Cheating in Pre-Reqs

[xxyyzz]

I've been a "lurker" for quiteeeeeee some time now, and I have a sort of ethical dilemma on my hands. I'm in a 4.5 week A&P I class for the summer. The girl sitting next to me has used her cell phone to cheat on every exam so far (3 total). Everyone else in the class is busting their asses to pull C's (somehow our tests never have anything to do with our lectures/notes)... Part of me says to just mind my own business and let it be, but the other part of me is enraged that I spend countless hours studying to "earn" my Bs and Cs! I know there are cheaters everywhere and I can't stop them all, but in a way she is my "competition" as we are both going for the same program. I know how upset I would be if her cheated A beat out my earned B and she got into the program. Any suggestions on what to do?

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

haven't read the whole thread yet (so far the vote seems pretty close to unanimous for "report this breach of ethics" and i concur) but you could ask your professor to collect all electronic devices at the front of the room before the test. if he asks why, you could be suitably vague with something like, "so no one is tempted to be using them out of your sight during the test" accompanied by a meaningful glance.

[xxyyzz]

Well, I'm pretty sure the majority of y'all would be relieved to know that I DID report her! Turns out, the professor had some kind of hunch, but couldn't exactly pinpoint how she was doing it since she couldn't actually see the phone! She also told me she is glad I came forward because now she will bust her on the next exam... our 175 question cum. final! I guess with me only having so much time to get in the program (husband is military, so we move every few years), I don't have time for karma to come around AFTER she could have gotten a spot I had earned

[xxyyzz]

Oh, and, apparently she's not even good at cheating because she only scored a 31/85 on the quiz yesterday

[Hockeynurse]

Please report her. I know I would not want anyone in the nursing profession to care for me who doesn't know anatomy.

[FORTHELOVEOF!!!!]

I tend to be a loudmouth in instances like this just because I don't like to be thought of as a tattle tale. The next time you see her cheating I would just say (out loud so that everyone can hear) Excuse me, when you use your phone during the test it is really distracting to me, do think you could put it away? Let the teacher handle it from there. Just watch your back as you walk to your car if she's the ghetto beat you up type.

[xxyyzz]

LOL well let's just say I'm the minority in my class in a very "urban" area.... So yeah loud capping would probably not be in my favor!!

[FORTHELOVEOF!!!!]

Nevermind, just saw your post, glad you were able to solidify what the teacher had assumed!

[lovleeme]

Good! I am glad it all worked out!

[sweetgeorgia]

That's is great! I know what it's like living in a military household so I understand some of your frustration with classes, deadlines, everything. Anyways, really proud of you! You did the right thing. :)

[Jammin' RN]

I'm glad you reported her and stuck to what you thought is right. Sure she COULD eventually be "weeded out." But what about the person whose place she took in the program? Congrats to you for rectifying your first ethical situation. So proud of you and happy to know that there are people out there who do not sit back watch. Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

I would also be inclined to report. I use to live in a very small town.. There was a very likely chance that if the cheater DID make it through school and NCLEX that she would have taken care of someone I knew. I wouldn't want that.

Yay for you!!! :w00t:

[Tragically Hip]

keep your head down, work hard and myob. these things get straightened out eventually.

when i was a freshman, there was a girl in my class who was cheating on tests (pre-cell phones/computers). it made us mad, but no one ratted her out. one day we were taking a test in a&p, and all of a sudden the instructor yelled out, "suzanne! do you have a problem?"

i mean to tell you, that knocked 5 years off the life of everyone in that classroom...it scared us witless.

after that day, we never saw her again. it was like she was "disappeared." i still remember her full name, what she looked like, etc. that experience told everyone in the classroom that you had better not cheat, because you will be found out.

unfortunately, not everyone took that lesson to heart, because the next year, several people were discovered participating in an organized cheating conspiracy. every single one of them were kicked out, with no possibility of return. and i can guarantee you that they didn't get into another school, because the way my program was run, they would have made sure no one else would have accepted them.

just focus on your studies. cheaters eventually trip themselves up.

i couldn't disagree more. it's good that in your one anecdotal case things worked out for the best, but frequently they do not. often the instructor is oblivious, and occasionally, he's indifferent. a habitual cheater can cause a lot of problems for those around them.

truly, i despise the "keep your head down and go along" attitude. it is evil's greatest ally.

[Stephalump]

Truly, I despise the "keep your head down and go along" attitude. It is evil's greatest ally.

I completely agree, and I honestly don't understand the logic behind it. If you look at the various posts, there are some very clear thoughts as to why informing an authority is the correct thing to do.

Not telling anyone about the cheater? There is absolutely no real reason given. "They'll be caught eventually" may or may not be true, but it has nothing to do with the ethics of the situation; in other words, the idea that someone ELSE will rat on her doesn't somehow make it wrong for the OP to do so now. If that made any sense :)