By John Mugol
Triton’s Call Staff

In the Spring 2015 semester there was a plagiarism incident at the University of Guam.

According to the UOG English Department, Plagiarism is a serious offense. It is using material that is composed by another person (or other people) to make one think it was originally theirs.

Alan Villanueva, a 2014 graduate of the university, said he believes that some students at some point have plagiarized and have gotten away with it. “I think plagiarism is a common occurrence at any institution,” said Villanueva.

Depending on their workload, some students choose to procrastinate and end up doing this dirty deed. “It’s a matter of how much a student can work hard in order to achieve a fair grade,” Villanueva added.

With the idea of plagiarism, the regulations can vary for students or academic scholars.

“The student handbook says ‘don’t plagiarize,’ the college, rules, and procedures manual says a bit more and defines what it is,” said James Sellman, Ph.D, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

The UOG student handbook lists plagiarism as an “act of academic dishonesty.” Acts that go against the code of conduct will seek disciplinary sanctions.

Sellman warns that depending on the college and their professors, any student suspected of plagiarism will face some consequences.

“It is both illegal and unethical, it’s really up to the professor to decide how they’re going to handle it,” Sellman said.

If a student plagiarizes he or she will either fail that assignment, the student will either fail that course, or the Student Appeals and Discipline committee will address the student and will determine either a suspension or expulsion.

Yet some students may still need help with avoiding plagiarism, especially if they think they have taken too much quotes but cannot synthesize any of them.

Some professors have integrated the Turnitin program, where a student can turn a paper in the provided website to check the statistics of the originality and if the paper was from a source.

Another thing would be to refer to styling guides such as: MLA, APA, Chicago style, AP, ASA and any of the like.

Another helpful and resourceful way to compose a paper would be to seek help from the Writing Gym. Located in the second floor of the Tan Lam Pek Kim English and Communication Building across the Triton’s Call newsroom. The staff at the writing gym can offer their time if you have writer’s block or if you just need help in a paper.