25 years old and deep in debt

[CountDeMoney]

Really?  An anonymous blogger?  That's all it takes?

The university conducted its own evaluation of course.

Yeah, after prodded by an "anonymous blogger".  So universities respond to any old email from wingnuts in the ether over there?

[Syt]

It really started when someone was reviewing Guttenberg's (the first prominent case) paper for another publication and noticed that a lot of it seemed familiar. When the media picked up on it it was quickly crowdsourced. It was particularly damaging, because Guttenberg had the image of the pro-active, capable politician (a few minor dents non-withstanding) who got things done in the right way.

Afterwards there was a minor craze for finding more plagiarists. I think in total 7 or 8 more or less known politicians were caught.

[Eddie Teach]

Guess students are gonna have to start paying classmates for original essays instead of copying online.

[Zanza]

Really?  An anonymous blogger?  That's all it takes?

The university conducted its own evaluation of course.

Yeah, after prodded by an "anonymous blogger".  So universities respond to any old email from wingnuts in the ether over there?

Why not? If it is well-researched by the anonymous blogger? The blogs that have outed plagiarists in Germany so far were quite thorough in their work as far as I can tell. If someone is right, does it matter which form of communication he uses and whether he prefers to stay anonymous?

[Neil]

It's not really a big deal though.  I mean, German academics serves no practical purpose, it's just a social standing thing.

[CountDeMoney]

The blogs that have outed plagiarists in Germany so far were quite thorough in their work as far as I can tell.

That's because Germans don't do anything in moderation.

Then again, I suppose vetting 30 year old doctorates is better than stuffing Jews into cattle cars.

[HVC]

The world is doomed.

http://m.gawker.com/5983849/woman-sues-lehigh-university-for-13-million-because-she-claims-a-c%2B-ruined-her-career

Woman Sues Lehigh University for $1.3 Million Because She Claims a C+ Ruined Her Career

Three years after receiving and unsuccessfully challenging a C+ in a course critical to her master's degree, Megan Thode did the reasonable thing and sued Lehigh University, her alma mater — which she attended for free, because her father works there — for $1.3 million, the amount she claims the poor grade will cost her career earnings. Apparently, the C+, which, let's be real, isn't so terrible, forced her to switch to a career in human development instead of professional counseling.

As Thode's lawyer, Richard J. Orloski, put it: "She's literally lost a career," which isn't entirely true, since she's still working as a counselor, just not a state-certified one. But moving on. "I have nothing against you setting national precedent here," Orloski told the judge, after admitting he hadn't looked up legal precedents for courts altering grades.

The lawsuit, the trial for which started this week, says Thode's C+ was the result of a double-pronged attack by Lehigh: one part discrimination (Thode claims her professor, Amanda Carr, gave her the poor grade because Carr wasn't supportive of Thode's work to support gay rights, a claim Lehigh's attorneys have refuted) and one part old fashioned department-wide conspiracy (Thode also alleges the department head plotted with Carr to fail Thode after she complained about a mandatory internship).

Lehigh's lawyers don't seem too worried, though.

"I think if your honor changed the grade, you'd be the first court in the history of jurisprudence to change an academic grade," Lehigh University attorney Neil Hamburg told the judge presiding over the case. 

"She has to get through the program. She has to meet the academic standards."

Hamburg also said Thode had exhibited unprofessional behavior in class, including cursing and crying. Based on Judge Emil Giordano's reaction, Lehigh doesn't have much reason to be concerned.

"I've practiced law for longer than I'd like to [admit]," Giordano said, "and I've never seen something like this."

[MadImmortalMan]

You can smell the entitlement from here. 

[Valmy]

You can smell the entitlement from here. 

No shit.  She got a career from an education the school comped.  Hell they should counter-sue her and make her pay them back.

[CountDeMoney]

You can smell the entitlement from here. 

Hamburg also said Thode had exhibited unprofessional behavior in class, including cursing and crying.

No, it's just that the lawsuit is the natural progression of this sort of behavioral trait.

[Phillip V]

I attended Lehigh University for two years, and it is very fun if you have lots of money. However, many of the professors and students are similar to her and her father.

[LaCroix]

i often heard anecdotes from professors during college of how they once taught private universities, and students would actually come to them during office hours and say, "i received a poor grade on this paper/test/etc. why? i deserve As." i found that odd, but i guess there are those who are really like that

[Caliga]

I attended Lehigh University for two years, and it is very fun if you have lots of money. However, many of the professors and students are similar to her and her father.

Interesting... I never heard anything like that, and given where I grew up I knew over a dozen people who went there.

[Phillip V]

It has (had?) a heavy Greek life. In 2008, top fraternities charged $2000+ annual dues. Of course, there are also other "side" expenses such as costumes, suits, limo rentals, alcohol, and other stuff you have to pay for.

[Caliga]

Most of my peers were nerds so they probably didn't participate in any of that stuff.