I graduated from California State University, Stanislaus, with a degree in sociology/criminology and transferred to the master's of social work program. I have seen graduate students use previous graduate students' theses by changing some of the information and claiming that work as their own. Some of these master's students are stipend students receiving $40,000 to work in social services and the county lets them work off their debt, as I have done.

In the case of the fraudulent survey, the problem isn't just the students' fault; it is the lack of guidance from professors with problems in their assignments such as structure, format and content. I feel this professor should have known his students better and listened to their concerns. If a professor isn't listening to the students' concerns, then the student needs to go to student services or talk to his boss.

SUSAN BAKER

Modesto