<p>Simba:</p>
<p>Is there any doubt that KV committed plagiarism? Legal eagles at publishing houses sure don’t have any.</p>
<p>My own “anger” is a displaced reaction to two things: first, the unapologetic denial by this young woman of a brazen act of plagiarism and the apparent absence of consequences. (“oooh, I loved the book so much I unconsciously memorized it.” She should be tossed out for the feeble excuse itself). Second, the general manipulation of the system by smart, ambitious but superficial young people (and their parents). I see this frequently in WGU students whose investment in any activity (in my case, a laboratory research experience) is only sufficient to get them to the next level; one can see the wheels turning as they try to figure out “whats in it for me.”</p>
<p>Once again Simba: what facts? Are you challenging that there was plagiarism? It is not e-lynching - it is the expectation that people take responsibility for their actions.</p>
<p>Re: facts. Couldn’t this scenario be at least possible?</p>
<p>Ambitious girl is offered book contract. Girl is turned over to a ‘development company’. Girl’s initial manuscript is deemed not commercial enough (wasn’t there some sort of insider sniping before the plagiarism was discovered, that she had a LOT of help from this packaging/development company?) Girl is told to read bestselling books of the genre development company specializes in and, under pressure from publisher on top of regular scholastic pressure, does some not-very creative work which neither the publisher and the development company picks up on. (And what does that say about THEM and her editors?) Wouldn’t a scenario like this soften your indictment of this girl? </p>
<p>How do we really know what happened, aside her lame ‘excuse’? Working in media, I see people cave in to pressures to alter their work, their ideas, all the time. If seasoned professionals do, what chance does a teenager have - a teenager with the promise of Harvard as a reward?</p>
<p>It could be that I’m completeley 100% wrong about this. But then again, couldn’t KV’s critics be basing their arguments on some very inaccurate assumptions as well?</p>
<p>Katliamom,</p>
<p>I guess anything is possible and perhaps your scenario is true. But, if it is, it still strikes me as a poor defense of Harvard to say that it chose a plagiarist **who was also weak-willed ** to be a peer advisor.</p>
<p>DRJ4, there, I do not disagree. Harvard made a statement by keeping KV on as a student. It could also have made a statement by denying her the status of - however illusory - role model.</p>
<p>drb: Once again. YOU do not know what happened. Harvard had more facts than YOU and they took a position, and yes this is lynching of the worst kind.</p>
<p>Lynching? C’mon. The girl is alive and attending the big H and has been selected by H to be peer advisor. Let’s not get hyperbolic here.</p>
<p>My criticism here is of Harvard. What KV did has been dissected enough already. She submitted an application to be peer advisor. Harvard made the decision to choose her and to retain her once the scandal broke out. We are all entitled to comment on that decision based on all the known facts.</p>
<p>Trust me her karma will take care of that. :)</p>
<p>As a peer advisor, I just received the list of peer advisers from the Advising Programs Office. Kaavya is NOT on the list. Perhaps someone made an egregious error when they said that they saw her at a peer adviser meeting.</p>
<p>I’m trying to imagine that it was my kid (which, frankly, is difficult, but I’m trying.) She wants to get on with her life, do the things she would have done anyway; maybe repay H. for its generosity and understanding; maybe help some kids out; maybe try to rebuild some semblance of reputation (sounds like Goldman-Sachs bought it). I can’t blame her for that (even if there are other things for which she is indeed blameworthy.)</p>
<p>Harvard? It was probably just bureaucracy at its finest - I doubt they thought for more than 10 seconds about the implications of their decision, and decided just to move on. Do I think that was the right choice? No. But I don’t find it particularly difficult to understand.</p>
<p>Frankly, to me it’s Goldman-Sachs’ decision that is far more, shall we say, “intriguing”.</p>
<p>This is the mission statement of “85 Broads” at Goldman-Sachs:</p>
<p>“The value of 85 Broads is derived from a very simple but compelling principle. Our focus is extraordinarily positive and our mission is to create a global community of truly exceptional women who define success on their own terms, both personally and professionally.”</p>
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<p>Harvard didn’t get where it is by not paying attention. When Kaavya (and the school itself at one remove) was getting battered on the Today Show and in countless newspaper stories and blogs, you can be sure that Harvard thought about it for a lot longer than 10 seconds.</p>
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<p>If this is a lynching it is one of the best kind –> the kind where the person actually committed the crime they were accused of. No amount of speculating can make all the evidence against Kaavya go way.</p>
<p>Well, I certainly don’t think they sat around and said - “You know, because of Kaavya’s unique experience, I think she’ll make an especially good advisor.” So what’s the alternative explanation? ;)</p>
<p>“the kind where the person actually committed the crime they were accused of.”</p>
<p>You don’t know that…all you know is that she was standing in front of a dead body with her hands soaked in blood.</p>
<p>"If this is a lynching it is one of the best kind "…that is what the lynchers in the dark ages thought too.</p>
<p>Simba: I must be missing something here. You say I don’t know “what happened”. It has been shown irrefutably that KVs book has many passages nearly identical to other teen lit novels. I conclude that plagiarism happened. What other explanation would you propose?</p>
<p>Katliamommay be correct; this may have been done by a naive teen under pressure. Or not. Either way, it is still plagiarism, and when it is discovered one should admit it and accept the consequences.</p>
<p>drb: For crying out loud, most of the of the posters are almost 2.5-3 times older than her. Forgive and forget. Once again, do you get it now?</p>
<p>“As a peer advisor, I just received the list of peer advisers from the Advising Programs Office. Kaavya is NOT on the list. Perhaps someone made an egregious error when they said that they saw her at a peer adviser meeting.”</p>
<p>Most of the nine pages and 135 posts were based on the “fact” that she was a peer advisor…the whole thread was started with that ‘fact’, and you telling me that you know all the facts.</p>
<p>This thread was dead for a while and after 13 days some self righteous person re-started it again, based on the ‘fact’.</p>
<p>Enjoy the ‘fact’</p>
<p>“For crying out loud, most of the of the posters are almost 2.5-3 times older than her.” </p>
<p>What does that have to do with anything? An 18 year old with a book contract should be given a pass for brazen plagiarism? </p>
<p>“Forgive and forget.”</p>
<p>Forgive what? KV has not admitted to her plagiarism. Had she done so, forgiveness would be in order. In the absence of an acknowledgement of responsibility, acceptance of the consequences, and some evidence of contrition, forgiveness can hardly be expected. </p>
<p>“Once again, do you get it now?”</p>
<p>Clearly not. I remain appalled by the whole affair, and quite concerned that the nature of elite college admissions actually selects for such egregious behavior and apparent lack of conscience. Perhaps your standards for personal responsibility and scholarship are less stringent.</p>
<p>do I sense a racial jealousy?</p>
<p>once again do you know all the facts?</p>
<p>She does not have to admit anything to you or ask anything from you. You are not her employer, college, parent or priest. Stay vindictive and enjoy life.</p>
<p>Get the facts</p>
<p>
???</p>
<p>“do I sense a racial jealousy?”</p>
<p>WHAT? How dare you make such a despicable accusation? On what grounds? That I find brazen and unapologetic plagiarism reprehensible? </p>
<p>“She does not have to admit anything to you or ask anything from you. You are not her employer, college, parent or priest.”</p>
<p>Actually, I am her college.</p>
<p>“Get the facts”</p>
<p>What are the “facts” that you keep alluding to that somehow mitigate her obvious plagarism? Where, pray tell, can I get them? Please, please, please, share them, since you seem to believe they exonerate her.</p>