WHY KAVYAA DESERVES ANOTHER CHANCE

She is too young to be so severely punished

from JoeUser Forums
What can you say of a girl of nineteen who took a single false step. That she is young. That she is ambitious. That she took a short cut to fame. Yes, you can say all this about a young Harvard sophomore called Kavyaaa Viswanathan, She is the only child a doctor parents who trained her from childhood to enter the portals of a great institution of higher learning--Harvard. She is by all accounts a bright, well groomed sophomore. Unfortunately for her her book, How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got aLife which was published recently by Little Brown and Co has strirred by a hornet's nest of intellectual property right issues. Simply put issues referred to as plagarism.

A few weeks back the Harvard Crimson published a story saying that Kaavyaa had lifted certain passages from another young adult writer Megan McCaffert's novels Sloppy First and Second Helping. A perusal of the two books does suggest similarities in language but there is no passage that is a straioght lift from either book. Kaavyaa has stated that she had read the two books by McCaffert and had "internalised her language". She issued a public apology and her publisher Little Brown and Co withdrew all copies of the book. I managed to get a copy as I live in a different country and even here the distributors are withdrawing all copies of her book. Kaavyaa received an advance of 500,000 US $ and she was forced to return that amont. Personally speaking I feel that this young girl has been punished enough. Her name and reputation in tatters, Kavyaa should now be left to purue her studies.

The alarming part of this entire sequence of events is that Harvard University is seriously considering action against her. We do not know what the Deans and Professors of Harvard have in their minds. But this I know that 19 is too tender an age for ones's life to be irrevocably damaged. I appeal to all those concerned to have mercy on that girl. Punisher her if you will. But dont for God's sake damage her forever.
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14,812 views 30 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/003068.htmlLink LINK
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
I agree, this seems like a very minor matter to destroy what is still a child. after all 19 is very young.
Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
If 19 is "too young" to take responsibility in life, then I'd have to say that it's too young to get privileges in life.

Take away her driver's license, and her credit cards. Revoke her rights to drink, smoke, have sex, and vote. We'll give these back to her when she's no longer a child, but rather a mature adult capable of taking responsibility for her actions.

What's a good cut-off age, Bahu? 25? 30? 50?
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
If 19 is "too young" to take responsibility in life, then I'd have to say that it's too young to get privileges in life.

Take away her driver's license, and her credit cards. Revoke her rights to drink, smoke, have sex, and vote. We'll give these back to her when she's no longer a child, but rather a mature adult capable of taking responsibility for her actions.

What's a good cut-off age, Bahu? 25? 30? 50?
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

Plagiarism is a SEVERE offense in the academic community. As it should be. Where plumbers, welders, and other tradesman make a living with their hands and their tools, we make a living with our writing. Harvard is a very prestigious university, and they cannot afford the stain on their reputation that would come with graduating a discovered plagiarist. She deserves a second chance, at a state college, NOT at one of our country's most prestigious universities.

She plagiarized not one, but several sources, and she needs to pay the price for her offense.

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top

I have to parrot Stute on this.  When is a good age?  Alex Haley wrote a fantastic novel, and lifted passages to do so.  ANd was punished.  I dont know if it is pile on, or just further investigation, but the rumors are this is not the only instance.

I would give her the benefit of the doubt.  But if it is not her only transgression, that benefit is revoked.

Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
I would give her the benefit of the doubt.


Not for Harvard admission, Dr. For her writing career, sure (although future works will surely be scrutinized)-- she obviously has talent, and is just lacking in life experience. But her transgression in this case affects more than her own reputation, but that of a noble university. The university needs to take action, if for no other reason than to send the clear message to its other undergrads that this will not be tolerated.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top

But her transgression in this case affects more than her own reputation, but that of a noble university.

That is where we disagree.  I dont think of Harvard as a noble university, but of a petty fifedom of inbred blue bloods that have lost all connection with the real world.  Harsh?  I hope so.  My contempt for them is without bounds.  When they can maintain such cretins as Dershowitz, et. al.

She deserves another chance.  She EARNED her spot in harvard.  The book was not her pass into it.

But I do agree they will not give her another chance.  She is not 'their' type.

Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
She deserves another chance. She EARNED her spot in harvard. The book was not her pass into it.


Did she? That question will always be there. Did she earn her way into Harvard, or did she just plagiarize enough obscure sources to fly beneath the radar?

One of the problems with plagiarism, Dr, is that EVERYTHING is cast into doubt. Her high school work that earned high marks could possibly have been lifted. Granted, she still has to have the standardized test scores, but questions will be and should be asked about her credibility at this point.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Did she earn her way into Harvard, or did she just plagiarize enough obscure sources to fly beneath the radar?


I dont beleive Harvard, or any other institution, uses published work as a criterea of acceptance. But I dont know that. Yes, all her work is suspect, but if you read her work you would see that she "dreamed Bach", she did not lift it.

I am not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Not yet at least.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
I am sure that all of us agree on one thing: she did something unethical and has been punished. She has already paid a heavy price. Now surely a girl of 19 soes deserve another chance. Now she did not cheat to get to Harvard and so here Harvard education is not really the issue. I can see the point of view of those who are extremely harsh. At one level it is an immigrant fairy tale gone sour, horribly sour. Let us leave it at that. She may be old enough to do all the things that stuterish lists, but for masny she is still achild struggling to be an adult. Let her have a chance to redeem herself.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top

Let her have a chance to redeem herself.

Agreed.

Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
Right. I should stop teaching my children not to cheat. Fact is, they can't compete with the others who HAVE and who we readily excuse.

If she violated some obscure school policy, fine, let her have another chance. But plagiarism so fundamentally undermines academic credibility that the discovery of her actions should lead to serious questions as to whether or not she actually earned her shot at Harvard. She will certainly find other universities that will accept her, but Harvard should definitely send her packing.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
Now she did not cheat to get to Harvard and so here Harvard education is not really the issue.


How do you KNOW she didn't cheat to get to Harvard? The fact that she has shown herself willing to cheat leads me to believe it is entirely possible she did. Unless she and her attorneys are willing to resurrect every paper she has written from high school through college and subject it to scrutiny to prove she did not cheat, the questions will remain, in my mind, at least.

Let's put it this way: You catch a thief in the act of robbing a convenience store. He protests it's the first time he's ever stolen ANYTHING? Do you believe him? Doubtful; his credibility's shot!
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
Kavyaa is a gifted writer who as I and many other have said did something terribly bad. She is afterall only 18. Let her get on with her life put this mess behind her and sometime later, older and perhaps wiser, she will write again and may that second novel of her be remembered for what it worth. SDurely 18 is too young to have her dreams just ripped apart. Let her redeem herself and I am sure she will justify our support.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
'child' is getting younger now, having lost a full year of her age during the life of this article~


She is 19 years old and was 17 when the book was written. That how the figures stack up.
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
She was old enough to SIGN the contract, she's old enough to pay the consequences for violating the terms of the contract.

Face it, Bahu, Kaavya is a thief. Not of merchandise, but of ideas. In the same way a shoplifter should be apprehended and taught the error of their ways, so should this young lady. She obviously has the talent to be a professional writer, but if we let her get away with her thievery, as you propose, by doing nothing more than returning the money she gained off of her theft, we have taught her nothing.

We are a nation of laws, and nobody is meant to be above them.
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
I believe she should pay the consequences of her actions and be removed from Harvard (if that is their policy). She has to pay the money back. I think that's enough.

The girl has talent, any college will be glad to have her. In the hopes she will one day be famous and be a donating Alumni.

She is young. I can honestly say I am very glad people showed me mercy when I was 17, 18, and 19 and did outrageous, and yes, illegal things. I always paid for my mistakes, but was fortunate no one ever demanded blood...or worse, my future.

I too believe once Harvard mets out its punishment and she pays back the money...its time to let her move on.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
She is young. I can honestly say I am very glad people showed me mercy when I was 17, 18, and 19 and did outrageous, and yes, illegal things. I always paid for my mistakes, but was fortunate no one ever demanded blood...or worse, my future.


Thats right. She has not sasked for mercy. She has not been a thief . Yes she did take a few phrases which she reworkrd. That is not plagarism. I do not think Harvard will be influenced by the argument that she has plagarised. I think all of us owe it to that young girl to let her move on.
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
Right. She obviously didn't plagiarise, because publishers regularly recall millions of dollars worth of books they've been promoting for no reason whatsoever! They LIKE losing money!

Kaavya should instantly be promoted to editor of the New York Times. Seems like a good fit to me!
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
Kaavya should instantly be promoted to editor of the New York Times. Seems like a good fit


I did not say that. I have always maintained that she did wrong and thast she deserves a chance to redeem herself . Come on that girl is barely an adult. 18 or 19 years and that is too young an age for excecution.
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
Come on that girl is barely an adult. 18 or 19 years and that is too young an age for excecution.


BEING KICKED OUT OF ONE SCHOOL IS NOT AN EXECUTION. Get it?

You make it sound as if she will never have any more chances to work if she is dismissed from Harvard. This is hardly the case; good writing speaks for itself. But so far, she's only received pity; no real punishment.

My 10 year old received a harsher penalty for plagiarism, for crying out loud! I GUARANTEE she'll think twice before doing it again.
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
Bahu, you still have not answered my question.

What age is "too young" to know that plagiarism is wrong?

You seem to think that a 17 year-old girl is too immature to know that plagiarism is wrong. That when a 17 year-old propels themselves to fame and fortune with plagiarism, it's just a "mistake".

At what age did you learn that taking credit for someone else's work was wrong? Were you younger than 17? Older? Do you consider yourself to be a slow learner or a fast learner, when it comes to the morality of lying and cheating? Would you say that most people should be able to figure it out faster, or slower, than you did?

Are you arguing that this girl is morally handicapped who should be given the same free pass we give to physically and mentally handicapped people, in that we don't expect them to function as healthy and responsible adults, and don't punish them when they fall short of that standard?

Or are you arguing that she's in full possession of her moral faculties, and we cannot reasonably expect better moral choices from *any* 17 year-old?
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
What age is "too young" to know that plagiarism is wrong?


Dan Brown also faced similar charges. I have read Holy Blood and Holy Grailand also Da Vinci Codethere are a few similarities in content argument and yes the overall genaral theme as well. However the judge ruled in favor of Dan Brown.
Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top
What age is "too young" to know that plagiarism is wrong?


Dan Brown also faced similar charges. I have read Holy Blood and Holy Grailand also Da Vinci Codethere are a few similarities in content argument and yes the overall genaral theme as well. However the judge ruled in favor of Dan Brown.