high school class. Once they get to college, they're competing to get to the top of the class to get a job or graduate school. The cheating continues.

How does someone else cheating affect the non-cheater?

- If the exam or course is curved, the cheater can throw off the curve.
- If the cheater obtains a higher grade in the class, the cheater is more likely to get the better reference letter.
- Even if the course is not curved, the cheater with the better score is going to have a better class rank. In this economy, many employers are asking for applicants in the top x%. That cheater may have just taken your spot in the top x%.
- Cheater and non-cheater apply for the same research position or the same limited-enrollment course. The cheater scored better in the basic course, so we'll give him priority in getting into the class or getting the position.
- The rampant cheating and grade inflation have lead admissions staff to place an even greater emphasis on standardized tests, which are generally more closely proctored and harder to cheat on.

These are just a few of the results of saying nothing about cheating. By saying something, you're not becoming judge, jury, and executioner. You're merely a witness. The other jobs are for the faculty and administration.

 

[OceanAnnie]

What researchers are finding is that it's not the laziness that is the main motivator for cheating. The smart, success-driven student is actually far more likely to be cheating. They do it in order to prevent "failure," which to them may mean not getting into a top-5 university. In other words, it's not that they fear an F, they fear a B+. It's just a homework, becomes it's just a test, becomes it's just a high school class. Once they get to college, they're competing to get to the top of the class to get a job or graduate school. The cheating continues.

How does someone else cheating affect the non-cheater?

- If the exam or course is curved, the cheater can throw off the curve.
- If the cheater obtains a higher grade in the class, the cheater is more likely to get the better reference letter.
- Even if the course is not curved, the cheater with the better score is going to have a better class rank. In this economy, many employers are asking for applicants in the top x%. That cheater may have just taken your spot in the top x%.
- Cheater and non-cheater apply for the same research position or the same limited-enrollment course. The cheater scored better in the basic course, so we'll give him priority in getting into the class or getting the position.
- The rampant cheating and grade inflation have lead admissions staff to place an even greater emphasis on standardized tests, which are generally more closely proctored and harder to cheat on.

These are just a few of the results of saying nothing about cheating. By saying something, you're not becoming judge, jury, and executioner. You're merely a witness. The other jobs are for the faculty and administration.

Those are all good points.

I agree, reporting an infraction of rules does not condemn the innocent.

 

[Dismagic1]

What researchers are finding is that it's not the laziness that is the main motivator for cheating. The smart, success-driven student is actually far more likely to be cheating. They do it in order to prevent "failure," which to them may mean not getting into a top-5 university. In other words, it's not that they fear an F, they fear a B+. It's just a homework, becomes it's just a test, becomes it's just a high school class. Once they get to college, they're competing to get to the top of the class to get a job or graduate school. The cheating continues.

How does someone else cheating affect the non-cheater?

- If the exam or course is curved, the cheater can throw off the curve.
- If the cheater obtains a higher grade in the class, the cheater is more likely to get the better reference letter.
- Even if the course is not curved, the cheater with the better score is going to have a better class rank. In this economy, many employers are asking for applicants in the top x%. That cheater may have just taken your spot in the top x%.
- Cheater and non-cheater apply for the same research position or the same limited-enrollment course. The cheater scored better in the basic course, so we'll give him priority in getting into the class or getting the position.
- The rampant cheating and grade inflation have lead admissions staff to place an even greater emphasis on standardized tests, which are generally more closely proctored and harder to cheat on.

These are just a few of the results of saying nothing about cheating. By saying something, you're not becoming judge, jury, and executioner. You're merely a witness. The other jobs are for the faculty and administration.

Valid points but again there is no proof of cheating here, only a suspicion. And it's nobody's job to play detective.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Valid points but again there is no proof of cheating here, only a suspicion. And it's nobody's job to play detective.

The witness doesn't need to play detective. The witness doesn't even need to say, "I saw B cheating." Just tell the prof. what you saw. Detective is *my* job. If I find substantial evidence of cheating, then I pass the case to the honor board, which plays the role of prosecutor, judge, and jury. And it's only the most outrageous cases that will result in a prosecution and possibly significant sanctions.

In OP's situation, if I did receive a note from her, I would give a little extra scrutiny to the exam results: were there any identical papers? did anyone score off the charts? Chances are, neither would come up. I would also make sure to have the next exam proctored far more closely.

 

[hereyago]

This is pretty self righteous. This is cheating on a college exam. The only person getting hurt is the person who is cheating because they're not learning the material. How is the OP affected by someone cheating on an exam?[/QUOTe


And if you read the whole message, you would have read my statement that people who cheat, often do it more then once.


Everyone is affected by cheating one way or the other. If you see someone do something that isn't right you are just as guilty as they are. Do people not have morals anymore? People have been on these boards saying on threads people should mind their business, but people minded their business such in the case recently of the girl who killed herself over bullying, they are just as guilty because they saw and did nothing. Or that man in New York who was helping a lady and ended up dying with no one helping him because people were minding their business.

We tell our kids not to snitch on each other, but then turn around and say, but if someone is hurting you tell someone.

 

[Jennasis]

Umm, we are talking about cheating on a college test...not turning a blind eye to someone in distress. It's not the same thing. Not even close. To try to draw a comparison is grasping at straws.

 

[Mermaid02]

During a college final exam, I think I saw someone cheating. As I got up to turn in my test, I saw a classmate typing on his cell phone. As I walked by, he quickly slid it under his baseball hat, which was sitting on his desk, right in front of his test. Our teacher was on the other side of the room, on the computer. It really bugged me. We're in college. Come on! I felt like saying something, especially on a suspicion, seemed a little busy bidy-ish. When I mentioned it to another classmate, she said this guy is always moving around during tests. He was not ordinarily in my line of sight during tests. I suppose he could have been texting, but what is so important that you would risk a cheating accusation by messing around with your phone during a test?

Unless he was cheating off my paper, I would mind my own business. It's the professor's job to watch for such things and you have NO proof.

 

[Dismagic1]

The witness doesn't need to play detective. The witness doesn't even need to say, "I saw B cheating." Just tell the prof. what you saw. Detective is *my* job. If I find substantial evidence of cheating, then I pass the case to the honor board, which plays the role of prosecutor, judge, and jury. And it's only the most outrageous cases that will result in a prosecution and possibly significant sanctions.

In OP's situation, if I did receive a note from her, I would give a little extra scrutiny to the exam results: were there any identical papers? did anyone score off the charts? Chances are, neither would come up. I would also make sure to have the next exam proctored far more closely.

The professor should be watching the students, not playing off in the corner of the room on a computer. Don't put students in this position to have to do your job for you. That's absolute rubbish.

 

[hereyago]

Umm, we are talking about cheating on a college test...not turning a blind eye to someone in distress. It's not the same thing. Not even close. To try to draw a comparison is grasping at straws.

The mindset is the same. Unless it is going to affect certain people personally, they don't want to get involved. Whether it's cheating on a test, seeing a person shop lift and turn a blind eye to it, because it isn't their stuff being stolen. We tell our kids not to be a snitch, but when a bully hits a myob's kid, oh then people who saw it happen should have said something. that is hypocracy.