The politics of plagiarism

The recent plagiarism flap in North Stonington, CT reminds us that plagiarism accusations typically arise in complex situations, and get into defenses other than those simply of "didn't plagiarize." As with the Poshard matter at SIU or the Tribe matter at Harvard, the Pukas matter at North Stonington is related to political issues.

Nevertheless, the underlying plagiarism issue typically is not complex, and merely requires comparing the "old" text to the "new" text. One commenter at theday wrote:

Asking for and independent investigation implies that the person asking believes, at least at some level, that he/she is innocent. That alone explains why Dr. Pukas has not asked for one. I have seen the entire document submitted by Dr. Pukas as well as the article written by the California educators. There does not appear to be one original word in the document submitted by Dr. Pukas and Mr. Petonito. I know many teachers and administrators in North Stonington and know any student who handed in such work would immediately be disciplined for plagiarism--no questions asked--no appeals. Dr. Pukas has to admit to plagiarism or admit there is a double standard in North Stonington. Students are asking if the teachers/administrators think Dr. Pukas did this by accident or if she knew she was plagiarizing--not one has asked if it is plagarizm because they all know it is. Dr. Pukas has spent many years in North Stonington and has many friends and allies. That's the nice thing about a small town. However, she shouldn't take advantage of them by pretending she is innocent. It is becoming apparent that Dr. Pukas has risen to a level beyond her expertise in North Stonington. She has routinely taken credit for the ideas of her staff and been allowed to do it. The teachers seem to have more evidence of plagerism in a document from the past. Dr. Pukas seems so bent on justifying Mr. Petonito's position that she will stoop to adding his name to her plagerized document to make it appear he helped prepare it. She also has a history of trying to give him credit for the work of her teachers and administrators. This too has been condoned by the BOE. While her years of service should not be dismissed lightly, she needs to realize she has been discovered and should step down. The BOE should also admit complicity in this scandal, as well as others, and also resign. No one can have any faith in Dr. Pukas or the BOE unless they do.

One might ask the Harvard Crimson about the words --I know many teachers and administrators in North Stonington and know any student who handed in such work would immediately be disciplined for plagiarism--no questions asked--no appeals. -- but the Crimson never got an answer from Harvard.