Students Turn Up Software Protest

Newcastle Herald

Friday August 11, 2006

By MATTHEW KELLY Education Reporter

UNIVERSITY of Newcastle students will meet today to discuss concerns about the use of the anti-plagiarism software Turnitin.

The software, which requires students to test the originality of their written work against a global database, has been in use at the university since late 2004.

Student opposition to the software prompted the Newcastle University Student Association to launch the Turnitoff campaign last year.

The association's education officer, Megan Clement, said the university's use of the software had been inconsistent.

"It's compulsory in some faculties but not in others," she said.

"Students also don't feel it has been properly explained to them."

There are also concerns about the accuracy of the software and its ability to be manipulated.

A recent report to the university's council said Turnitin had significantly helped reduce the incidence of plagiarism at the university.

But USbased plagiarism expert Professor Donald McCabe, who visited Newcastle last year, said the software had the potential to destroy trust between staff and students.

© 2006 Newcastle Herald

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