Masters of deception

What a nice deal for some professors!

They have their names signed in as co-authors of articles published by their students. But, when the articles are proved to be plagiarized ones, they push their students to the fore as whipping boys.

In February, when a scholar at the Chinese Academy of Engineering was found to have his name signed in as co-author of four papers that were erroneous reproductions in foreign journals, the academician disowned responsibility by pleading ignorance of what had happened.

This time, it is the vice headmaster of Liaoning University who is reported to be involved in a case of plagiarism. Predictably, the university authorities promptly absolved the vice headmaster of any wrongdoing by pointing a finger at a doctoral student as the sole culprit.

A paper with the names of the vice headmaster and a doctoral student from a university in Beijing was published in the Philosophy Research monthly's April issue. Eighty percent of the content of this paper was found to have been copied from a paper published five years ago.

The vice headmaster said that he lent his name to help the student - who earlier did his master's degree under him - get his research paper published. He claims that before giving his assent, he asked the student whether he wrote the paper himself.

Even if the vice headmaster's version is true, it seems unnecessary for him to have allowed use of his name. He could have helped his student in other ways, such as by recommending the paper to academic journals. The fact that he didn't do so but added his name to the paper makes the protestations of altruism ring hollow.

It is natural for professors to assign work, including the writing of papers, to their students, who doubtless need to learn how to conduct research. That does not mean professors are justified in treating their students as slaves, who can be driven to do the jobs which professors have to do on their own.

It is unethical for faculty to assign work to students without telling them how to go about it, but getting their names in as co-authors when a paper or book is published.

It is a form of corruption for professors to have their names put to papers, to which they have contributed nothing.

Teachers have been respected since ancient times because they are supposed to help students learn a skill or become an authority in a particular field.

Academicians who ride piggyback on the students for name and fame but desert them when exposed as plagiarists do not deserve respect as scholars, teachers, guides or even individuals of integrity.

True, students guilty of plagiarism should be punished according to the rules, and this doctoral student may probably be denied his PhD.

But it is patently unfair for professors and academic figures such as a vice headmaster to claim credit where it is not due but reject blame when deserved. Such teachers are a disgrace to themselves, the students, the institutions they are attached and to the entire academic community.

(China Daily 06/18/2009 page8)