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Editorial: Ethical behavior allows for future successes
Editorial Board
Issue date: 11/13/09 Section: Commentary
At a young age we are taught the difference between right and wrong, but time and again, public figures demonstrate that sometimes personal interests can get the best of us. In a society that demands instant gratification, it is easy to want to take shortcuts in life as opposed to investing in hard work. Whether it was ExxonMobil leading a disinformation campaign concerning global warming or greedy Wall Street brokers that contributed to our country's economic collapse, examples of good ethics can be difficult to find.
According to USA Today, former New York Times columnist Jayson Blair will be guest-lecturing to students at Washington & Lee University in Virginia at a journalism conference today. Best known as a fabricating and plagiarizing reporter, Blair has since found work as a life coach. While his visit is being justified with the claim that college students need to learn lessons in failure, what students truly need to learn is the practice of good ethics and that unethical behavior should ultimately lead to failure.
Time and again students attempt to cheat the system, in school and in life. From using Wikipedia to write research papers to sneaking iPhones under their desks to get exam answers during class, we would rather use computers for solutions than our own brains.
On the first day of class, we neglect to pay attention to the part of the syllabus that reads "Academic Integrity," as we would rather skim the outline to see if attendance is mandatory or whether the final exam is cumulative. Though you may be able to copy-and-paste your way through college, doing so upon entering the real world becomes much less feasible. Not only does trying to cheat the system become much more challenging, but there are no second chances if you are caught. During a time where jobs are scarce, all employees are easily replaced, and employers would prefer one those who value ethics.
The truth is that cheating on a paper is not only unethical, but also cheats you out of your learning experience. While there is no easy way to climb the ladder of success, there is a guaranteed way to fall from it. We are all adults and need to be responsible both academically and morally for our actions. By acting with integrity now, we can ensure to do the same in the future.
According to USA Today, former New York Times columnist Jayson Blair will be guest-lecturing to students at Washington & Lee University in Virginia at a journalism conference today. Best known as a fabricating and plagiarizing reporter, Blair has since found work as a life coach. While his visit is being justified with the claim that college students need to learn lessons in failure, what students truly need to learn is the practice of good ethics and that unethical behavior should ultimately lead to failure.
Time and again students attempt to cheat the system, in school and in life. From using Wikipedia to write research papers to sneaking iPhones under their desks to get exam answers during class, we would rather use computers for solutions than our own brains.
On the first day of class, we neglect to pay attention to the part of the syllabus that reads "Academic Integrity," as we would rather skim the outline to see if attendance is mandatory or whether the final exam is cumulative. Though you may be able to copy-and-paste your way through college, doing so upon entering the real world becomes much less feasible. Not only does trying to cheat the system become much more challenging, but there are no second chances if you are caught. During a time where jobs are scarce, all employees are easily replaced, and employers would prefer one those who value ethics.
The truth is that cheating on a paper is not only unethical, but also cheats you out of your learning experience. While there is no easy way to climb the ladder of success, there is a guaranteed way to fall from it. We are all adults and need to be responsible both academically and morally for our actions. By acting with integrity now, we can ensure to do the same in the future.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
clopha deshotel
clopha deshotel
posted 11/13/09 @ 9:07 AM EST
The terms "ethical and moral" seem to always be used like synonyms. This tends to lead to ambiguity, or fuzzy areas that call for refocus. This is just my experience, I admit. (Continued…)
Lido Shuffler
posted 11/13/09 @ 10:55 AM EST
While the overall message of the article is excellent, you shouldn't confuse political opinion with morality. Global Warming Theory is only a question of morality to people who treat the subject as a neo-druid religion. (Continued…)
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