Leaving CCSU With Mud On My Face

I have officially finished my academic year at Central Connecticut State University, and therefore have completed my second year at university altogether. Despite all the highs of the year regarding my learnings, I left the biggest low until the last minute, tripping at the finish line and landing in a giant cow pat.

I'm No Longer A Blue Devil

Upon checking my email I was greeted with the following message:

Hi Phil,
I'm sad to say I'm going to have to fail you for the semester, as a substantial portion of your Portfolio is plagiarized. I've turned in an Academic Misconduct Report to the English Department Chair and the Office of Student Conduct, as well as evidence of the plagiarism (a copy of your paper with plagiarized sections highlighted and links to the sites from which you copied and pasted text. I'll attach it here as well.). I'm really disappointed that you tried to take the "easy" way out - and that some of your best lines were probably someone else's. And to be honest, I'm offended that you thought you could get one over on me and pass other people's work off as your own. I hope that this is a one-time error in judgment, but given the fact that it occurs in both papers you included in your portfolio, I tend to doubt it. I also hope it isn't something you're doing in your published pieces since, for that, you can get in a lot worse trouble than failing a course.Debbie

As the words slowly sank into my brain, my heart sank and my guts turned to mush. I was confused, what on earth had I done? As I clicked the file I began to scroll through my work until I found highlighted text. It turns out that my technique for writing complex info had landed me head first in the cow pat. 

The portfolio was a complex information piece as well as a travel article about New Orleans. To help me structure the pieces and prevent myself from going off on a tangent never to return, I copy and paste research into a word file (this also prevents me flicking between windows on the laptop). I then work up to a particular 'cut and pasted' section, rewrite it, delete it, then work towards the next. I've used this technique numerous times since I was a secondary school and had never fallen foul. Upon reading my plagiarised (yes, spelt with an 'S' not a 'Z' Debbie) I noticed how in my rush to complete the paper, my rush to draw a line under my second year, my rush to celebrate a great year, I didn't proofread my work and notice that I hadn't deleted the copy and pasted sections. 

In mad panic I sent a barrage of emails to my tutor here as well as back at UCLan. Personally I found it unprofessional to hurl accusations my way without allowing me to defend and or explain myself, for all she knew I simply uploaded the wrong file to the system. My tutor back home told me that everything would be ok, she would support me and said I could use her for a character reference. She told me to ask about an appeal and a possible re-submission. My tutor at CCSU just sent me an appeal link, nothing else. Surely this information should have been offered to me from the get go, not after asking?

My appeal letter read as follows:

Dear Dr. Cohen,

                        I am writing in accordance to the recent accusation of academic misconduct for the course: Creative Non Fiction II, Course Number: 375, Professor: Deborah Bradford.

            Attached to this letter you fill find the piece of work in which the accusation refers to. Now denying the fact that it includes plagiarism would be ignorant and stupid of me. It is there in black and white. My appeal is based upon a simple mistake and a writing technique that obviously needs to change.

            The reason that there is content in the paper that is not mine is that when I begin a paper, I research the topic and copy and paste segments into a word document for the sake of structure. By doing this it allows me to write to a template, so to speak, and prevents me going off on a tangent. This technique allows me to be as clear and concise as possible.

            As I begin the paper, I write up to, and around the copy and pasted text, and then delete it. A bit like doing a ‘dot to dot’ and then deleting the dots once the paper is completed. The reason that this paper contains content that is not mine is simply down to the fact that I forgot to delete the copied text, and join up the segments before and after.

            Plagiarism is something that I have never been accused of in the past, and upon informing my tutor back in England was told that she will support me to the fullest, as she knows that this is not in my nature. Something that I believe my tutors at CCSU will back me up on. Since being in America I have worked hard to gain a 3.75 GPA and have a good relationship with my professors. If you wish to use them as a character reference I’m sure they would speak highly of me.

Professor D’Ambrosio – Magazine Writing (mary.dambrosio@...............)

Professor Dolan – Playwriting (dolanan@..............)

Professor Dunne – Advanced Composition (dunne@.............)

Professor Hazuka – Creative Fiction II (hazukaj@.....................)

Professor Martin – News Writing & Reporting II (martinv@.............)

Professor Shankar – Poetry II (shankarr@............)

Professor Sweeney – Intro To Broadcast News (sweeneyda@..................)

Catharine Frances – My tutor back home in England (cfrances@............)

            I would even go as far as saying that even Professor Bradford would agree that prior to this incident, I was nothing but a solid member of the class who interacted and partook in every aspect of the lessons. I was always punctual, and only missed class when it was agreed between the two of us.

           I am nearing 26 years of age and returned to University to achieve something. I am not here, like many other students, because I don’t want to join the real world or because I don’t know what to do with my life. I’ve worked hard doing jobs that I’ve despised to save up enough money to return to education so that I have the best options in the future. I did not return to University to look for shortcuts, nor to cheat and lie my way to a degree.

I am guilty of many things. I am guilty of rushing, of being careless, of not paying close attention to line level details, of a poor drafting process, of not fully understanding the citing technique used at CCSU, and of not proof reading my work. I am, however, not guilty of deliberate plagiarism.

            I throw myself at the mercy of the authorities to reconsider my failed grade and to consider the paper that I should have handed in. The paper that I have sent to Professor Bradford, and the paper that I have included in with this appeal.

            I thank you very much for your time, and your consideration. I hope that you can look at this from my point of view and hope that you can give me a second chance. I wish to leave CCSU with good memories.

                                    Yours faithfully

                                    Philip North

During the appeal it was apparent that they do not allow re-submissions and that all they cared about was that I had plagiarised. From across the boardroom table, questions fired at me from all angles from the five strangers sat along it regarding my reasons for plagiarising, my apparent writing technique, and my academic history. They weren't budging. The result, failing the course and no further punishment. 

My First Sight Of CCSU. Never Judge A Book
By It's Cover

That's not the end of it. It turns out that I used a section of my Creative Non-Fiction II paper in my Magazine Writing paper. They were both about travel but the Magazine article was much longer. In panic I alerted my Magazine Writing tutor that I may have fallen foul and if possible could she mark a resubmission. It turns out that she was unaware of any plagiarism. Some tutors use 'turn it in' an online plagiarism checker - turns out she wasn't one of them. Upon receiving my email she was more angry that I had used part of a paper for two classes, apparently this is also breaking the rules. After pleading ignorance she advised that I withdraw the paper from her class and take a 0 for that section of the course, lowering my grade from a B+ to a B. Turns out that she had already marked everything - I should have kept my mouth shut. Honesty is not always the best possibility.

In regards to finishing the course at UCLan, I panicked as I originally thought that they wouldn't allow me to continue into my 3rd year and I don't have the finance to repeat 2nd year. I have been reassured by my tutor that they will arrange for me to pick up another module to make up the credits needed to graduate, unfortunately odds are that my grade for this class will be capped at a bare pass. 

Looking on the bright side, I get more information/classes for my tuition money. As teachers keep telling me, it's not about the grade you finish with, but the knowledge you get from the class. 

So, all in all I finished with the following grades.

CREATIVE WRITING
Creative Fiction II - A
Playwriting - A
Poetry - A-
Advanced Composition - B+
Creative Non Fiction II - F

JOURNALISM
News Writing & Reporting II - B+
Introduction To Broadcast News - B+
Magazine Writing - B+ lowered to a B

Good Honest Graft

With school out and nothing much to do, Jon hooked me up with a couple days working with him at his family friend's house. Basically this family live in a big house with loads of land around it, the house is fuelled by a wood burner that sits outside and Jon makes money cutting up trees and stacking them in the woodshed for the family to burn when needed.

Firewood Anyone?

The first day we transported timber from where it was cut to the shed and then cut up the larger logs to a more manageable size. Hardly brain surgery, but hard work as temperatures hit 30 degrees celsius and sweat poured down our faces as our shirts stuck to our bodies. A lovely sight, but after a few beers the night before, it felt good to sweat it all out.

After all the logging it was time for some weeding and mulching the dozens of sections around the property. Now before the house was built, it was just woodlands. So even though the house is now here and grass surrounds it, you cannot escape the weeds. What they really need is a professional outfit to dig up the soil along with the weeds, stick some tarp at the bottom of the hole, fill it up with compost and start again. What we were doing will no doubt result in the exact same work for Jon to do next year.

I Cut Your Grass, I Clean Your
Windows, Senor!

After all the heat and humidity on the first day, the second day was wet and the air was full of midges and horse flies biting every piece of exposed skin on offer. They were in my eyes, up my nose, in my mouth, and buzzing in my ear. I was not happy and I must have put on a hell of a show to any potential onlookers as flapped at the air in a fit of rage. A day later I'm an itchy, lumpy mess, but with money in my pocket. To celebrate we stopped of at a cider tasting mill on the way back to Jon's and treated ourselves to some local vintage that went down like a dream.

Despite the aches and pains once we were done, it feels good to work again after not working since I got here. Hopefully there will be other odd jobs available to fund another trip before I return to God's Green Land Of England.

Leaving Carroll & Flag Night

My Favourite Chinese

I am no longer a prisoner of Carroll Hall. I no longer have to sweat to death in the confines of that torturous room that was far too small for two people to live in. I no longer have to share four showers and 5 toilets with over 60 people. I no longer wake up to the sound of a mower cutting the grass outside my window, and I can now sleep when I want without threat of idiots screaming in the corridor or my roommate turning the light on when I'm asleep, or shouting in his sleep. I am no longer a Carroll Cobra, if I ever was one to begin with.

Dolce Only Shows Me Attention
When I'm On My Own. Almost As
If She's Embarrassed To Be Seen In
Public With Me

Sox Isn't Happy That I Stole His Bed

I will however miss my mate, Art. It was a shame that he was only 18 as he certainly liked a drink and was good fun. Before he left to go home we shared a small bottle of Jagermeister and he was happy that it didn't turn his face bright red like it has in the past. Great to meet you buddy. All the best in the future and I hope to see you again soon.

Captain Sweden

England Look To Be Head And Shoulders Above The
Other Countries

I have now moved into Hongi's house and am at war with Sox over who has the right to the bed. I think I'm winning at the moment, but who knows? His cat hairs do cover every square inch of the room, and I hear him scratching at the door in the morning. It is interesting to see the battle between the 3 cats in the house. Sox is a big white male who isn't very old, but dwarves the other 2 with his sheer size. Dolce is a little black girl who has rule of the house. If Sox is asleep somewhere she will wake him up and scare him off. The thing is, it's not because she wants his spot, she's just a cow. Then there is Smoky who is a stray that was adopted. He spends most of his time upstairs keeping himself to himself but is apparently very territorial. I spend most of the day watching their antics, it makes me feel a little like David Attenborough.

Convict & Prosecutor

To celebrate our last night I arranged a flag night amongst the international students. Although I must admit, it was a bit of a failure. The idea was that everyone wore their nation's flag on their back like a cape, so the pub would have England, USA, Australia, Spain, Germany, Poland, Brazil, Sweden flags everywhere. I even gave out a link to buy a flag for $5 but people couldn't be bothered. So I had mine, Evan represented Sweden for Erik, and Jon has an Australian vest on. All went well though, until Evan disappeared with 2 crates of beer after closing and lost them as soon as we took our eyes off him. Who knows which lucky sod found them.

Carroll's Resident Director Is So Happy To Have
Seen The Last Of Us

The Spanish girls have now flown out to California with Mariana but will be back for one day before going back to Spain. I hope to survive until then as I am now living on corn flakes, sandwiches and crisps. I need to get back to my original weight in preparation for pre season training when I get home. It's going to hurt so much.

Meanwhile In Sweden, Erik Misses America That
Much He Tried To Look Like Jennifer Aniston

Back To Boston

With little time before my stint here is over, an invite back to Bentley University in Boston was just what the doctor ordered. However, without Hongi, Stef, or Erik, the duty fell upon Evan to join me for a weekend of fun and frolics.

Evan's Got A Balloon Too, Erik.

Arriving on the friday a little later than planned, we quickly dressed cowboy style and headed to the pub nearby so the girls could sing a little karaoke. Sooner you than me love. The problem was, not only were we in a big northern city dressed as cowboys, but the Boston Red Sox were playing Texas on the T.V. When I say playing, they were getting beat 7-0; not the best time to cowboy up. It also didn't help that everyone in the pub was small. Evan and I could stand at opposite ends of the pub and see each other clear as day, even without the hats. He even put a piece of straw in his mouth for the entirety of the trip. He's slowly becoming more and more redneck.

Arriving back to the room we noticed that Taylor, one of the girls, had recently celebrated her birthday and a stray balloon had avoided being popped. Now the last time Erik came here with Stef, he Skyped Evan and I drunk alerting us to the fact that he had found a balloon, yet couldn't pull it down into camera shot. His drunk grip too weak to pull it down long enough. We instantly sent pictures of this balloon off to Erik.

Much Better Community Atmosphere At Bentley

The day after we relaxed on campus, playing Kan Jam. This is a frisbee game where you have to land the frisbee in the opposite can either on your own or with help from your partner standing beside it. If you get the frisbee in the cut out slot you automatically win. Despite the love of frisbee at CCSU, I've never seen this game. At one time there was two games going on simultaneously. I never won a game.

What I loved about Bentley in comparison to CCSU was the atmosphere and community. On a weekend back at Central, the place is dead. Even on it's busiest of days the grass area, which is much bigger than that at Bentley, has half the people that I sat on the grass with here. They even have a public BBQ grill at the side for people to use if they bring their own charcoal. Everything just seemed so much better, all this despite everyone being in the middle of finals.

After a night in downtown Boston, the girls, Evan and I went to the cinema to watch Iron Man 3. The Cinema was packed, I've not seen one so full in a long time. There was also loads of legroom despite the lack of headrest, but as with every American event that I've gone to, everyone had food. Luckily the volume was loud enough to blank out the sound of crunching and slurping.

With the girls in need to revise before their finals the following day, Evan and I made our way home thanking them for their hospitality. Margaret and Meaghan are looking forward to a holiday in the Bahamas before starting in the world of work. After watching them burn to a crisp sat in the Boston sun, I already sympathise with them sat in the Bahamas. That's a lie, I'm jealous of them.

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.

The great migration back to Europe has begun, albeit via the west coast of America. Hongi is the first, typical German, to free herself from the clutches of Connecticut as she met up with her parents in New York before flying out to California. 

I Will Hit Hongi With The Spatula. Just
A Moment Of Time

I must say that if it wasn't for the German efficiency inbred into Hongi, I probably wouldn't have seen America as easily as I have. She organised hotels, buses, everything; well minus the trip to Texas when it was left wide open - half the fun of a road trip I guess. If it was left up to Erik and I, things would have been left until the last minute on more than one occasion. 

Stupid Hongi!

Before she left the plan was to gatecrash Eastern Connecticut State University's spring concert as they had the Goo Goo Dolls performing, another of our favourite bands. Unfortunately, Hongi came down with a cold putting a halt to our trip. It also collided with a surprise BBQ that her housemates had prepared for her. Maybe when they come to England or Germany, Hongi.

It Cost Evan And I $10 To Get Hongi To
Dance On The Bar At 'Coyote Ugly'

Just before leaving for the Big Apple to meet her parents we met up on campus and did the whole goodbye thing. This was easy as Hongi is very much like myself, no tears, no big drama, just a hug, a wave, and a goodbye. Job done! I can't see this being as simple with the Spanish Girls. 

I have already been alerted that a return flight from Manchester to Stuttgart (Hongi's University) are roughly £70-80. I do like the sound of a German Stein.

My year in America just wouldn't have been the same without the constant abuse I suffered from Hongi, whether it be verbal or in a text. She was vicious, and the fact she did it with a smile on her face and a laugh in her voice did little to ease the pain. I will, however, take the higher ground and wish Hongi all the best with whatever she decides to do next. All the best, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet!