r The Edge P

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By: Andrea Larson

Students at Simon Fraser University found ‘out that there are no easy answers, especially in university. More than forty students were caught cheating in the past week when a professor noted the same wrong answers on all of the papers handed in by the students involved. For the sake of a few less hours of homework, or a better grade on an assignment these students have put their entire academic career on the line. At the very least they may receive an F in the course or at the worst be

Caught in

expelled from school. All this for an assignment, that was- n’t even worth very much. Plagiarism is a fact of life in universities today. The inci- dent at Simon Fraser is not uncommon. The rate of pla- giarism at universities in Canada has almost quadru- pled in a decade. Students are under more and more pressure to perform and the Internet provides easy answers. Essays tailored to a student’s needs can be bought from the Internet eas- ily enough. All you need is a web browser and a credit card to buy your diploma, if

you don’t get caught first.

The tools for catching would be plagiarists also come from the Internet. Professors can now use a service at the web site tur- nitin.com. This web site com- pares the contents of the essay with everything that can be found on the Internet as well as all the files that are located in the company’s database. If a match is detected the essay can be more closely reviewed.

While this service costs a university approximately $5000 per year, it can be a valuable tool in catching pla-

the Act

giarism. Even without the service provided by turnitin.com professors are quite capable of catching pla- giarists. As Keith Egger put it in one of his outlines, “Remember, anything you can find on the web, | can find on the web.”

Plagiarism doesn’t just affect those that are cheating, it also affects the majority of students who are honest. It is a serious offense that affects the entire academic commu- nity. When a student hands in a plagiarized work, it changes the standard by which stu- dents are judged.

Tuition Freeze Anyone?

By: Aphra Huges Stephanie Wilson

On November 16th, the Minister of Advanced Education, Shirley Bond, spoke to Tracy Sommerville’s Political Science 100 class about advanced education in British Columbia. The tuition freeze and its possible removal was at the forefront. Students expressed a variety responses to Bond's state- ment that students benefit personally from post-sec- ondary education and the fis- cal reality that precludes it. Some students asked that post-secondary education be provided for free, others

and

expressed concerns at the forgivable student loans for northern medical students, and a few agreed with a tuition increase. According to one student, a 25% increase in tuition at Dalhousie University resulted in new buildings, and 20% more stu- dents on a waiting list to get in. Bonds said she is still in the consultation process on tuition level. She clearly has two options in mind: a contin- ued freeze or an increase. Decreases are out.

Bond foresees both chal- lenges and opportunities for advanced education. Among the challenges, Bond noted

We are the Champions!

Battle of the Bands winners Floored. From left to right, DJ Weasel, Scotty Dunbar, Jeremy Breaks, Mike Vanderlanse and Cory Roderick

an increase in the 18-24 age cohort, as well as a move- ment to lifelong learning in older cohorts, resulting in increased demand for higher education. BC also faces an impending shortage of skilled workers, and almost three- quarters of the new jobs in most fields will require some form of post-secondary edu- cation. New technology is another challenge.

Concrete goals cited by Bond include establishing twenty permanent research chairs around the province, chasing BC’s fair share of federal funding for education, increasing the number of medical school graduates, training more nurses and integrating nurses trained in foreign countries into the sys- tem, and doubling the num- ber of computer science, electrical and computer engi- neering graduates.

Bond says there are five attitude shifts planned for higher education: more choic- es for students, more

accountability to taxpayers

Shirley Bond was speaking to UNBC Students regarding tuition freeze.

and students, better align- ment of costs and benefits, more attention to the public interest and the economy, and a move to a coherent integrated public system.

Very Important!!

NUGSS AGM Jan 30/02 Quorum is required. If not an EGM will be held on February 6th where

Quorum is not required.

Amendments are in the NUGSS office. Constitutional Amendments must be submitted by Jan 25

Managing Editor Andrea Larson

News Editor Colieen O’Grady

Culture Editor Kathleen DeVere

Sports Editor Vacant

Photo Editor Teryn DeSmet

Production Coordinator Travis Alexander

Ad Manager Dave Mahoney

Copy Flunkie Mark Rose

Contributors Destrudo

Reporters Diane Hypolite Stephanie Wilson Aphra Hughes

Photographers Dana Schwehr

Cartoonists Josh Hammerstedt

CUP Liaison Lorenzo Sia

Other Information

Over The Edge is the offi- cial publishing media of students at the University of Northern British Columbia. As such we are required to report on issues of interest to students in the Northern Region. We can be reached by several methods as outlined below and encourage all stu- dents, both those on the main campus and regional campuses, to take part in Over The Edge. Phone: (250) 960-5633 Fax: (250) 960-5407 E-mail: over-the-edge @ unbc.ca Address: Over The Edge 3333 University Way Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9