Faculty member works closely with dissertation student, but ultimately the two clash over who deserves credit for the ideas driving the work.
Faculty member accuses student of plagiarism.
Student sues adviser for violation of fiduciary responsibilities, i.e., for not acting in student’s best interests.
Court finds in favor of student, awarding her $60.000.
Faculty member appeals court’s judgment.
Here’s your chance to play judge. How do you rule? How do you understand the responsibilities of faculty members?
Of course, the case is moe complicated than the thumbnail description I’ve just given, but I think I’ve accurately conveyed the basic issue.
This isn’t a hypothetical I’ve concocted to divert you from your daily toil. It’s a real case, as detailed by Doug Lederman at Inside Higher Ed. Do you agree with the appeals court’s ruling?
{ 3 comments }
Whatever the merits of the notion that the grad student/committee member relationship is fiduciary, conflicting accusations of plagiarism are hardly to be resolved that way…
Pointing out plagiarism IS in the best interest of the student, at least if the goal is for the student to be a properly trained researcher.
Perhaps we could see what Doris Kearns Goodwin would have to say about this one…
Comments on this entry are closed.