Why would an Ivy League college suspend a destitute Black boy for a year?

[Anonymous]

Why did you feel the need to highlight that this student is black?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All cheating is bad regardless and if you take a chance cheating, you take a chance of getting caught. No sympathy, whether it's him or my wealthy white/South Asian daughter.

Thank you for dropping your mask and revealing your racism and classism. I feel sorry for you that you can't seeing the evil involved when Ivy League PhDs bait and entrap low-income unsophisticated students with online assignments loaded with tracking software, railroad them with Ivy bureaucracy when they know they have zero resources, and quite literally make them homeless for a year. A college with tens of billions of dollars in an endowment. Literally putting this teen boy in jail for a year would be safer. At least he would have shelter and food.

Huh??? Entrap with tracking software? Ridiculous. You seem to want to devalue original work. The software typically used in academia is Turnitin which picks up when a student copied from an online source and passed it off as their own work. I teach at umgc. No rich, entitled people there, and I expect my students to approach their assignments with academic integrity. I absolutely work with them if they admit their error. I agree with a PP, that this may not be the full story, that there may be an automatic suspension for missing the meeting, and that he may still be able to remedy it if he demonstrates good faith and asks for a meeting.

The academic integrity office would not be aware of socioeconomic issues and should not base decisions on that (think of the implications-- student gets a pass because he's poor would imply that poor students are more ignorant on this).

What you posted was judgmental, reactive and frankly off base. Let's focus on what can be done to help this young person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did you feel the need to highlight that this student is black?

From a student support, optics, and possible fallout perspective with today's institutions and society, the school should care (I'll let OP answer the question directly if they'd like to on why that fact was mentioned).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A young man I mentored years ago randomly reached out to me on facebook for advice because he is homeless after his college suspended him for cheating on an online assignment. He believes he was caught with some sort of tracking software, which he wasn't aware of. He said wealthier classmates cheat, but are savvier ex. know to do it with more than one computer. He fessed up when caught but was too embarrassed to go to a meeting they had about it. He was later notified he was kicked out for two semesters (sounds like a default judgment in court?). I'm not going to rationalize cheating but I believe there are varying degrees of it and don't get how or why a filthy rich college would throw a destitute Black teenager out on the street to punish him? A year out of college, locked out of campus recruiting, delaying his graduation and professional start a year, is more severe punishment than most campus rapists. And for what? Is he supposed to learn his lesson and come back reformed? Wouldn't this young man be better served if he was given resources and mentors, instead of being sent kicked to the curb with zero resources? Or is this a roundabout way of expelling him, as in they hope he doesn't come back?

The young man made so many mistakes--all intentional acts.

He cheated, he did not show up to a meeting to discuss the incident, and he failed to contact you--his mentor--until after he received notice of the discipline for cheating & , presumably, for failing to show up for the meeting to discuss the incident under investigation.

OP, you are not a good example for this young man.

What have you done to assist him ?

You have not even taken the time to learn of all the circumstances which led to the disciplinary action. Instead you make what amounts to little more than his skin color and his economic status should excuse the student from the discipline received.

First, if you are really seeking assistance on this forum, name the Ivy League school. This may generate specific advice about policies and precedents at that particular school.

Second, research the university disciplinary rules.

Third, contact the student's parent or guardian or get consent from the student to act on his behalf--either yourself or a pro bono attorney.

Trying to excuse the cheating by accusing others of cheating but using more clever methods to avoid detection is not the same as raising a defense of selective prosecution. Your approach to this matter is nothing more than a pity play based on race and economics. Is that what you want your protege to learn ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A young man I mentored years ago randomly reached out to me on facebook for advice because he is homeless after his college suspended him for cheating on an online assignment. He believes he was caught with some sort of tracking software, which he wasn't aware of. He said wealthier classmates cheat, but are savvier ex. know to do it with more than one computer. He fessed up when caught but was too embarrassed to go to a meeting they had about it. He was later notified he was kicked out for two semesters (sounds like a default judgment in court?). I'm not going to rationalize cheating but I believe there are varying degrees of it and don't get how or why a filthy rich college would throw a destitute Black teenager out on the street to punish him? A year out of college, locked out of campus recruiting, delaying his graduation and professional start a year, is more severe punishment than most campus rapists. And for what? Is he supposed to learn his lesson and come back reformed? Wouldn't this young man be better served if he was given resources and mentors, instead of being sent kicked to the curb with zero resources? Or is this a roundabout way of expelling him, as in they hope he doesn't come back?

Google says over 95% of first-generation lowest income students who step away from college never end up returning and/or never graduate. If I can find that on Google in five seconds, safe bet all the PhDs there know this too. In other words, this is a de facto expulsion, they don't want him coming back and costing them more financial aid money.

They've already invested in him. It's in their best interest for him to graduate. This conspiracy theory stuff doesn't make sense.

[Anonymous]

He cheated. He got caught. He missed the meeting.

That's why they suspended him. But sure make it about race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it was an automatic punishment for not attending that meeting.

That's what I figured, like a default judgment if you don't show up for court? But still. It's evil and way too harsh, especially with the context of him being destitute with zero family. I haven't talked to him in years, I don't even work in his state anymore. It makes me so sad for him.

Maybe you can advise him on appealing to the university. Sounds like he could use guidance and support even if it's from afar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You got only his side of the story. It sounds like there were remedy options that he didn't pursue.
It's still not too late. Help him write a letter of apology and set up a meeting with you and him and their student services/admission/whoever and petition hard for him. He needs to show them in person how much this means to him and he'll never do it again.

I have a couple friends who got kicked out on academic probation after freshman year, who petitioned, showed remorse and got readmitted.

This. Skipping the meetings was a big mistake. It probably looked like he wasn't taking it seriously. He needs to demonstrate that he is.

I think it is good they are letting him come back after two semesters. He can go back, go to summer, school and work his tail off to graduate as quickly as possible with an Ivy League degree. It could have been worse.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like this is not the first offense.

[Anonymous]

OP: At this point, you are aware of the young man's circumstances. Why not assist him in getting housing and a job ?

With respect to the punishment received, maybe the young man can get the school to grant him a hearing in mitigation of the punishment as the student is not contesting the charge of cheating. Try to get the school to agree to remove this incident from the student's permanent record if he completes his degree requirements without further cheating infractions / offenses.

Advise the young man to act like a responsible young adult by accepting responsibility without blaming others and asking the school for a reconsideration of the disciplinary decision.

But, first, ask the young man whether he had any prior disciplinary actions against him while at this school. Tell him that embarrassment is not a defense and it is not a strategy.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you could contact the university to talk on his behalf? (If he allows this).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it was an automatic punishment for not attending that meeting.

That's what I figured, like a default judgment if you don't show up for court? But still. It's evil and way too harsh, especially with the context of him being destitute with zero family. I haven't talked to him in years, I don't even work in his state anymore. It makes me so sad for him.

Agree this seems harsh for a first time one-off offense. Do you have the whole story?

What is the appeals process? Perhaps you can help navigate that for this young man (why did use boy in the title?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did he ask you for money in the facebook message? Sounds like a scam.

No. He isn't sure what to and I don't even know where to begin to try and help. I'm stuck on such a wealthy university even doing something so cruel and what motivates such a punishment after they set a trap to pick off low-hanging fruit (with secret stalking software to catch him cheating on an assignment). The teen boy needs tutors, mentors, and access to campus resources. Instead a college with tens of billions of dollars made him homeless in a city with violent crime and overdoses at historic highs. This is suppose to, what, teach him a lesson? In addition to being homeless, he lost his university health care. Maybe he can get diagnosed with cancer before they let him come back, that'll really teach him a lesson. I'm sorry, this is all so disgusting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: At this point, you are aware of the young man's circumstances. Why not assist him in getting housing and a job ?

With respect to the punishment received, maybe the young man can get the school to grant him a hearing in mitigation of the punishment as the student is not contesting the charge of cheating. Try to get the school to agree to remove this incident from the student's permanent record if he completes his degree requirements without further cheating infractions / offenses.

Advise the young man to act like a responsible young adult by accepting responsibility without blaming others and asking the school for a reconsideration of the disciplinary decision.

But, first, ask the young man whether he had any prior disciplinary actions against him while at this school. Tell him that embarrassment is not a defense and it is not a strategy.

He forwarded me an email chain. It appears he fessed up to the professor immediately. The professor immediately used the confession in writing to turn him into administration. It is clear that the professor was pretending to be an on his side "good cop" to bait him to confess. The professor then used this confession to help railroad him. I am sure all of the rich white, Asian and Indian PhDs I see CCd on the email chain feel really big and smug taking down a destitute Black teenager.

[Anonymous]

Taking a quick look at some ivy league school penalties, among them I see a range (not tied to any specific violation): verbal warning, written warning, negative grade for assignment, failing the course, reprimand, restriction, probation, suspension, dismissal, and expulsion.