Beth Bliss

 "Who are you cheating off of today?" was the question I heard between two of my classmates as we prepared to take an exam. I thought perhaps that this was a sarcastic exchange indicative of the shared stress over the exam. But my classmates were being quite literal, and proceeded to strategically sit next to friends willing to let them copy their answer sheets, pulling out every stop to avoid detection by an oblivious exam proctor.

 I was disgusted with the entire process. Needless to say, the temptation to cheat has struck me on more than one occasion, but nevertheless the slight bit of integrity I hold has never allowed me to cheat on an exam, let alone broadcast the ignorant fact that I was thinking about doing so. Cheating is no longer "cheating," complete with sly glances on the paper next to yours. It has become an activity seldom thought of, one done automatically and without much guilt or regret.

 I have been described as the typical "motivated student." Since kindergarten, this has been my label, and I have supplemented that label with honors classes and scholarships. Maybe this is why I don't understand the desire or need to cheat; or maybe grades have nothing to do with it and I'm just not that cowardly and lazy. In any case, the finger must be pointed, because cheating has reached insurmountable levels—which I consider unacceptable at this stage of the educational game.

 On whose shoulders can the problem rest? Students who casually look at each other's work may blame the stress of college academia. One student may take a 18-hour courseload and think, "I can't do it all. Professors are crazy to think that I can. I have the right to cheat." This assumption may also be used in core curriculum classes; many students declare these courses as wastes of time, and abuse them accordingly.

 Such is the mindset of the ignorant. I continuously meet students who have come to college not to learn, not to earn a degree symbolic of years of work, but to land the almighty "good job" after graduation. In other words, "I don't want to work fast food, so I may as well spend $5000 per year to slack off and earn something I don't deserve." This is a foolish reason to come to any institution of supposedly higher learning; this is a high school attitude. Our federal government has made great advances in student loan programs; more students attend college today than ever before. Social barriers have been broken; remember, there were times when women weren't encouraged to go to college, and some minorities were refused admittance. We are the lucky ones, as they say. Why would you throw that opportunity away? Isn't college supposed to be more than a piece of paper and a few drunken memories?

 But the blame cannot be directed at cheaters alone. Students who share answers have an equally carefree and unethical outlook and take themselves as off-handedly as cheaters, if not more so. I don't study simply to share the wealth with the person next to me, who had better things to do than prepare for an exam—not even my closest friends deserve that luxury.

 I know there is no clear solution to the cheating problem, but I think the greatest responsibility rests with these answer-providers. Since elementary school we have been ordered not to tattle, but I for one am tired of keeping my mouth closed. Is anyone else angered by the fact that so many students cheat and utilize unfair advantages? This may not affect a curve on a test, so you may not care. But why should cheaters prosper when the rest of us rely on our own brain power and actually earn our academic standings?

 Call me a nerd if you like; I don't care. School can get to me, but I feel lucky to be here. I study; I read books; I love to write research papers, because I like learning and I know I won't be here for long. I'd also like to leave Appalachian State University with more than a degree—I'd like to leave with skills, which will truly get me a "good job."

 As for you—my cheating classmates—I won't turn you in, because sadly I don't know your names. But I pose this question: if you cheat in college to get ahead, in your pursuit of the "good job," will you extort money from your future employer because it's just so easy to do? Will you stab co-workers in the back, stealing their ideas to impress the boss?

 "No! A job is something serious—I could get fired."

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