Of course Spence brought on the mess himself by stealing others’ academic research and/or writings in the first place, in his 1996 doctoral dissertation--his major academic work as a student--from the University of Toronto. Apparently the jury is still out on whether his Ph.D. will be revoked.
Admits Plagiarizing
Spence admits to using others’ research and writings and including them in his own dissertation without acknowledging where he got those words and passages. In other words, Spence pretended others' research and writings were his own, apparently believing he had found an easy way to get his doctorate.
Selling Books
Ultimately, Spence’s mea culpa last week for his academic plagiarism in 1996 seemed flimsy. His main concern seemed to be garnering sympathy, and promoting two books he supposedly co-wrote with his two children--which apparently will be self-published and, presumably, sold, in the fall of 2013. Each book “contains an admission of his mistakes with plagiarism” (Toronto Star, July 25, 2013).
In light of the book promotion aspect of Spence's sympathy sessions with reporters last week, his motives were questionable at best. Was he really trying to atone for his plagiarism? Or was he using the newspaper interviews to cleverly promote the books he has written with his children? Presumably time will tell if these two books are plagiarized too.
The Great Pretender
These days Spence is still pretending. His claims of being too busy with other projects to do his dissertation in an ethical way, and blaming others for his mistakes, suggest he's pretending that his role in his own plagiarism, in his own doctoral dissertation, was minimal compared to others such as his assistant(s).
As a result, Spence continues to display the poor judgment, lack of character, and lack of professionalism that got him into this quagmire in the first place by cheating and stealing others' research and writings and pretending they were his.
Thankfully, though, unlike Spence, most people with a Ph.D. earn it the old-fashioned way, through their own honesty, diligence, persistence, and hard work.
Limited or Total Responsibility?
Notably, despite Spence's admitted plagiarism in his dissertation, last week he seemed unable or unwilling to unequivocally take full responsibility for his academic theft.
Curiously, while Spence said he wasn’t trying to blame others, and claimed to not have any excuses for stealing others’ work in his dissertation, he blamed others and made excuses anyway.
“I’m not
looking to point fingers, but did I write everything? Absolutely not…When I
look back at the blogs, the speeches, the presentations, I’m going to say that
a large, large percentage, you had support to get some of that work done. But I
recognize that I approved everything, I signed off on everything…I never really
had the kind of time that you need to sit down and put pen to paper…But I don’t
have any excuses. I apologize unreservedly and categorically. I should have
known better” (Chris Spence, Toronto Star, July 25, 2013).
His Work
Sadly, by blaming others for his academic sins, Spence doesn't seem to realize or care that the proverbial buck stops with him as
the stated author of his dissertation. He should have done everything
possible to
ensure the academic integrity of his dissertation and to protect the reputation of his university
where
he was studying. Even if an assistant made mistakes, Spence should have ensured the errors were found and fixed before the dissertation was finalized. After all, the dissertation was his.
Blaming Others Backfired
Ironically, in blaming others and making other excuses, and minimizing his responsibility in this fiasco--presumably to make him look good--Spence actually makes himself look worse: small, petty, and lacking in character. Of course stealing others’ research and writings for his dissertation makes him seem that way too. Maybe this is just the way Chris Spence is, at heart, although he and his supporters don't want to believe that.
Last week Spence had a good chance to show or convince the media, and by extension the public as well, that he really is honorable, despite his academic plagiarism from 1996. Yet, when he blamed subordinates who reported to him and made excuses--even though he claimed to not be doing that--perhaps he really did show his true colors.
Academic Supervisor?
As a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto in 1996 presumably Spence would have had an academic supervisor—likely a full-time faculty professor. Presumably, that professor would have guided Spence through the dissertation process, editing and approving the work at various stages before Spence had his examination to either pass or fail, and receive his Ph.D. or not.
Did Spence’s academic supervisor not detect any irregularities during the writing and research process? Did Spence's academic supervisor notice discrepancies such as possible plagiarism and were they brought to Spence's attention? Did Spence ignore a senior professor's advice to not plagiarize?
Other Plagiarizers
In fairness, Chris Spence is not the first academic to steal others’ works and pretend they were his--as the following two examples show--and he likely won’t be the last.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
One of the most-famous academic plagiarists was the renowned civil rights activist, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was assassinated in Memphis in 1968.
On October 11, 1991 the New York Times reported that a committee of scholars appointed by Boston University concluded, on that day, that King "plagiarized passages in his dissertation for a doctoral degree at the university 36 years ago."
The committee said "there is no question" that King "plagiarized...by appropriating material from sources not explicitly credited in notes, or mistakenly credited, or credited generally and at some distance in the text from a close paraphrase or verbatim quotation" (http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/11/us/boston-u-panel-finds-plagiarism-by-dr-king.html).
The
committee said revoking King’s Ph.D. would serve no purpose.
Dean of Medical School, University of AlbertaIn June 2011 Dr. Philip Baker resigned as Dean of the University of Alberta’s Medical School for plagiarizing a speech he gave at a graduation ceremony at the university. The National Post reported the speech was originally given by a noted surgeon, Atul Gawande, at a convocation address at Stanford University in California.
“The (original) speech was published in The New Yorker magazine last year and many had read it. One graduate said his brother found the original speech on The New Yorker website during the banquet and was following along with Dr. Baker word for word” (http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/06/17/university-of-alberta-medical-school-dean-resigns-after-plagiarizing-speech/).
To steal or not to steal: There really should be no question.
