Harvard University's "Monkey See, Monkey Do" scandal

September 2, 2012

Over 130 Harvard University students are being investigated for cheating in an "Introduction to Congress" exam according to a report in the Harvard Crimson, the campus newspaper. The report quotes an unindentified student:

“Almost all of [the students at office hours] had been awake the entire night, and none of us could figure out what an entire question (worth 20% of the grade) was asking,” the student wrote. “On top of this, one of the questions asked us about a term that had never been defined in any of our readings and had not been properly defined in class

I have often discussed the topic of role models in this blog. Over dinner at home last night, I raised this topic in the hope to discuss whether students at an elite university such as Harvard should be considered as role models for college students everywhere. Obviously, the coincidence that this cheating occurred in an "Introduction to Congress" exam has attracted the attention of numerous commentators. However, my son retorted that this is simply an example of "monkey see, monkey do."

Touchè

Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post

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Everyday Geeta

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