Case 21: Late Confession
In 1968, Norm Lewis was a 51 – year old doctoral candidate in history at the
University of Washington. While taking his final exam in the program, he excused
himself to go to the bathroom, where he looked at his notes. For the next 32 years,
Lewis told no one. At age 83, he decided to confess, and he wrote to the president of
the university admitting that he had cheated and that he had regretted it ever since.
Commenting on the case, Jeanne Wilson, president of the Center for Academic
Integrity remarked, “I think there is an important lesson here for students about the
costs of cheating. He has felt guilty all these years, and felt burdened by this secret,
believing that he never really earned the degree he was awarded.” Wilson’s position
is that the University of Washington should not take action against Lewis, given his
confession, his age, and the fact that, after all, he did complete his coursework and
dissertation.
But, she added, “On the other hand, I think an institution might feel compelled to
revoke the degree if we were talking about a medical or law degree or license, or
some other professional field such as engineering or education, and the individual
were younger and still employed on the basis of that degree or license.
Discuss the ethical issues this case raises, both for Dr. Lewis and for University of
Washington officials. Evaluate Jeanne Wilson’s analysis, especially as it might apply
to engineers.
Welcome to one of the most trusted essay writing services with track record among students. We specialize in connecting students in need of high-quality essay writing help with skilled writers who can deliver just that. Explore the ratings of our essay writers and choose the one that best aligns with your requirements. When you rely on our online essay writing service, rest assured that you will receive a top-notch, plagiarism-free A-level paper. Our experienced professionals write each paper from scratch, carefully following your instructions. Request a paper from us and experience 100% originality.
Check your essay before you submit. See exactly what your professor sees.
See your AI and plagiarism results before your instructor does.Get the exact same report your professor uses. Trusted by 50,000+ students worldwide.
From stress to success – hire a pro essay writer!
