One alleged incident of misconduct does not taint school's reputation

The recent furor concerning a survey conducted by Professor Stephen Schoenthaler of California State University, Stanislaus, related to the Scott Peterson trial prompted various editors, columnists, letter-writers and pundits in The Bee and other media to impugn the reputation of the university and the trustworthiness of research conducted by the university's faculty.

If the reports that survey data were falsified are true, this constitutes a deplorable violation of research protocol and a serious breach of ethical standards for survey research. However, suggesting that a single incident of alleged misconduct somehow taints the work of hundreds of faculty members and thousands of students is unfounded, irresponsible, and exhibits a misunderstanding of the fundamental nature of academic freedom.

Academic freedom means the ability to conduct one's research, teaching, inquiry, debate, and publication openly and freely, without intimidation or discrimination. It does not mean no administrative oversight, but it does mean only such prior review as necessary to protect human subjects.

Scholars have an ethical imperative and responsibility to seek the truth and make sure that it is the truth that they report. Accountability comes from professional associations and peer review.

Academic freedom -- like freedom in any other realm -- can be abused. Sometimes poor research designs and dishonesty slip through. But the occasions in which we detect an abuse of such freedom should remind us of the need for careful attention, mature assessment, and proportionate response. They should not be allowed to turn into witch hunts, knee-jerk cries for such freedom to be restricted, or insinuations that whole institutions are at fault.

It is as unfair to condemn CSU, Stanislaus, as it is to indict the New Republic, New York Times and USA Today, and all their editors and reporters, because Stephen Glass, Jayson Blair and Jack Kelley, respectively, falsified stories in those publications. Those organizations responded by investigating the incidents and taking appropriate actions. CSU Stanislaus will do the same.

Important societal advances occur only when university research is supported in an environment free from the heavy hand of administrative supervision. The ideals of academic freedom recognize that. These gains far outweigh the very rare setbacks when freedom is abused.

If the investigation regarding Schoenthaler's survey shows that the research was conducted improperly, that is indeed most unfortunate, but the tarnishing of an entire university's reputation is far from warranted. The faculty and the students of CSU Stanislaus deserve better.

LAWRENCE L. GIVENTER

professor

JASON C. MYERS

assistant professor

STEPHEN R. ROUTH

assistant professor

Department of Politics

and Public Administration

California State University, Stanislaus

Turlock

Honesty matter of character

I read with dismay the words of a former California State University, Stanislaus, student who claimed that cheating was prevalent among students at the school and that the students in the graduate program in public administration "cheated on a major research analysis project" in an introductory course.

As the director of the master's program in public administration and a teacher of public service ethics, I wish to discuss ethics within our graduate program, how cheating is handled and what I consider the underlying problem.

First, I believe that individual integrity is the foundation for a compassionate and just society. In our graduate program, we do our best to maintain integrity in our own actions and with regard to our students.

Ethics is a required course within our program; we have an elective on "Combating Political Corruption," and ethics is discussed in other graduate courses. Knowledge about ethics does not guarantee that students will not cheat, because the issue is one of moral character. When a student cheats on a test, paper or research project, just as in our court system, the onus is on the instructor to gather adequate evidence to prove the charge.

The university and our department have strict rules against cheating, which can result in a failing grade or expulsion. In our department, we have given students a failing grade for the course when we have found sufficient proof that they cheated.

How do we foster personal integrity among students? One answer is by role modeling. I am most deeply concerned about the plague of dishonesty that inflicts our society, starting at the top. Every day we find scandals among business executives, elected officials, ministers, professionals, academics and others that send the message to young people that you must cheat in America to be successful. If we wish to reverse this trend, we must act with integrity; we must be willing to confront the truth when we discover dishonesty among our ranks, and refuse to value self-promotion or even loyalty over honesty. I believe that cheating among young people will decrease to the extent that more and more people exercise the courage to live an honest life and speak out against the corrupt behavior of others, including those at the highest levels.

APRIL HEJKA-EKINS

professor, CSU, Stanislaus

Turlock

*

Speak up about cheating

I hold a bachelor's degree in nursing from Stanislaus State and I am a graduate student there in the public administration program. I have never been aware of fellow students cheating, and everyone I have had dealings with at the university has shown the utmost integrity.

If Susan Alaya knew about dishonest behavior there, as she alleges, was she not aware that she had a duty to speak up at the time? Perhaps she has an ax to grind.

I think that academic dishonesty at Stanislaus State is, by far, the exception. I know that ethical behavior in academics and every other sphere is the responsibility of everyone who is in a position to know what is going on.

ROBIN KELLY

Modesto