USM Professor Apologizes for Plagiarizing Student’s Thesis
She is no longer a faculty member at the University of Southern Mindanao.
(SPOT.ph) With so much talk surrounding the pros and cons of artificial intelligence lately, a development has come to remind us that we don't even need technology to pass off another's work as your own—as seen in the case of this English Language and Literature professor.
Riceli C. Mendoza, a former faculty member at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Cotabato, has issued a public apology for plagiarizing the thesis of her advisee, Jemima M. Atok, a graduate of AB English.
The apology was posted on Facebook by the USM’s Department of English Language and Literature on May 6. It is unclear exactly what happened, only that Mendoza was a professor at the department and tried to claim Atok's work.
Mendoza acknowledged the “emotional pain” she caused to Atok and her family.
"I am very sorry to publish your thesis in my name. I am truly sorry that I failed to recognize you as the author and the owner of the published paper/article. Instead, I claimed it as my own,” Mendoza said in the statement. "I honestly acknowledge my fault and rest assured that this may never happen again in the history of academic endeavor. I earnestly implore your forgiveness.”
Since posting, the statement has received over 25,000 reactions and 15,000 shares on Facebook. SPOT.ph has also reached out to Atok for comments but have received no reply as of writing.
What we know so far about the plagiarism incident at University of South Cotabato
USM's Department of English Language and Literature has officially addressed the situation in a statement a few hours following Mendoza's apology.
They explained that Mendoza's act of publishing the thesis under her own name was done without the knowledge or consent of the department, with the issue only coming to light after a formal complaint was filed against her.
In response to the complaint, Mendoza agreed to publicly apologize as a precondition set by the complainant. They urged the public to refrain from speculating further, pointing out that the parties involved have reached a mutually acceptable settlement.
"The posting of the apology letter on the Department's page is the pre-condition of the complainant to desist to which the respondent agreed," the statement read. "Therefore, while the post will remain on the page, we encourage the public to cease formulating their own facts."
According to USM’s website, Mendoza was a former faculty regent and quality assurance director of the USM. She was also among the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines, Inc.’s (AACCUP) Board of Trustees from 2020 to 2023.
On the other hand, Atok appears to be a current part-time instructor at USM since 2021 based on her LinkedIn profile.
Many of Mendoza’s former students took to the comments to express support for the teacher, noting that “to others you are bad, but you have done so much for us.” Others weren’t so forgiving.
The comments section shows a wide range of opinions, to say the least.
Also read: EXPLAINER: Can You Go to Jail for Plagiarism in the Philippines?
What does the law say about plagiarism in the Philippines?
In a 2012 advisory, the Department of Justice (DOJ) explained plagiarism as the “deliberate and knowing presentation of another person’s original ideas or creative expressions as one’s own.” It’s an act of intellectual dishonesty that is particularly serious in fields that value originality, like academics and the arts. The Supreme Court requires evidence of "deliberate intent" to confirm plagiarism.
Although plagiarism is not a crime under the Intellectual Property Code (IPC) unless it also constitutes copyright infringement, the implications can still be significant. Copyright laws protect original works for 50 years after the creator's death, but there’s no time limit on the protection against plagiarism. However, once a work is in the public domain after those 50 years, it's free for anyone to use.
In instances where plagiarism does overlap with copyright infringement, the law is strict. Penalties range from fines of P50,000 to P150,000 and imprisonment for a first offense, escalating to fines up to P1,500,000 and longer jail terms for repeated offenses.
In academic settings, plagiarism can lead to severe non-legal consequences such as loss of credibility, academic sanctions, expulsion from educational institutions, and damage to one’s professional reputation.
Also read: Is It Ethical for Students to Use ChatGPT? We Ask a University Professor
UPDATED (May 8, 2024): This article has been updated to include the Department of English Language and Literature's statement on the issue.