emigres

[Keith GOERINGER]

I must agree with Genevra Gerhart's posting regarding emigres and
plagiarism (or other equally unacceptable forms of behavior).

True, it is perhaps prudent to make a statement in the beginning of class
regarding the policy for plagiarism, working on tests as a *kollektiv*, and
so on...but the fact is most people know perfectly well what is acceptable
here and what is not.  I think there is a certain predilection to test
limits, and see how far one can go before being nailed.  Whatever the
underlying motivation may be, the fact is that most universities spell out
quite clearly what the policy is (for plagiarism, at any rate) in materials
sent out when students are accepted, or at the very least, in such things
as course catalogs.

I do not mean to condemn all emigres as plagiarists or as eternally looking
for loopholes -- but the truth is that human nature is, perhaps, to seek
the path of least resistance...and the excuse "Oh, I didn't realize that
wasn't OK (here)" should be disallowed for EVERYONE, whether US-born or
emigre.

Keith "No Mercy" Goeringer
UC Berkeley
Slavic Languages & Literatures
keg at violet.berkeley.edu