— Honesty — March 1977 —
In March of 1977, I had an experience which I have reflected upon many times. I was working as a laboratory assistant in the organic chemistry lab of Dr. Broadbent during my senior year at Brigham Young University. I had a small office in one of the labs near Dr. Broadbent’s office. He would often send organic chemistry students into my lab to take make-up examinations. One particular day, a student with whom I was well acquainted was sent to my lab to take an important make-up examination. I was studying across the table from this student as he took his test. I noticed that he kept bowing his head, covering his forehead with his hand, and looking surreptitiously toward his lap. Being of a suspicious nature, I nonchalantly arose from my chair, walked over and obtained a small mirror, and returned to my seat. I placed the mirror between legs and angled it such that I could see under the table and toward this student’s lap. As I had suspected, he had several note cards in his lap from which he was obtaining answers for questions on the exam. He soon completed his exam and left. Now I was confronted with a serious dilemma. Should I inform Dr. Broadbent or not? This student knew me well and he would obviously know who his accuser was. He was a pre-dental student and a good grade in his organic chemistry class was crucial to his grade-point average and dental school application process. I was well aware that Dr. Broadbent gave automatic failures to students found cheating in his classes. All these factors weighed upon my mind, but I also realized this student was being unfair to the other students who were just as concerned about grades as he was, and he was being unfair to himself. I decided to inform Dr. Broadbent and my worst fears were realized. The student admitted that he had cheated on the exam, he was dismissed from the class with a failing grade, and he snubbed me from that moment on. I don’t know what eventually happened to this young man, but I’m sure this was a devastating experience for him, as it was a sobering one for me. I have wondered many times since if I did the right thing, but I felt then and feel now that my actions were justified because of my obligation to the other students in the class and also to the profession he hoped to enter.
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