2008 Woodie Awards
SectionsSGA proposes Turnitin opt-out
Ben Fry
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Students hesitant to have their work in Turnitin's database may have an easier time having their papers retracted.
At its Tuesday meeting, the Student Government Associat-ion passed a resolution recommending the university allow for students to sign up on a list if they do not want their papers to be seen.
This would transfer most of the responsibility of retracting papers from Turnitin from the student to the professor. While professors would still be able to submit student papers to the database, papers that belong to opt-out students would be withdrawn within a week.
Under the previous scenario, a student not wanting his paper on the database would have to tell the professor on a case-by-case basis.
Senator Will Hader, who is against Turnitin, said this is a step forward because it will prevent the student from having to go to the professor every time they want their paper retracted.
"It's still using turnitin.com, but it's at least making it easier on the students that don't want their papers in the databases," he said.
Associate Dean of Students Mike Jungers said the decision for all of a student's papers to be opt-ed out at once is between the university and Turnitin.
"I don't know if there is any way of predicting whether that (an opt-out list) would be agreeable or not," he said.
Senator Alan Fairless, director of research and development said he believes other universities using Turnitin have implemented an opt-out option.
"Certainly it's technologically possible for this to be done," Fairless said. "The only reason it couldn't be done is if turnitin.com was particularly uncooperative."
In other news, SGA decided to endorse Missouri State University's official nickname as "MO State". Senator Ruben Alonzo said this is to help curb confusion as to Missouri State's identity on the national level.
"When I say I go to MSU, people assume Michigan State," Alonzo said. "If I say 'no, maroon and white,' they go 'oh, Mississippi State.'"
Within the university, this endorsement pertains mainly to SGA documents when referring to Missouri State by nickname and spirit organizations, such as the cheerleaders, the Pride Band and Maroon Madness. No alteration of the university's name on official documents or campus signage is expected.
Also, the senate passed a resolution that will make it a requirement that "any expenditures exceeding 1.5 percent of the total budget" on a single item or project has to be approved by the senate.
Past item expenditures that SGA didn't vote on include money to fund the Web server and funding to allow members of the executive board to go to conferences. However, if these items cost more than 1.5 percent, they would have to be brought before the senate.
Currently, 1.5 percent of SGA's total budget amounts to $708.27. The budget is funded by a $1 per semester as part of student fees.
At its Tuesday meeting, the Student Government Associat-ion passed a resolution recommending the university allow for students to sign up on a list if they do not want their papers to be seen.
This would transfer most of the responsibility of retracting papers from Turnitin from the student to the professor. While professors would still be able to submit student papers to the database, papers that belong to opt-out students would be withdrawn within a week.
Under the previous scenario, a student not wanting his paper on the database would have to tell the professor on a case-by-case basis.
Senator Will Hader, who is against Turnitin, said this is a step forward because it will prevent the student from having to go to the professor every time they want their paper retracted.
"It's still using turnitin.com, but it's at least making it easier on the students that don't want their papers in the databases," he said.
Associate Dean of Students Mike Jungers said the decision for all of a student's papers to be opt-ed out at once is between the university and Turnitin.
"I don't know if there is any way of predicting whether that (an opt-out list) would be agreeable or not," he said.
Senator Alan Fairless, director of research and development said he believes other universities using Turnitin have implemented an opt-out option.
"Certainly it's technologically possible for this to be done," Fairless said. "The only reason it couldn't be done is if turnitin.com was particularly uncooperative."
In other news, SGA decided to endorse Missouri State University's official nickname as "MO State". Senator Ruben Alonzo said this is to help curb confusion as to Missouri State's identity on the national level.
"When I say I go to MSU, people assume Michigan State," Alonzo said. "If I say 'no, maroon and white,' they go 'oh, Mississippi State.'"
Within the university, this endorsement pertains mainly to SGA documents when referring to Missouri State by nickname and spirit organizations, such as the cheerleaders, the Pride Band and Maroon Madness. No alteration of the university's name on official documents or campus signage is expected.
Also, the senate passed a resolution that will make it a requirement that "any expenditures exceeding 1.5 percent of the total budget" on a single item or project has to be approved by the senate.
Past item expenditures that SGA didn't vote on include money to fund the Web server and funding to allow members of the executive board to go to conferences. However, if these items cost more than 1.5 percent, they would have to be brought before the senate.
Currently, 1.5 percent of SGA's total budget amounts to $708.27. The budget is funded by a $1 per semester as part of student fees.
Be the first to comment on this story