Wrongly Accussed of Cheating

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I have been wrongly accussed of cheating in a psychology class. In the class, I got mostly A's and B+'s on every assignment. However, I did poorly on a few take home assignments. Therefore, I knew that the only way I could finish the class with a good grade was if I excelled on the final exam. So, I studied extremely hard for the final exam. </p>

<p>However, when I recieved my final grades, I discovered that I had a C in the class and a 73 on the final exam. I was absolutely shocked, so I asked my professor if he could review the exam, make comments, and then mail it to me. He said he would, but I never recieved anything. I waited and waited.</p>

<p>Then, yesterday (over one month later), I recieved an email from the Honor Council telling me that I am suspected of changing the exam and that I must appear at an official hearing. From what I'm told, the professor had left the exams outside of the psychology building's main office, and he thinks that I took my exam, altered it, and then put in back in the pile. This is absolutely untrue, but my professor refuses to believe that a grading error was made nor does he like changing grades after they've already been submitted. My family and I are completly outraged, and we want to hire an attorney.</p>

<p>Never in my life have I ever been accussed of cheating, plagarizing, or any other forms of academic dishonesty. Teachers trust me, and they know that I'm a good person. I am the type of person who returns lost wallets, gives extra change back to cashiers, and I feel insulted by these allegations.</p>

<p>I don't know what to do. If I get convicted, then my dreams of attending law school will be destroyed. I like to believe that, since I'm innocent, I will be acquitted. However, this is wishful thinking because innocent people get convicted all the time, and our justice system is not perfect. </p>

<p>Later on this week, I will meet with the Dean to review all the submitted evidence. I'm hoping that my professor did not fabricate a false exam (and then make copies of this exam) just so he can cover his tail. I know this seems far-fetched, but I've heard of this being done before. Could someone please advise me? I couldn't sleep last night, and I've been crying all day.</p>

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<p>show that there's a lack of evidence, just like in a criminal trial.</p>

<p>i was accused of cheating in very unusual circumstances, but that was in 6th grade, so that's nearly irrelevant...</p>

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<p>Hey -- please don't double post</p>

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<p>I double posted so that I can get responses from parents and from college students.</p>

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<p>To prevent the professor from fabricating, and to prove your innocence, you could offer to take the final again. In know it may be against your principals to retake a test you didn't cheat on, but it is also a guaranteed way to prove your innocence.</p>

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<p>I don't have any advice, really, but I'm sorry to hear about your situation. That professor sounds like a complete jerk! I hate when people can't own up to their mistakes and correct them.</p>

<p>Good luck with everything. I hope it all gets worked out.</p>

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<p>Yeah, good luck. I realy hope things work out for you. Stay positive, they can't charge you based on speculation, and plus you've never been accused of cheating before? I think the odds are in your favor. :)</p>

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<p>If you're close to your GC or some teacher you can ask them to vouch for you. It might help quite a bit. This is absolutely ridiculous. Does he really think you stalked him around the school until he left his bag somewhere? Or that you just happened upon a stack of papers and somehow knew they were tests and you changed yours?</p>

<p>Also, what kind of test is it? If it's scantron then it should be obvious if there are very few erased bubbles on it, so it would be easy to prove your innocence. If it was a written test it would be even easier because you can see where stuff was erased (if you used pencil) or crossed out (if you used pen). You probably don't need an attorney for this, just remember to stay calm and not be overly emotional (though some emotion would help you plead your case) when you go in to talk to the dean.</p>

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<p>wow. good luck.</p>

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<p>most schools have a free legal service available to students. You should contact them pronto. If they won't/can't represent you then you should hire an attorney. Having this on your record is just to serious to not challenge.</p>

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<p>What college is this? Publicize it! Make it so nobody will ever apply there again!!!</p>

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<p>You should read "The Trial" by Kafka.</p>

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<p>How about, "The Fixer" by Bernard Malamud. Oh man, that was the most painful thing I have ever read!! I had nightmares about that. Jeeeeeez.</p>