Second chances?

[xenon]

https://www.npr.org/2020/12/21/949025580/more-than-70-west-point-cadets-accused-of-cheating-in-academic-scandal

More than 70 students caught in a cheating scheme on a calculus exam (they all made the same mistake on the same question). Most have fessed up.

Before 2015 - they would have all been expelled.

Cadets have to abide by an honor code (and remember, get free tuition and a 10k stipend). It’s a short code: "A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do."

I think in this case, where honor is so core to the institution’s mission, they should actually be expelled. I get that is very very harsh in terms of the impact on these young peoples’ lives - but your honor code doesn’t mean much without it. (Get rid of the honor thing otherwise)

Also - remember, these are are future officers that will be faced with difficult decisions. So how they conduct themselves under pressure is a bit weightier than just an academic thought experiment.

[Mik]

Absolutely. I don't see how there could be any question of it. Out they go.

[George K]

Yup. Totally dishonest. A huge number of students.

"There is no honor among thieves" as the saying goes. "You were dishonorable then, why should we trust you in the future?"

[xenon]

Seems like there was some sort of rule change in 2015. If you fess up to it (article says 59 have) - you don’t get kicked out.

[Mik]

Bad rule change. West Point should only retain the most honorable of cadets.

[Axtremus]

Very disheartening, West Point cadets are supposedly among the best of America’s youth.

[Catseye3]

Bad idea. Not to mention the message it leaves for the rest: "Okay to cheat now! You're golden!"

[Copper]

I'm surprised that expulsion is no longer an option

They could probably get away with expelling the cadets with light colored skin

[Horace]

This puts to bed the notion that large conspiracies cannot exist. This conspiracy of 70 young men would have gone undetected if not for the answer key they were cheating off of having that wrong answer.

[Aqua Letifer]

@horace said in Second chances?:

This puts to bed the notion that large conspiracies cannot exist. This conspiracy of 70 young men would have gone undetected if not for the answer key they were cheating off of having that wrong answer.

I doubt they set this up for this one and only test.