Frosh Uncovers Misconduct: Stanford President Out
You’ve probably heard the story that made headlines and sent shockwaves through the hallowed halls of this country’s elite institutions. Student reporter Theo Baker at Stanford’s independent newspaper, The Stanford Daily, conducted a year-long investigation into university president Marc Tessier-Lavigne’s claims in his research. Through a series of follow-up reports and a thorough investigation, the student found that the president had, at a minimum, failed to correct errors in his published research on Alzheimer’s and, at worst, intentionally misrepresented his findings. After Tessier-Lavigne initially pushed back—including sending several aggressive letters from powerful Silicon Valley lawyers—he and the university finally backed down. Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne announced he is stepping down at the end of August.
The Stanford case is a remarkable example of fearless journalism and a powerful reminder that actions taken early in a career can come back to haunt you. But it was also a case of academic misconduct.
Academic Misconduct Defined
Academic misconduct encapsulates several different activities, including plagiarism, bribery, dishonesty, disrupting a classroom, failing to safeguard work, and facilitation of academic dishonesty.
Some of these make for clearer cases than others. Disrupting a classroom or offering a bribe in exchange for reviews, grades, or employment can make for a relatively straightforward case.
But other behavior may be more difficult to identify clearly—even when the student or faculty member is breaking the rule. Plagiarism, for example, is a serious offense in colleges and universities. It is taken so seriously that even accidental plagiarism due to poor or absent citation can result in sanctions, including expulsion or dismissal.
Code of Conduct Violations
Another common violation that can affect faculty or students is charges of misbehavior as defined by the institution’s Code of Conduct. Each school has its own code of conduct, or general expectations, of how its students (and faculty) must behave. Incoming students must familiarize themselves with this code of conduct.
Typically, codes of conduct at colleges and universities include serious charges such as rape, sexual assault, hate crimes, domestic violence, and stalking, as well as alcohol and drug use and academic dishonesty.
Implications of a Big Research Misconduct Case
Academic misconduct—whether it’s charges of falsifying research or other serious issues—can derail an academic career. Faculty accused of such misdoing can end up paying a steep price. It’s the kind of negative mark that follows students and professionals through the length of their employment—and may even end it.
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