What’s so bad about cheating? Come on admit it. Most of us have committed some form of academic dishonesty. Here is the problem. Practicing such fraudulent behavior inhibits the growth of personal integrity, an attribute sought in any career field and by any employer.

As students of Fresno State, we want to be proud of our educational experience. It is important that every student benefit from the knowledge each instructor has to offer. When students dodge workloads by cheating they miss out on useful information for future success. After all, aren’t we paying for this education? Not only does academic dishonesty negatively affect the individual but also the instructor, other classmates and the schools reputation.

What are our priorities as students? Is our focus to gain a degree or to become inspired students with a desire to learn? Individuals with underdeveloped qualities such as reliability, assertiveness, self-discipline and persistence, deficient characteristics with most cheaters, likely will struggle with substantial work ethics within their professional careers. However, internally driven students who develop characteristics such as person integrity have higher chances of obtaining leadership positions and promotional opportunities.

Why do I care about cheating? I care because I have not always been academically honest. I can say that I have struggled with laziness and have found excitement through the art of deception. As a transfer student, I had answers to every test question for two of my classes and one fully completed class project within the first month of attendance. Thanks Greeks.

The amount of academic dishonesty within the fraternity and sorority system is atrocious. Teachers, the creation of new tests each semester is crucial. Too many instructors reuse old tests or projects and expect students to not have copies. Trust me, students have copies! The use of anti-plagiarism sites such as turnitin.com can also discourage the temptation. Remember “educators,” lazy teachers produce lazy students.

Academically dishonest students also damage a school’s reputation. Poor performance from graduates suggests to employers that Fresno State produces inadequate employees. In all honesty, this school has some damn good programs and many dedicated instructors who work hard to make this an excellent educational experience. Let’s not let them down.

Because the issue goes beyond the act of cheating the real question remains, why do we cheat? What is the cause? Is it status, laziness, not enough time, difficulty or just the enjoyment of the act? It’s all of the above. But let’s be honest with ourselves. As individuals we all struggle with issues such as lack of self-confidence, poor behavior patterns, offset priorities, under developed study habits, substance abuse, internal emotional trials and limited resources. Matters such as these are more closely related to the cause of academic dishonesty. But mostly, it is pure laziness.

It’s no secret. As peers, we know the dedicated students around us. It’s pretty obvious who knows the information and who doesn’t. And it is the same with instructors. Students and other faculty recognize educators who truly know their subjects and strive to help students better understand the material. So if everyone already knows, who’s left to fool? And who’s really foolin’ who?