The Campus Chat (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 41, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 17, 1965 Page: 2 of 4
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PACE 2—EDITORIALS
The Campus Chat
Wednesday, March 17, 1945
Cheating Problem: Grade Emphasis vs. Student Morals
NT Poll Shows Attitude of Profs Makes Difference
The recent
Air Force Academy scandal
has made educators and parents more
aware of the problems that prevail in most .
colleges. Today the Chat dCvotes a*. *
• ®
portion of its editorial page to
the subject qf .cheating and
student morality.
College: Place for Learning
A junior economic* major entered a clans
well prepared for hi* midterm exam he had
formula* and key phrase* written minutely
on hi* shirt cuff*, a "crimp" *heet ingenious
ly concealed tiehind a pack of cigarette* and
held in place by a cellophane wrapper, and
it diseijlboweled wri t watch in which he had
inserted a second "crimp" sheet that allowed
the answers to pop up when the stem wa*
wound
Sound like a James Bond thriller? Ironi-
cally such shenanigans take place daily in
college* and universities all across the Uni-
ted States But because of the great publicity
given to the recent Air Force Academy
scandal in which over KM cadets were ex-
Sincere Student, Not Free-Loader
Would Improve Education System
One morninjr duririK Demi Week la.Mt
fall, a professor in the School of Busi-
ness Administration entered his of-
fice to find his desk ransacked.
Scratches were on the door, pa| ers
were scattered and files were lyinR
open Scribbled on a note lyinK on the
desk were the words "Dr. , where
is your final?"
The incident exemplifies a practice
that has lon>f been widespread and
that hit the headlines during the Air
Force Academy scandal earlier this
year. There are probably few lar^e
universities—and most students here
realize that North Texas is no excep-
tion—in which stealitiK and selling
tests isn't a profitable business ven-
ture for a daririK group of students.
• • •
Since the discovery "f such a ring at
the Air Force Academy, dozens of
ne\vs| apers and magazines have con-
tributed thousands of words on the
subject. Most of the articles take one
of two sides, either condemning the
students for stooping to such a devious
means of making good grades or con-
demning the schools for placing too
much emphasis on tests.
As would be expected, the real re-
sponsibility must be shared by the
two groups. And, as most articles
(minted out, both segments must be-
gin correcting their faults to bring
higher education back to the prestigi-
ous position it should occupy.
The students are the most easily
blamed, and rightly so. The only prac-
tical argument they have for cheating
on any level is the bromide that col-
leges place too much emphasis on
grades This defense is comparable to
saying that society puts too much em-
phasis on material goods; so it is per-
fectly excusable to steal money.
• • •
The problem is not that colleges over-
emphasize grades, but that students
underemphasize knowledge. The state-
ment that most students are in school
only for a degree is a cliche merely
because it is true Few students who
are really college material would re-
sort to mass cheating; the others do
not belong in an institution of higher
learning.
College educators, however, cannot
shift all the blame onto students and
bemoan this generation's loss of mo-
rality They too are at fault—for tole-
rating and often even encouraging
wholesale cheating.
Any teacher who gives the same
notes and same tests year after year
is not, in the first place, a good teach-
er. In only a few years his resources
are outdated and his lectures stag-
nant; students cannot be expected to
be stimulated by broken-needle repeti-
tion.
Just as important, though, these
teachers are inviting trouble. Frater-
nity and other test files are easily ac-
cumulated and often used and justi-
fiably so. Studying from an old test is
a good means for review, and good
teachers will take precautions against
such preparation.
The irony of the entire situation is
that the interested student is often
hurt by both factors. The many who
cheat do more than deprive themselves
of an education; they handicap the
honest student, whose sincerity does
not appear on his dexigraph. By con-
ducting loose classes, teachers also
harm the best students Their stagnan-
cy cuts into the educational potential
of the students' few college years, and
their tolerance of cheating forces the
student into a moral bind. In more
than one class on campus, cheating Is
so prevalent that even the best stu-
dents often resort to cheating to com-
pete successfully with the others.
Society itself often closes its eyes
to such goings-on. Employers ask only
for degrees, not education, and in at
least one instance industry helps stu-
dents with cheating. A small Seattle
company is advertising a cigarette-
pack size "I'ockeTutor" which contains
a long roll of paper. When tilted, the
roll glides past a window, revealing
anything that may be written on it—
all for $19.95.
The problem, like most, is not a sim-
ple one, but the solution lies only with
the educators. They must remember
that college is for learning, not as
Ashley Montagu said— for regurgitat-
ing facts and figures on a blank sheet
of paper.
To ever improve the validly criti-
cized American education system, col-
leges must begin limiting themselves
to only the sincere students and the
interested teachers. The others have
been free-loading long enough
a c o t a ■ c o *
pelled for violating the honor code, parent*
and educator* have once again become acute-
ly aware of the cheating prevalent in molt
college courses
In many instance* such cheating occur*
almost accidentally when student* are pack
ed closely during quizzes, especially true
false or multiple-choice test*. Student* and
professor* are aware many times that eye*
seem to wander without really intending to
deliberately cheat However, in many cases
students meticulously plan their every move
in an effort to avoid studying and still re-
ceive passing grades In instances such a*
these a student will often spend more time
trying to figure angle- hy which he can
pass a quiz without studying than he doe*
studying
Occasionally students feel justified in
cheating because they feel their professor
has not properly prepared them for such a
hard exam rather than because they want 'o
make sure they receive a good grade.
MKUIOCRK STUDENT
Kducators have long been aware that
Home students cheat their way through school.
In most of these instances, it usually is the
mediocre student who will steal an exam,
make a "crimp'' sheet, or look on someone
else's paper. Yet this certainly does not im-
ply that all average students are cheaters
Interestingly enough, a recent survey indi-
cates that not only average students some-
times cheat, but in many cases "A" students
also use such devious means to ussure them-
selves of a "good" grade
One North Texas senior commented, "Sure,
I cheated a few times in four years of
school, but only when I was in a tight spot
and there was no other way out."
Asked if he thought he had missed some-
thing by having cheated on a quiz, he said,
"No, not at all I had a 'B' going into the
final, and made a 'B' on the exam. So I
guess things turned out about right." Wheth-
er this came out "almut right" or not, it in
an indication of the attitude held by a great
number of college student* This does not
imply that all students cheat, but Columbia
I'niversity'* Bureau of Applied Research
recently relea*ed a study wherein it revealed
that nearly half of 5,000 *tudent* in 90 col-
lege* admitted cheating on exam* at one
time or another Not all the student* who
admitted cheating were poor students, some
were "A" student* who were on academic
scholarship*.
Ironically, almost every student disap-
prove* of cheating and will condemn it; how-
ever, many have tried to cheat at one time
or another in their four years of college.
A* one ex coed said "No, there is no ex-
cuse for cheating Although you might lie
able to rationalize it yourself, things like
that are either right or wrong, and cheating
is wrong "
But when asked if she had ever cheated
while attending college, she admitted that
she had
Another student asked the same question
said, "Yes, I've cheated once while at North
Texas. Our class was given very poor prepa-
ration for the exam and the majority of my
classmates, myself included, felt that our
professor had not given enough of himself
in trying to put across the lessons. We felt
that he really didn't care whether we passed
or failed."
A student's opinion of his professor is one
of the greatest incentives concerning his
class behavior or attitude Ten of 20 students
interviewed said they had never cheated and
probably would never cheat when their pro-
fessor had genuinely tried to help them.
RESPECT FOR TEACHER
"You just have too much respect for a
teacher who has really tried to help you;
when you know it has been your fault and
that the teacher is pulling for you, man, it
would be hard to let him or yourself down,"
one history major explained. And although
these are not the sentiments of all students,
they seem to be widely accepted by most.
Statistically a spot check of 20 students
interviewed showed nine students admitted
cheating at least once while in college, but
had not planned to do go when the test had
begun; five students admitted that they hail
cheated when they found themselves in a
"tight" situation academically and had made
plans to do «o before entering the testing
room; two students admitted being habitual
cheaters and that they had been cheating
from high school on; one student felt he had
cheated at least once, but could not remember
for sure; three students, all above the sopho-
more level, said they had never cheated in
high school or college.
One coed said, "No, I have always felt
that it was my responsibility to myself to
do my work without the help of another
student or the aid of a cheat sheet. I can't
see how an education is going to help you if
you have to cheat to get it."
Morally, if a student sees a classmate
cheating, it is his duty to his class to report
that student to the professor. However, this
i.< rarely done. If a professor wants to find
out who is cheating, apparently he'll have to
do it on his own. A student who has been
raised with the belief that it is "unsports-
manlike" to tattle on his playmates will not
report a classmate for cheating.
TEST IRREGULARITY
However, in many cases a student will
manage to let the professor know that there
has been an irregularity during the test,
without directly reporting his classmate, ex-
plains ,1 C'. Bookout of the foreign language
depart ment.
Mot all professors have students who are
eager to obtain their grades by unscrupul-
ous means, and in reality a professor ran
usually tell if students are cheating on his
quizzes.
"The calilier of honesty in students is a
lot higher than most people seem to think,"
said a long-time professor who has possibly
encountered about every method of cribbing
students have devised. However, just to be
on the safe side, this professor makes up
his exam the same day the test is given,
cuts his own stencils, and runs the test off
the period before the exam.
"It's not that I don't trust the students,"
he said, "but I just don't want to tempt
providence."
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Our Readers Say: Beat Set Editorial Unfair to Victims'
To the Editor:
Abraham Lincoln wa- a beatnik, I'ablo
Picasso is an abortionist (artistically speak
mgi, arid Toulouse l.autn was a pervert <>r
at least they might seem to tie from a cur
sory. narrow minded viewpoint
And that seems to lie the viewpoint of
one critic on campus life who recently made
disparaging remarks about a certain cam
pus coffee shop The establishment concerned
was almost positively identified.
Taking the critique point by defamatory
point, let's see if the reporter did a good
job of coverage of his subject
Item one "There is a right way and a
wrong way to individualism." What does
one who advocates conformity, who preaches
for such restful activities as spending an
evening in the library, attending "stimulat-
ing lecture series" in short, all of those
things that are characteristic of the "Tickey
Tacker" set know alxiut individualism This
writer was out of his field before he started
Item two; "Actually, they are only pseudo-
intellectuals trying to hide themselves in
obscurity liecause they believe this is the only
way to achieve fame," This sentence i* lie
yond comprehension (one might even say the
point is obscure).
Item three: ". . they go to a crowded,
smoke-filled hangout, filled with grotesque
abortions of art, the standard fare of indiges-
tible food, numerable misplaced mustaches
and beards and carry on inconsequential con-
versation." This sentence is so complex it
requires further breakdown
Who are "they"? They are Tom Nichols,
one of the best actors in the drama depart-
ment; dutch kepler, an artiat who is actual-
ly selling paintings; John Bennet. Bill Buch.
er and Paul Miner, co-editors of the A vesta;
Bill Farmer and Ed Soph, musicians of the
nationally famous 1 O'clock I,ab Band; teach-
er* who keep In close contact with the col-
lege community like Godfrey Grant and Pete
Rodrigues; and even folksinger Josh White,
who bad bis dinner at this coffee shop when
he made an appearance here last year
If a place is "crowded," that seems to
indicate one thing it's popular.
The "grotesque abortions of art" that are
mentioned have lieen known to bring as much
as |li!fi each for their creature, and all of
it is the work of students, not professionals
What is a misplaced mustache one that
grows under the ear'
The "inconsequential conversations" al
luded to cover any topic from philosophy to
current events, with sex, religion, sociology
and other subjects between things that the
very nature of a university is designed to
perpetuate The habitues of this meeting
place were amazed to read that they do not
cover the subjects with enough intelligence
In the course of a relaxed conversation no
one had ever bothered to point that out to
•hem
Item four "Thi* is all nothing more than
a *imple rejection of university life in gen-
eral " This journalist is obviously out of
touch with the true concept of university
life What school does not have a local cof
fee shop where the students meet for con
versation, socializing, etc ?
Item five; "They would rather spend their
hours in discussion of abstract ideas which
are too abstract to understand." It is exactly
because these abstractions are hard to un-
derstand that they must lie discussed Are
students supposed to accept only those ideas
presented to them in textbooks, or will they
tie allowed to come up with some original
solutions?
Item six. "Write something . . enter it
in the Avesta." Hasn't the reporter checked
far enough to know that 90 per cent of the
material that is printed in the Avesta is
written by people who "hang out" (n thi*
coffee shop?
The rest of the article is so full of trite
"Iiear Dorothy Dix" advice, like "develop
the mind." "don't be a hypocrite" and "let's
conform" that it does not merit a reply.
However, this is the reply that the amused
victims have offered: "Come in and really
get to know us then go write your story."
And this writer says that we need more of
these places on campus if for no other pur-
pose than for the meeting of friends
Tom Ox ley
iilli W Mulberry
Controversial Stand
To the Editor:
Bravo! The Champus < at finally takes a
stand Not, perhaps, a very significant stand,
but a controversial one nonetheless. There
have appeared, this year, editorial com-
ments ranging from study habits to Viet
Nam, from school spirit to paper cup throw-
ing none of which has elicited the least
response from the student body.
However, although perhaps inadvertently,
Miss Angela Penna has destroyed your status
quo Her editorial observing the blatant
waste of time by the local "pseudointellect-
ualf ' and delineating the numerous unused
facilities on campus did, if nothing else, raise
the ire of the whole "coffee shop" crowd.
Without debating the merits of Miss Pen-
na's suggestions, we must at least applaud
her for citing a situation of interest and at-
tempting to foster u semblance of intelli-
gence in the local "intellectuals." Although
there is scarcely any precedent to assure us
that such comment will be consistent in the
Chat, we may yet lie permitted, hy our in-
defatigable optimism, to hope for at least
a few recurrence*
Editorial Amuses
To the Editor:
Penna's
di
William H. Fuller
1500 W Oak St.
K<w*n 104 Journalism Building
PA< KMAkhK 5 TIMKS
The Campus Chat
Southwestern Journalism (Vingretu
STAN HOUSTON, editor
Telephone 8H7-4R11. nlfnilon 164
A I.I. AMKHH AN 44 TIMER
I'M* M turn
TKMIM.fr: I'OUNCiY
J IK DUKfr Y
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HIM. PKRKIN8
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The Campus «"hat student newspaper of North
Tesas Stat** University i* published aetniweekljr
■•very Wedneaday and fr- ri*1av r during the long
terms S«>ptemt er through May and weekly ievery
Friday I during the Hummer session. June
through August etrept during review and e*
smination perioda and ach<a>l vacations
Mitorial statements of the ('ampus Chat reflect
the opinion of student writem and not necaa-
sarily that of the North Tea as State University
administration
I.KTTfrRS PROM RKADKRH The Chat wel-
I'omen letters from renders hut reaervea the
right to edit when neceaaary Letters should he
signed
Entered as second-class matter April 1R, 1949.
at the Poet Office at Denton. Tea as. under the
Art of March I. 1N79
— II —
Represented hy National Advertising Servirea.
Inr Hubarriptioa rates.
delivered by mall II
In answer to Miss Ange
torial of March 10, 1005.
The students you speak of in your inter-
esting abortion of intellect are among the
students who spend time enjoying and par-
ticipating in the Fine Arts series, the lec-
ture series and the library. You can certain-
ly be excused for failing to notice them,
though, because I'm sure you don't have the
time, what with talking to your sorority sis-
ters and your frat boy admirers and all.
They are the students who also take an
interest in their studies and who still have
time to relax in a smoke-filled and friendly
place and discuss subjects which are abstract
enough to be interesting and worthwhile. It's
too bad these subjects are beyond your com-
prehension.
These students don't have the time to
waste worrying about how to lie a nonconfor-
mist and "trying to hide themselves in obs-
curity because they believe this is the only
way they can achieve fame."
These are the individuals who are creative.
They are the persons who express their ideas
with paints, with music, and with the writ
ten word rather than spending their time
wondering which pair of pants to wear with
their new madras jacket.
It is interesting to see how a clouded
observation like yours can more firmly en-
trench the ideas of those with a lack of per-
ception comparable to yours while being a
source of amusement to persons of more
depth.
Diane Caraway
Terrill Hall
Against Frats
To the Kditor:
I wish to "launch a tirade of petty criti-
cisms against . . . fraternities." Petty criti-
cisms which fraternities should by all that
is traditional and sacred ignore:
1 Fraternities are undemocratic, but this
is a minor pettism since most fraternities'
members don't care about true democracy
anyway.
2. An organization that must have secre-
cy, whether it be the Ku Klux Klan, the
Hlack Muslims, the Communist Party, the
Knights of Columbus, or the college frater-
nity is automatically suspected of having only
it own good at heart, regardless of whom
that "good" hurts.
II. If fraternities were made up of "fun-
loving, booze-guzzling, party-crazy extro-
verts," then maybe they would have some
logical reason for existence. As it is, fra-
ternities are nothing more than a collection
of pompous egotists who need continued as-
surance of th«ir own importance. This im-
portance may take the form of an adminis-
trative pat on the back for aiding in some
high-minded school project in which fraterni-
ties afforded the cheapest labor, or, as is
more often the case, a continuous pat on the
back from fellow members about how much
good "we in the fraternities are doing."
4 If this is "the way they were organized,
the way they have operated for hundreds of
years," maybe it is time for the fraternities
to start asking themselves if any organiza-
tion that hasn't changed in that length of
time has a place in a modern world—but I
forget questions and thought are "petty
criticisms'" in a fraternity.
Robert Schuch
Francis Trailer Courts
Kditor'n Note: Ilecauae of apace, the Oi«t
wa* unable to publish all the letters con-
cerning Miss Penna's editorial in thin issue.
More will be printed in Friday's issue.
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Houston, Stan. The Campus Chat (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 41, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 17, 1965, newspaper, March 17, 1965; Denton, TX. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth313741/m1/2/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.