The Battle Aganist Plagiarism at AUC

There was such as sense of achievement, relief and pride when I posted the final edit of my final project to Soundcloud (mostly relief).

This 14 minute and 26 second audio documentary is the product of blood, sweat and tears and fueled by memories of pain, anger and frustration as I yelled continuously at my laptop and Audacity, the music editing program I used to create this.

My project ‘Plagiarism at the American University in Cairo’s (AUC) was an incredibly interesting one. Not only because as students, we talk amongst ourselves about the classes that we can ‘get away’ with not citing a few sentences here or there, but also because students think (incorrectly) that the reason that they haven’t been caught or haven’t been turned into the Academic Integrity Committee (AIC)  is because they were too smart for their professors.

Plagiarism has become easy with the Internet. Photo by Dina Meky

I decided on the topic after a conversation with a friend of mine about her doing a semester aboard and one of her colleagues getting caught for plagiarism. The University immediately kicked her out of the program and sent her back to Egypt. It had gotten me thinking about the precaution and consequences of plagiarizing at AUC and at Egyptian Universities in general, and whether it mattered or not. Some professors at AUC take plagiarism very seriously and use things like turnitin.com to detect it.

However, most professors do not.

When I heard that the Academic Integrity Committee at my school was launching an awareness campaign about this topic, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to investigate further. I had originally wanted to tackle a wider scope but time constraints and lack of time had me narrowing it down to focus just on AUC.

However, trying to find students to talk openly about plagiarism is one thing. Getting them to talk while you shove a microphone in their face is a whole different ball game.

Tim Warren. Photo by Dina Meky

The main issue I had was finding my interviewees. From the faculty point of view, it was easy. Professor Timothy Warren, a Rhetoric and Composition Instructor and member of the AIC as well as Kathleen O’Neill, the Coordinator of the AIC were more than accommodating in answering my questions. They couldn’t give names of students or faculty (because of the delicacy of the topic) but they did their best in giving me the answers I was looking for.

Mariam Matar was a freshman when she was accused of plagiarism and had been told that she was going to be taken to the AIC. Mariam is a prime example of when professors…well, you’ll have to listen to the documentary to get the answer.

Through Mariam, I found Mary Ibrahim, an undergraduate who admitted to plagiarism and to not getting caught. Though she gave me a pseudonym, I had some of the answers I was looking for—students could and did get away with constant plagiarism.

 A very publicized plagiarism case in Fall 2011 by a Journalism and Mass Communication student was an interview I was dying to get. After chasing the student down, and after sending multiple emails, the student preferred to speak to my Professor, Kim Fox, on the condition of anonymity.

Mariam was accused of plagiarism her freshman year. Photo by Dina Meky

The difficulty for me was the editing phase. I am not the best person when it comes to technology. The editing took the most time for me and was the most painful. The tracks in Audacity kept shifting and moving and rearranging themselves until I was nearly in tears. Plus, finding music for the documentary was harder than I expected, but it was fun, nonetheless.

Throughout the semester I had been making mental notes when I heard any sort of upbeat music to put into my project. These included:

 It’s Time by Imagine Dragons

 Beat It by Michael Jackson

 EuropeanAssault Main Theme by stigno87 on YouTube

 Scary Creepy Piano(Original Composition) by MusicLoverOriginals on YouTube

Luciano Pavarotti’s Rossini’s La Danza

I also thought it would be appropriate to include One Republic’s Secrets and One Republic’s It’s Too 

Late To Apologize (sort of fits when we’re talking about plagiarism, right?)

My sound effects were the bell by Jojikiba (great sound effects!) and the Applause Crowd Cheering was from theHalloweenHaunters, both available on YouTube.

All of the interviews and Nat sound were recorded by me using an M-Audio recorder. The narration was recorded mostly (believe it or not) in my closet. Later narration that was added was recorded underneath a blanket in my room (the dedication of a journalist...).

Overall, my documentary is what I wanted it to be. I would have liked to change certain things and I would have liked it to be a bit longer, but I am very proud of what I’ve done and I hope you all enjoy it as well.

The Rundown Radio Program

Image for Soundcloud taken from:
Kennetradio

Taken from:
Apple

"The above audio file is a Radio Program entitled THE RUNDOWN  produced for the JRMC460 course. The first part of the program is a discussion between JRMC460 students Dina Meky, Linda Badr and Mona Bassel about Apple's donations to victims of Hurricane Sandy, Apple's new products; iPad mini, iMac, Fusion Drive and iPhone 5 versus other products like those of Google Nexus and Samsung. The second part of the program is an interview with The American University in Cairo's (AUC) Reference Librarian, Rosie Johnson in which she talks about the latest technological devices used at the library and for research at AUC." ~ Courtesy of fellow team member Linda Badr

Montage of our recording the show. Property of Mona Bassel and Linda Badr

The Radio Program went better than I expected. I was hesitant about doing a 30 minute radio talk show. One of the biggest challenges we (myself, Mona Bassel and Linda Badr)  has was making sure we had enough material for 15 minutes of continuous, flowing discussion. One of our group mates was very worried that we wouldn’t have enough and that we would keep having to pause in between topics. Scheduling and time management wasn’t a big problem for us, since we all agreed to get it done early when we were assigned the project. We stayed late after classes, booked a study room and went for it. Though, it was ironic that whenever one of us individually books a study room, no one comes to the door or bothers us. But when we had something to record in utter silence, people kept bursting in to ask us if they could use the computer, if we needed any books shelved, or simply (and most annoyingly) ask what we were doing. We had to take about 3 or 4 takes before we could record 15 minutes of continuous discussion.

As a group, we did work well together, but our personalities did clash a little. Some of us were very content to have some of the conversation unscripted while another wanted more structure (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing). Researching the topics wasn’t difficult but it was challenging when you were evaluating sources and trying to determine what was interesting, newsworthy, etc.

As I mentioned, as a group, we got along well and while there were some bumps in the road, we managed them well. We were in constant contact with one another via phone and email so we were always on the same page. We has an issue booking interviewees for the program as may professors at AUC were busy or, in our case, retired and did not want to talk about developments in research. We managed to brainstorm a similar, interesting topic (ebooks and the future of libraries) and was fairly relevant to our discussion. We managed to book an interview with Rosie Johnson and we managed to do it on the Thursday we were off. She graciously agreed to be interviewed at home on her day off.

As the host, I was very aware of my delivery and I tried my best to speak slowly and clearly, without any ‘Ums’ and ‘likes.’ I think I did fairly well. We pre-planned some of the topics so everything flowed smoothly and I didn’t have to monitor/guide the conversation much. We came up with signals to sign when the time was running out and we ended right on time.

All in all, it was a fun experience and we were lucky to have chosen a group that got along and worked well together.

For more information on the topics discussed, check out the following links:
iPad mini Overview    Google Nexus Tablet Features   Windows Phone Devices Competing with iPhone    Updates on Apple and HTC Patent Disputes   Samsung Pays Apple $1.05 billion  

Sources Used for The Radio Discussion:

Apple's $2.5 million Donation to Hurricane Sandy Victims   iPad mini Features  iPad mini vs. iPad Google Nexus Tablet Price   Google Nexus vs. iPhone5 Prices    Environmentally Friendly Phones  Fusion Drive    iMac Features

Credits:

Host: Dina Meky
Guests and Producers: Linda Badr and Mona Bassel
Interviewee: AUC Reference Librarian Rosie Johnson
Music: Sleepless Nights by Anitek, taken from Jamendo

'The Princess Bride' Audiobook excerpt

(30th anniversary edition. Courtesy of Barnesandnobel.com)



 



The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure, is one of my all time favorites. William Goldman's "Good Parts Version" has been adapted into the wildly popular 1987 Rob Reiner film starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright and Wallace Shawn and narrated by the amazing Peter Falk (if you haven't seen the trailer or the movie, you are missing out on one of the greatest cinematic classics of all time).

I am reading an excerpt from the "Good Parts Version" abridged by William Goldman using an M-Audio recorder.  Enjoy!



The Princess Bride:

The Spaniard.Courtesy of scriptshadow.blogspot.com

"There!" The Sicialian pointed.

"The Cliffs of Insanity."

And there they were.

Rising straight and sheer from the water, a thousand feet into the night.

They provided the most direct route between Florin and Guilder, but no one ever used them, sailing instead the long way, many miles around. Not that the Cliffs were impossible to scale; two men were known to have climbed them in the last century alone.

"Sail straight for the steepest part," the Sicilian commanded.

The Spaniard said, "I was."

Buttercup did not understand. Going up the Cliffs could hardly  be done, she thought; and no one had ever mentioned secret passages through them. Yet, here they were, sailing closer and closer to the mighty rocks, now surely less than a quarter mile away.

For the first time, the Sicilian allowed himself a smile.

 "All is well. I was afraid your little jaunt in the water was going to cost me too much time. I had allowed myself an hour of safety. There must still be fifty minutes if it left. We are miles ahead of anybody and safe, safe, safe."

"No one could be following us yet," The Spaniard asked.

"No one," the Sicilian assured him. "It would be inconceivable."

"Absolutely inconceivable?"

Absolutely, totally, and, in all other ways, inconceivable," the Sicilian reassured him. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason," the Spaniard replied. "It's only that I just happened to look back and something's there."

They all whirled.

Something was indeed there. Less than a mile behind them across the moonlight was another sailing boat, small, painted what looked like black, with a giant sail that billowed black  in the night and a single man at the tiller.

 A man in black.  

The Spaniard looked at the Sicilian. "It must just be some local fisherman out for a pleasure cruise alone at night through shark infested waters."

"There is probably a more logical explanation," the Sicilian said. "But since no one in Guilder could know yet what we've done, and no one in Florin could have gotten here so quickly, he is not, however much it may look like it, following us. It is a coincidence and nothing more."
                                                                            The Spaniard and the Man in Black duel. Photo from scriptshadow.
"He's gaining on us," the Turk said.

"That is also inconceivable,"  the Sicilian said. " Before I stole this boat we're in, I made many inquiries as to what was the fastest ship in all of Florin Channel and everyone agreed it was this one."

"You're right," the Turk agreed. "He isn't gaining on us. He's just getting closer, that's all."

"It is the angle we're looking from and nothing more," said the Sicilian

Buttercup could not take her eyes from the great black sail. Surely the three men she was with frightened her.

But somehow, for reasons she could never begin to explain, the man in black frightened her more.





Music and Sound Effect credits to:
Rob Reiner's The Princess Bride: YouTube clip uploaded by DeathbyBlunderbuss
Water sound effect uploaded by  Sphivelala on YouTube

Plagiarism at Egyptian Universities Promo

Plagiarism is a hotly debated topic in the Middle East. Because 'plagiarizing' is not taught or even acknowledged  in the local culture, many new, incoming students to the American University in Cairo (AUC) find it outlandish to be penalized for 'copying-and pasting.' Something that is expected and accepted when doing research papers in public universities in Egypt.

But some professors are finally taking a stand in the fight against plagiarism- AUC being at the front lines.

Want to learn more? Attend the Listening Session, at AUC's New Cairo campus on Sunday, December 9 and Wednesday, December 12 at 10 a.m. each day in the BEC building, room 1060.

Music Credits:

Pursuit of Freedom- performed and edited by dorian151music on YouTube.

Interview Credits:
Kathleen O'Neill, Coordinator of the Academic Integrity Committee at AUC.

Interview: Academic Integrity Comittee Coordinator Kathleen O'Neill

Kathleen O'Neill is the coordinator for the AUC's Academic Integrity Committee (AIC) which is responsible for dealing with plagiarism cases. Professors submit the names of students who are accused of plagiarizing to the committee and through intense investigation and questioning, the AIC issues a verdict, either proclaiming the student innocent or, if found guilty of plagiarism, charged with several consequences (the AIC's website has the full list of consequences as well as what constitutes plagiarism). Here is a part of the interview with Ms. O'Neill and be sure to listen to the promo for 'Plagiarism in Egyptian Universities in Egypt.' and to attend the Listening Session, at AUC's New Cairo campus on Sunday, December 9 and Wednesday, December 12 at 10 a.m. each day in the BEC building, room 1060.

                                                                              Kathleen O'Neill. Photo Courtesy of AUC's website

Transcript:
(Note: The text in bold is O'Neill speaking. The italicized text is the interviewer):

O'Neill: Before we start, just so we- there’s a lot I’m  not going to necessarily be able to tell you about…*hand gestures in the air*

Interviewer: That’s fine. As much, as much as you can tell me.

Okay, do you want to sort of know what areas… I mean, we can’t necessarily talk about specific cases.

Specific cases?

 I can’t talk about specific cases. I can’t necessarily give anything that’s going to give away *pause* any student or anything. A lot of this is confidential. I can talk about general…*hand gestures* 

Okay.

Okay.

I expected that to be honest with you   (0:00 - 0:30)                  

 *fade out*

So, how many cases, roughly, does the AIC get roughly in a semester or in a year? If, if you can tell me. Just rough number in the year...In the year that you’ve been…

Um….We had over sixty cases last year. (0:30 - 0:42)

 *fade out*

I mean there are, every case is an individual case…Um…and there are certainly…um…you know, the ramifications that don’t get heard...uh..because discussing it also means admitting something, so I’m not surprised that when... *pause* ...the more serious penalties get …uh… handed down that they’re not necessarily heard about. Um...because nobody really wants to admit that either.  (0:42- 1:20)


Um… but... *pause*... I think it’s all it’s all  relevant to... to…you know, the sanctions are relevant to the case, to the... to the violation. Umm... and, well, I don’t vote [on the AIC]. You know, I can’t necessarily answer in terms why certain punishments get handed down and others don’t. (1:20- 1:45)

You sit in in meetings correct?

Mmhmm

Um…*pause*..From your information, has anyone like ever reached that full consequence? Like…you can choose not answer that question.

Very severe consequences have been…*pause*

  

Administered for plagiarism?

Yes. For violations.  I’m not going to..I mean, we do more than plagiarism so I’m going to say for violations. For… In the past, degrees have been...um... withdrawn. Uh …not since I’ve been here, but for plagiarism, yes. So, to say…um..so there’s... there definitely is a history of very severe consequences. (1:45- 2:39)

*fade out*

The…There’s no such thing as big or small plagiarism is is one of the things we are trying to… convey. Um..But I think th-the real battle right now is trying to to dispel some of these misconceptions...um...which are...um...rather rampant on campus.   (2:39- 3:01)

*fade out*

Professor learning turnitin.com  Photo Courtesy of AUC's Center for Learning and Teaching

There’s definitely effort to spread the word via the website and via...um...you know, reminding students that most of them should have signed the pledge when they entered campus and I think most of them sign it without actually reading it. (3:01- 3:18)


 Um...looking at… you know a syllabi as a contract between you and your professor and that there’s a lot of information in the syllabus that may not be explicitly addressed...um...when discussing the syllabus but is written there that often goes overlooked sometimes related to ramifications for cheating or for plagiarism. (3:18 - 3:43)

Um… so, I think trying to make students aware that you are responsible for the information that is given to you in the syllabus and that it can have…um...*stutter*... that not because you haven’t read it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist and doesn’t mean that you’re not held to it. You may have signed the pledge and the code of ethics without reading it but you’re still bound to it. (3:43- 4:27)

*fade out and end clip*