In the Shadows

I read an article called "The Shadow Scholar" today. It was a full confession/report from a man who assumes the name Ed Dante for the purposes of this article. Dante earns money by writing papers for students all over the United States. He writes term papers, research papers, homework assignments, you name it, for his paying undergraduates, graduates, and sometimes, as he claims, those who are working towards their Ph.D.

Yes, it seems like Dante thinks very highly of himself as he boasts of his capability to write 75-page papers in ridiculous amounts of times, but the gist of the article is so disturbing. Dante takes no responsibility for his contributions to these ever-growing now-commercialized cheating rings, but he acknowledges that what he does is wrong. He simply reports the truth of the matter; he isn't slapping anybody on the wrists. But he brings up a valid point. Who is to blame?

It is our society. Like I have mentioned before, people use the excuse that the ends justify the means. We do what it takes to "succeed." But how do we define success? By the A+s we get on a report card? Or by how much we learn? By how much money we make? Or by how much love and support we have amongst family and friends. What is success?

By today's standards, success means winning, earning money, and getting good grades, depending on what age you are. Even teachers use Dante and other people like him, which just goes to show you that the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree.

So how do we stop cheating?

Well, that's the million-dollar question.