There's no getting around it: certain AI programs like Canva's Magic Write have made it ridiculously easy to cheat on your college coursework. In response, many colleges and universities have instituted draconian policies designed to catch offenders and teach them a lesson they'll never forget.
The thing is, not every accused student is guilty, no matter what a professor or a fancy plagiarism detector might say. And even if you did make a mistake, you don't deserve to lose your shot at a college degree.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm want to make sure you don't. Our Student Defense Team knows your school's policies and procedures, including how to navigate academic misconduct processes. Just as importantly, we're up to date on AI issues and how those issues are playing out on college campuses. Often, just explaining a technology to school administrators can be enough to resolve a conflict.
We're always on your side and ready to use every resource at our disposal to help you get a fair resolution. How can we help you? Call 888-535-3686 to find out, or take time right now and tell us about your case.
What Can Canva Magic Write Do?
Visit the Magic Write website, and you'll come across a lot of phrases like these, urging you to
- Use Magic Write to “kickstart your creative process.”
- Get some expert editing to “polish your work.”
- Get a “first draft, fast.”
Notice how careful Canva is in avoiding suggesting that you use Magic Write to do the writing for you. Let's face it, though, that's what this AI program is for. It's right there in the name. It will "write" for you--so well that you'll think it's "magic."
In fact, we'd go so far as to say that if you are truly trying to avoid gaining some unfair advantage in completing your coursework, you're probably better off staying away from Magic Write altogether. Once you type in that prompt and the program spits out a response, it's hard to resist using that response as your own, even if your initial intentions in typing the prompt were good.
If you absolutely must use Magic Write, we'd suggest a couple of strategies to keep yourself on the straight and narrow.
- Use Magic Write only for those things the Magic Write website suggests. Use it for brainstorming, outlining points you've invented, and checking your grammar if you must. Anything else probably crosses cheating lines, plagiarism lines, or both.
- If Magic Write should produce an essay for you, put that essay away before you write your own paper. It's crucial that you avoid any temptation to copy anything—words, phrases, anything.
- Be up-front with your instructors. Let them know you're using Magic Write, explain what it can do and how you're planning to use it, and let them offer guidance. At a minimum, this will let them know that you're making a good-faith effort to complete your work honestly, and that can avoid misunderstandings.
- The rule of thumb is that anything that gives you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework is a form of academic misconduct. Ask yourself as often as you can if you're using a technology to do that. Any time you suspect that might be the case, you probably want to back away from the technology.
A Dangerous Environment
The thing is, no matter how careful you may be, you can still wind up accused of academic misconduct.
University faculties and administrations have become absolutely rabid about putting a stop to academic dishonesty, and AI is almost a personal affront. In that sort of atmosphere, unfounded accusations happen all the time. Once you're charged with an offense, you can't be sure where an investigation and a hearing might lead.
Most recently, colleges and universities have been employing so-called AI detectors, AI programs designed to recognize AI text patterns. Even if you are using Magic Write appropriately, these programs may tag your work as AI. Instructors sometimes level accusations at students simply because they notice unexpected improvement. You could be the victim of a false allegation from another student. Or, again, it could be that you actually did make a mistake and used Magic Write inappropriately.
Whatever the case, you deserve fair treatment and the best possible outcome. The Lento Law Firm can help make sure you get these things.
Defending Yourself From Charges
Colleges and universities are obligated under their own policies to give you fair due process. That means you are "innocent until proven guilty," or, in university terms, "not responsible until proven responsible." You have other important rights as well.
- You have the right to notice of any charges against you. The university cannot investigate you in secret.
- You have the right to an investigation. The university cannot proceed with concrete evidence to substantiate any charges.
- As part of the investigation, you have the right to give your side of the story, to submit evidence, and to suggest witnesses. You further have the right to review any evidence investigators uncover.
- You have the right to challenge your school's evidence at a hearing. As part of that hearing, you are entitled to introduce evidence, call witnesses to testify, and raise questions for any witness testifying against you.
- You have the right to unbiased decision-makers who are required to use the legal standard “preponderance of the evidence” to determine your level of responsibility (guilt).
- Finally, you have the right to appeal the hearing outcome if you were denied a fair right to make your case: if procedural errors occurred, if new evidence comes to light, or if the sanction seems disproportionate to the offense.
Most schools allow you an advisor as you go through the process, and many allow you to choose an attorney to fill this role. Whether they do or not, however, you always have the right to consult with the Lento Law Firm. We can help you build your case, and we can make sure you're prepared to deliver your case. We'll also make sure that your school treats you fairly and affords you every due process right to which you are entitled.
The Lento Law Firm is on Your Side
There are thousands of lawyers out there, but if your college or university has accused you of some form of misconduct, a local attorney just isn't going to know enough about your situation to adequately protect you. You need someone who is familiar with school judicial procedures, someone who has represented student clients, someone who understands exactly how tech issues are playing out on campus.
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team understands what you're up against and just what the stakes are in an academic misconduct case. We know how your school operates, and we can make sure you're prepared for whatever you have to face.
To find out more about how we can help, call 888-535-3686 today, or take time right now to fill out our online form.
