Don’t let cheaters succeed

Maybe my expectations were too high, but I thought that grad students, after all the work done to get into a tough graduate program, would be above cheating. I guess I was wrong. I was definitely peeved to hear of three classmates cheating on a 24-hour take home final, doubly so when I was told their response when confronted: “”Everyone does it.”” Hearing, however, about another two classmates cheating on the in-class final pushed me about three steps past irate. These five were all from the same class. What are the odds that these five were the only ones cheating in the class? What are the odds that these five were the only ones cheating in the college? In either case, it’s likely the odds are pretty small.

That shouldn’t sit well with anyone working hard in class, anyone passing or failing by their own merits. I’ve heard it argued by some that cheating likely won’t turn a C student into a B student, or a B student into an A student. That argument shouldn’t sit well with anyone angry that some are cheating to get by. That argument completely ignores how cheaters might skew a grade distribution, how cheating by others can cheapen the hard work that others put in, and how cheaters should be failing instead of skating on without being held accountable for their actions. Instead of rationalizing that cheaters are unlikely to succeed, students and faculty should be insisting that cheaters not be allowed to succeed.

Robin Seibel
optical sciences alumna

How about a ‘cat cab’?

What would you say if the University of Arizona got a “”cat cab”” that would take you around on any day of the week? Yes, I know we have the CatTran, SafeRide, and cabs, but can we CatCard any of those? No, our parents put money on these cards so that we can use them whenever. We use way too much money for cabs. Cabs here and everywhere are a complete rip off! As students without cars, we have to get places so why not have a cab that’s associated with the school? At least we will know we are safe and have enough money. Not only will you have enough money, but also the school will be gaining all the money that we use on outside rides. C’mon, students of Arizona. What do you think of a “”cat cab”” that will take you whenever or wherever and allows you to CatCard the ride?

Allison Reedy
pre-education freshman