The Red and Black

Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: Opinions

Don't be a copycat

Ensure that your record stays spotless by using your own words, not others'.

The television show "Cheaters" may provide late-night entertainment, but cheating is no laughing matter. Just ask a professor and two senators who are accused of intellectual theft, also known as plagiarizing.

The law firm Hughes Hubbard & Reed conducted an 18-month investigation and concluded Columbia University professor Madonna G. Constantine used the work of two former students and a former Columbia professor, The New York Times reported. Constantine denied she copied anyone's work.

Presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are accusing each other of copying others' speeches. Clinton says Obama has used the words of his long-time friend Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick in his speeches, CNN reported. Obama says Clinton has used his words in her speeches.

In this world full of he-said, she-said, it may be difficult to have words of your own. But without attribution, the work you "borrowed" for an essay, speech or term paper easily can become "stolen" and ruin your reputation.

A "Culture of Honesty" plaque hangs in every University classroom. Students who are found in violation of the Academic Honesty Policy could have a tarnished transcript or face expulsion for multiple violations.

For more information on the University policy, visit http://www.uga.edu/honesty/ahpd/procedures.html.

- Juanita Cousins for the editorial board

Spring Blah?

If you don't have spring break plans, there are cheap and unique options.

With two weeks until spring break, most likely you've made plans already for how you're going to spend the nine glorious days without classes. But maybe you haven't. Maybe your friends planned a fabulous cruise or beach extravaganza and left you out. Or maybe you can't afford either of those options, and now you're worried you'll be stuck dancing alone at The Loft every night of the week.

There's still hope for you. There are plenty of ways to spend your week off that don't require sunblock, large amounts of cash or even much planning.

- Believe it or not, Georgia has mountains. They're not even very far from Athens. Take a day trip and enjoy the Blue Ridge scenery, or stay the night in a cabin or hotel.

- Volunteer. Several campus groups take trips to volunteer their time during spring break. It's not too late to sign up for these trips, and you could give something to someone else rather than just give yourself a tan.

- Keep Georgia on your mind. There are places in Athens and Atlanta you probably don't have time to enjoy during the course of the semester. If you like the outdoors, the State Botanical Garden is a good place to start. Go shopping at the Tanger Outlets in Commerce to score a deal or head to Virginia Highlands in Atlanta to find something more unique. Go to the Mall of Georgia if you want all the chain stores you can't find at Georgia Square.

- Visit friends. Most colleges have different spring breaks, so many of your friends at other schools will be at their campuses while you're not. Go visit them and find out why their schools aren't as great as yours.

Or, you know. There's always your parents' house.

- Kristen Shaw for the editorial board

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