UA calls for stand vs. plagiarism

Undergraduate Assembly representatives adopted a resolution Sunday night asking the University to hold professors to the same ethical standards as students. The resolution responds to the University's sanctions imposed on Associate Veterinary Professor Robert Whitlock after it was determined he had plagiarized six years ago. Whitlock was barred from ever holding a position in the University's administration and lost his endowed chair. But Whitlock is still a tenured professor and his pay was not cut. The resolution states that any faculty member breaking the Code of Academic Integrity should be investigated and punished not only by faculty members from the accused school, as is currently the practice, but also by other schools in the University. The UA's resolution also encouraged the University's Board of Trustees to request Whitlock's resignation. "If we have any respect for the academic integrity of this University, we must vote for this," said UA Vice Chairperson Kirsten Bartok, a College junior. "Any student would have been expelled." Lichtman also said he had discussed Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson's housing report last week, stressing that the study is not in its final form. The VPUL's report suggests establishing a house system for all students at the University to promote a greater sense of community. Some of the representatives said that they wish they were more involved in the UA's dialogue with Morrisson and that the housing system needs to be open to more student imput. "I took a survey of about 100 students today, and about 25 percent hadn't heard of the project," said UA representative Sarah Doty, a College sophomore. "We have to respond to our constituents." Lichtman said that he was concerned that it would appear that he was working too closely with the administration. "I think people have concerns about the way I may be handling things," Lichtman said.