Did University Plagiarize Its Anti-Plagiarism Policy?

A committee charged with developing an anti-plagiarism policy for Southern Illinois University has been accused of plagiarizing its policy by copying one from Indiana University without giving it credit.

The 10-member committee of academics and administrators produced a 139-word definition of plagiarism that is nearly identical to the one published on Indiana University’s website under the heading, “How to recognize plagiarism.”

The anti-plagiarism committee was appointed after both the university’s president and its chancellor were accused of plagiarism.

The committee’s chairman, Arthur Adkins, admitted that the two definitions were “very similar” but added, “It could be a coincidence.”

University spokesman David Gross stated that even if the committee failed to credit Indiana University for the definition, “our lawyers will argue there’s no institutional right or copyright” in the material on Indiana University’s website.

Source: The Daily Egyptian.
Image: Stardust via Flickr.