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Fishy carp letter raises plagiarism questions
State Rep. Mike Skindell, D-Lakewood, wanted to call attention to the potential environmental disaster of Asian carp invading the Great Lakes. But in doing so he lifted material verbatim from multiple sources without attributing it.
Skindell, a lawyer, used the plagiarized material in a two-page letter he sent Tuesday, Dec. 8, to Gov. Ted Strickland and Attorney General Richard Cordray. Thirteen of fellow House members co-signed the letter.
An entire paragraph was taken from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website on Asian carp. Skindell defended the use, saying those exact 60-words were a “commonly used description of a carp.”
“It’s throughout everything you read,” Skindell said. “I saw it throughout a number of sources.”
Journalism professors, however, say that’s a load of carp.
“Certainly in the world of academics and journalism, it’s plagiarism,” said Tom O’Hara, former managing editor of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer who is now an adviser to The Lantern, a student newspaper at Ohio State University. “We’re certainly not in the business of lifting large chunks of other people’s work verbatim and calling it our own.”
Tim Smith, a journalism professor and lawyer at Kent State University, agreed. He noted that Vice President Joe Biden once dropped out of a presidential race after being caught plagiarizing.
The following is a side by side comparison of Skindell’s letter and other sources on Asian carp found online.
SKINDELL LETTER: Asian Carp are a significant threat to the Great Lakes because they are large, extremely prolific, and consume vast amounts of food. They can weigh up to 100 pounds and can grow to a length of more than four feet. They are well-suited to the climate of the Great Lakes region, which is similar to their native Asian habitats.
U.S. EPA WEBSITE: Asian Carp are a significant threat to the Great Lakes because they are large, extremely prolific, and consume vast amounts of food. They can weigh up to 100 pounds, and can grow to a length of more than four feet. They are well-suited to the climate of the Great Lakes region, which is similar to their native Asian habitats.
SKINDELL LETTER: Moreover, following treatment of the waterway with rotenone last week, bighead Asian carp was found in the CSSC just above the Lockport Lock and Dam. This is the first physical specimen that has been found in the CSSC since eDNA testing earlier this year suggested the presence of Asian carp in the area.
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES BLOG: The Asian Carp Rapid Response Workgroup announced this evening that a bighead Asian carp was found in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) just above the Lockport Lock and Dam. This is the first physical specimen that has been found in the CSSC since eDNA testing earlier this year suggested the presence of Asian carp in the area.
SKINDELL LETTER: As you may know, bighead and silver Asian carp are in the Illinois River, which is connected to the Great Lakes by way of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC). In 2004, an experimental electrical barrier designed to repel fish was placed in the waterway to lessen the threat of an Asian Carp invasion.
U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE FACT SHEET: Bighead and silver carp are in the Illinois River, which is connected to the Great Lakes via the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Asian carp pose the greatest immediate threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem. An electrical barrier designed to repel fish was placed in the waterway.
SKINDELL LETTER: Urge the Army Corps of Engineers to take additional actions to protect the Great Lakes, including the completion of the second portion of the electrical barrier, full utilization of the existing barrier now operating at minimal levels, creating a physical barrier to block carp from entering via other waterways during times of flood and using all existing congressional authorities to block the carp’s entry;
MICHIGAN GOV. JENNIFER GRANHOLM’S OFFICE: Recently, Lt. Governor Cherry wrote the Undersecretary of the Army to urge additional actions to protect the Great Lakes, including the completion of the second portion of the new barrier, full utilization of the existing barrier now operating at minimal levels, creating a physical barrier to block carp from entering via other waterways during flooding, and using all existing congressional authorities to block the carp’s entry.
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Comments
By Scott
December 10, 2009 9:01 PM | Link to this
One question: Who cares?
By Philman
December 9, 2009 6:00 AM | Link to this
well Skindell will be glad to know after he leaves his govt. job , the New York Times will be holding a position for him, they have had more reporters busted for the very same reason..