2008 Woodie Awards
Support shown for Poshard
Letter to the editor
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: Opinion
The controversy surrounding the president of Southern Illinois University has begun to bother me. While I have met Dr. Poshard on several occasions professionally, I have no vested interest in the affair. However, as it is playing out I have several observations and questions.
My first deals with the continuous calls for "open and honest" revelation on the part of Dr. Poshard. If that is the case, why is that not also required of the person(s) who brought to light the issue in the first place?
Next, I struggle with a concept of law known as the statute of limitations. I believe that in law there are very few actions that do not have to follow that rule. One of those exceptions is for murder.
If an academic panel found the text of Dr. Poshard's work acceptable over 20 years ago, why is it an issue now? Please tell me we are not making this "issue" as grave a matter as that of taking a life? I am also troubled by the faculty vote at SIUE and rational of the person who proposed it. Quoting a former U.S. President: "What is 'is'?"
In philosophy there is a construct known as "cause and effect." I wonder what the "real" cause is? Is it academic integrity or perhaps the not so off hand remark to separate the two campuses? Or could it be something else? In short, I find this small rodent-like bump being made into the latest glacial peak. It seems that we are more and more becoming a people caught up in the minutiae while real problems within society remain.
Yes, academic integrity is important, but to the detriment of "real" societal issues; I think not! Perhaps some of those in the academic "ivory towers" and the editorial offices who have been calling for the removal of Dr. Poshard would like to join me in my office where I deal with people who are trying to purchase gasoline for their cars, put food on their tables, pay their rent or keep their utilities connected; "real" issues for "real" people.
Is it not time to return some "common" sense to the issues that seem to drive our media and our lives?
Rev. Gary Gummersheimer
Murphysboro, IL
My first deals with the continuous calls for "open and honest" revelation on the part of Dr. Poshard. If that is the case, why is that not also required of the person(s) who brought to light the issue in the first place?
Next, I struggle with a concept of law known as the statute of limitations. I believe that in law there are very few actions that do not have to follow that rule. One of those exceptions is for murder.
If an academic panel found the text of Dr. Poshard's work acceptable over 20 years ago, why is it an issue now? Please tell me we are not making this "issue" as grave a matter as that of taking a life? I am also troubled by the faculty vote at SIUE and rational of the person who proposed it. Quoting a former U.S. President: "What is 'is'?"
In philosophy there is a construct known as "cause and effect." I wonder what the "real" cause is? Is it academic integrity or perhaps the not so off hand remark to separate the two campuses? Or could it be something else? In short, I find this small rodent-like bump being made into the latest glacial peak. It seems that we are more and more becoming a people caught up in the minutiae while real problems within society remain.
Yes, academic integrity is important, but to the detriment of "real" societal issues; I think not! Perhaps some of those in the academic "ivory towers" and the editorial offices who have been calling for the removal of Dr. Poshard would like to join me in my office where I deal with people who are trying to purchase gasoline for their cars, put food on their tables, pay their rent or keep their utilities connected; "real" issues for "real" people.
Is it not time to return some "common" sense to the issues that seem to drive our media and our lives?
Rev. Gary Gummersheimer
Murphysboro, IL
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 12
Double Standard
posted 10/23/07 @ 12:10 PM CST
The way I read the letter from Rev. Gummersheimer a double standard is acceptable. Any student who would've been found guilty of the same thing, intentional or not, would have been kicked out of school. (Continued…)
Erik
posted 10/23/07 @ 12:58 PM CST
There's also a Constitutional construct of "ex post facto" which everyone seems to ignore regarding the issue.
It wasn't seen as wrong or illegal then, so how can you go back in time and hold the standards of yesterday to those of today?
Potential Ramifications
posted 10/23/07 @ 3:47 PM CST
Actually, the 1980 Plagiarism rules were researched for the Faculty Senate in their meeting to discuss the issue (see Faculty Called for Poshard to Resign). (Continued…)
Erik
posted 10/23/07 @ 4:22 PM CST
Sure, it's possible a real "piece of work" of an employer would hold you, the student, responsible for something that took place 24 years ago (before many of the concerned students were born). (Continued…)
Another Blemish
posted 10/23/07 @ 7:50 PM CST
Adding another "blemish" to SIUE's notorious record is another reason for the public to question the school's credibility. To think that potential employers don't consider the school is naive. (Continued…)
Blatsin
posted 10/27/07 @ 10:39 PM CST
My SIUE professors always implored upon their students that there was no such thing as inadvertent plagiarism. "Inadvertent" plagiarism was viewed as being caused by ignorance or laziness and punished the same as "deliberate" plagiarism. (Continued…)
Poshard shirts!
posted 10/31/07 @ 12:04 AM CST
WHOA! Now they are selling "Poshard: not my president" t-shirts on CafePress! Someone finally did it!
You can like the guy or not, but the fact of the matter is he plagiarised. (Continued…)
T-shirts--brown, no doubt
posted 11/03/07 @ 5:48 PM CST
This is fascism, folks--quite going after a guy with whom a few people disagree. Remember the source of the story---a totally discredited student newspaper. (Continued…)
Kevin Edwards
posted 11/05/07 @ 7:05 PM CST
I simply cannot believe that anyone is spending time on this "issue". Is our national pastime no longer baseball but tearing down the "high and mighty" from every possible faction and angle?
This thing. (Continued…)
Frank (SIUE Alum)
posted 11/06/07 @ 12:35 PM CST
With all this controversy surrounding Dr. Poshard one seems to forget all he has done to bring the SIU system back to integrity - anyone remember Sanders? etc. (Continued…)
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