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Professor Fired After Shaming Students Online
November 19, 2008 10:14 AM
ABC News On Campus reporter Joseph Millares blogs:
Loye Young, a management information systems professor at Texas A&M International University, was fired last week for posting the names of six students on his blog and accusing them of plagiarizing an assignment. I caught up with an old high school acquaintance of mine, and his reaction was priceless.
"The first thing that came to mind when I read this was, 'This is why I left Laredo,'" said Tony Faz, a biochemistry major at the University of Texas.
I went to high school on the Texas-Mexico border so I am very familiar with TAMIU. It’s where I would go during my off periods in high school to play basketball, and meet college girls.
TAMIU has grown into a highly reputable university, and a lot of hard-working intelligent students are enrolled there. Danny Flores, the salutatorian of my high school class, was granted a full undergrad scholarship there, and is currently interviewing for medical school.
Flores said that even though it was wrong for the professor to publish the students' names, the university should have informed Young that the language used in his syllabus, specifically, where he stated he would "promptly and publicly fail and humiliate anyone caught lying, cheating or stealing" would violate the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act that prevents students' grades from being released without their consent.
"The students shouldn't have cheated, and the professor should've known the law," Flores said. "But at the same time, the university should've told him something before approving his syllabus."
Six students are accused of plagiarizing. I don't know how many students were in the class, but TAMIU doesn't exactly pack a 300-seat auditorium the way a media law and ethics class at UT does. There's a possibility that these six students could account for at least a fourth of the class roster.
According to an article by Scott Jaschik on insidehighered.com that was also referenced in the printed version of the Texan article, there's even a chance that the students' failing grades may not stand because of Young's post.
Young defended himself in his Nov. 17th blog entry.
Yes, the professor should have known better, but I know so many students at UT and TAMIU who have worked hard their entire academic career and understand how fortunate we are that students in this country have the opportunity to earn a college degree. Whether the students are disciplined or not is yet to be seen, but I think it will be interesting to see the reaction from college students and faculty all over the country if these six are allowed to walk away without consequences.
There's one thing I have grown to assume about news stories about Laredo, Texas. It’s always about something bad that happened, and unfortunately, this didn't help change my perception.
November 19, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (12)
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If the students cheated they shamed themselves, they didn’t need any help. My daughter is the “proudest member of the fighting Texas Aggie class of 2007" I am definitely the proudest Dad. She’s still at A&M working on a grad degree. If she ever leaves CS she’ll spend 2 years in Maroon withdrawal. .... Make the professor buy a round at the ‘Dixie Chicken’ and forget the whole thing.
Posted by: Oonogil | Nov 19, 2008 1:14:26 PM
The students are ACCUSED. What's required for them to be CONVICTED? It's premature for any professor to publish the names of students who haven't been found guilty yet. On the other hand, I don't see that it's an offense deserving of firing if the students are indeed guilty.
Posted by: The_Mick | Nov 19, 2008 1:22:15 PM
Those students have probably posted much worse info about themselves on My Space or Facebook. The professor should not be fired.
Posted by: No Sympathy | Nov 19, 2008 2:39:28 PM
You go Professor! Make the students responsible for what they have done. Years ago I remember getting a paddling for just talking during a class. Now the kids can say what ever they wont and if the teaches tries to do anything about it. They are fired. Let’s give the teachers back there power to take care of students who think they can get away with anything.
Posted by: ewr | Nov 19, 2008 2:41:33 PM
here they can't fire a professor for doing worse. in fact why does Bill AYERS still have a job?
Posted by: al | Nov 19, 2008 2:55:19 PM
Look at the cowboy hat in his photo: Another 'wild west' type who thinks he can accuse, convict and punish on his own. I am also a college professor, who fails students for cheating - but only after it has been proven. I'm not excusing their behavior, but his is equally egregious. He said he had never taught a college class before and this is evident. It might surprise him and others to know that some students don't really understand when they're plagiarizing something. High schools don't emphasize those issues like they used to; they're too busy teaching to the TAKS. Nevertheless, if his supervisor signed off on his syllabus, which I find hard to believe, BOTH should be fired.
Posted by: Bayou947 | Nov 19, 2008 7:08:13 PM
I think I'm more on the side of the professor on this one.
Posted by: LongT | Nov 19, 2008 7:52:33 PM
When I was a freshman in chemistry, someone was talking while the professor was lecturing. The professor turned around and saw who it was and asked him if he wanted to teach the class. The student said "no sir", after which the professor told him to leave and he couldn't return until he was able to secure a note from the dean. There wasn't a single problem from anyone for the rest of the semester.
Posted by: LongT | Nov 19, 2008 7:56:54 PM
I graduated from Texas A&M this past May and now I'm in grad school here. I'd say the majority of students live by the "Aggie Code of Honor" and it is printed on scantrons for tests and all over buildings. For those that don't live by the code or turn in work by our code, the are and/or should be harsh consequences. If they plagerized, they should be punished! We have a big problem with that in grad students who are international students and NONE of our profs tolerate it. One strike and you're OUT!
The Aggie Code of Honor...
An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do.
Posted by: Aggie 08 | Nov 19, 2008 9:40:42 PM
The students were wrong to plagiarize, if in fact they did, but the professor, broke the law by publishing their names. The students should sue him for this. There is a big difference between an ethics violation and a law being broken.
Posted by: Lou Ralf | Nov 19, 2008 10:04:41 PM
idiot professor. just because someone is educated with various degrees, a teacher on any level, does not mean they are not a complete idiot. the university administrators should be punished in some way for not having managed the staff.
Posted by: Lawrence | Nov 20, 2008 6:48:37 AM
I just got canned for almost the same thing in China. Failed a bunch of students (70 - and with the administrations blessing) then because I came out low in the student polls (small wonder), got laid off. I do not think the teacher should have published their names though. That was too far and also was illegial. He did a good job fighting plagiarism, but in this case, he went too far. If a student plagiarizes, it goes on their record. No need to publish the names. But, to the students, you did the greater evil. The teacher is just a victom of his own ignorance. The students knowingly purposefully broke the law. Don't fire the teacher. He needs to be disciplined but not fired.
Posted by: fred flintstone | Nov 20, 2008 9:08:10 AM
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