LETTER: Unhappy History

We welcome your editorial (DP 9/28/92) expressing outrage at the result of the Whitlock plagarism case in the school of Veterinary medicine. Plagerism is the most serious violation of academic integrity within the University. Many of our colleagues, as well as the president and members of the board of Trustees, have expressed dismay and anger about the leniency of the sanctions in this case. We will write a chronology of the case for Almanac, to help the University community understand the long and unhappy history of this case. The "Just Cause" task force headed by Professor Robert E. Davies, will propose changes in the University's procedure to insure a more rapid adjudication of such cases, and we hope more appropriate penalties. We would prefer, of course, that there was no need for such procedures within out community. LOUISE SHOEMAKER Social Work Past Chair, Faculty Senate DAVID HILDEBRAND Statistics Chair, Faculty Senate GERALD PORTER Mathematics Chair-Elect, Faculty Senate