Unfair? Unjust? Wrong?

[comletelyanon]

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Situation: In a small class (~60), about 1/4-1/3 of the students had a copy of last year's exam. Problem is this year's was no different from last year's. I know students will always manage to find old copies to use as aids...but things change when it's the exact same test. When you have to purely memorize ~50 items and 10-15 facts about each item, it would sure help to know what to focus on for 50 questions, correct? Well those students had that unfair advantage while the rest of us didn't. It's well known this isn't the time they've had this advantage, but it's the first time with proof and the first time it's such a clear one. While my GPA depends on me alone, my class rank doesn't and that can be very important. That's at best 13 spots that I'm unfair being knocked down.

My goal is to level the playing field and right the old wrongs while remembering the golden rule we've all heard, if not before, during our time in school: DON'T BURN BRIDGES!

Options
1) Join them. Not easy to do because they're well aware of the consequences and because the high school clique-y nature of the class. On the plus side, improves my grade now and in the future
2) Approach the honor guard. a) don't know if they're "in" b) don't want to call more attention to myself (remember the golden rule)
3) Approach the professor - this one's tricky a) the old "life's unfair" bit where he/she does nothing and it doesn't solve either problem. b) prof changes the next exam and announces it to the class. This fails to make up for the past exam although leveling the field. c) prof changes the next exam and stays quiet. This both rights the wrongs and levels the field (those that study hard will still do so; those who expect the old exam, grades suffer) d) retest - if traced back to me, I will have burned every bridge...forever

I cannot leave the situation alone. It's all I can think about. How do i approach it?

 

[AtlasCarraway]

4) Learn the material legitimately -> laugh when they all tank on Step I because they don't know any of the actual substance.

That's a frustrating situation right now though. Certainly there are anonymous ways to try and tip off your honor code reps and/or course directors?

 

[Brain Bucket]

4) Learn the material legitimately -> laugh when they all tank on Step I because they don't know any of the actual substance.

+1

We have the same thing. In the end you'll come out ahead. No one likes a snitch. Even professors.

 

[Smokemont]

Situation: In a small class (~60), about 1/4-1/3 of the students had a copy of last year's exam. Problem is this year's was no different from last year's. I know students will always manage to find old copies to use as aids...but things change when it's the exact same test. When you have to purely memorize ~50 items and 10-15 facts about each item, it would sure help to know what to focus on for 50 questions, correct? Well those students had that unfair advantage while the rest of us didn't. It's well known this isn't the time they've had this advantage, but it's the first time with proof and the first time it's such a clear one. While my GPA depends on me alone, my class rank doesn't and that can be very important. That's at best 13 spots that I'm unfair being knocked down.

My goal is to level the playing field and right the old wrongs while remembering the golden rule we've all heard, if not before, during our time in school: DON'T BURN BRIDGES!

Options
1) Join them. Not easy to do because they're well aware of the consequences and because the high school clique-y nature of the class. On the plus side, improves my grade now and in the future
2) Approach the honor guard. a) don't know if they're "in" b) don't want to call more attention to myself (remember the golden rule)
3) Approach the professor - this one's tricky a) the old "life's unfair" bit where he/she does nothing and it doesn't solve either problem. b) prof changes the next exam and announces it to the class. This fails to make up for the past exam although leveling the field. c) prof changes the next exam and stays quiet. This both rights the wrongs and levels the field (those that study hard will still do so; those who expect the old exam, grades suffer) d) retest - if traced back to me, I will have burned every bridge...forever

I cannot leave the situation alone. It's all I can think about. How do i approach it?

Send an anonymous tip to your dean of academic affairs (or just go talk to them). This is unacceptable. Stand up and do what's right.

 

[ruralsurg4now]

I cannot leave the situation alone. It's all I can think about. How do i approach it?

I'd just tell the professor. It's silly that you're worried about burning bridges when there are no bridges. These guys only care about themselves. It's one thing when everyone has the old tests (which rarely happens), but it's another thing when a few lucky people or some hot girl gets tests given to them by upper years (which always happens). If they were looking out for the whole class -- and this would still be totally unethical, but at least it would be "fair" -- they'd give everyone the material. I don't know about your classmates, but when there were rumors someone was cheating in our class, we all ostracized them.

 

[mcloaf]

If your classmates weren't d-bags they'd have shared the old info with everybody in the first place and put it on dropbox or something. As such, I wouldn't be that worried about burning bridges with them.

Why not contact the professor without naming names of who has the old material? It sounds like 2/3-3/4 of the class will be on your side anyway.

 

[witzelsucht]

anonymous email to admin is probably best. theres usually some pretty nerdy/smart stats guys on faculty and youd be amazed what they can distill form the data. under no circumstances should you do any sort of confrontation or non-anonymized reporting

 

[Slack3r]

At our school, it's considered an honor code violation to have old test materials (since none of our tests are returned to us). I'm sure it would likely be viewed similarly at your school.

Anonymous reporting is the way to go, if you're that concerned about it.

 

[yehhhboiii]

sounds like your professor needs to take his job more seriously

 

[Wordead]

Yo, a chance to cutthroat 1/3 of your class? Holla back youngin, woo woo

 

[Unzbuzzled]

Situation: In a small class (~60), about 1/4-1/3 of the students had a copy of last year's exam. Problem is this year's was no different from last year's. I know students will always manage to find old copies to use as aids...but things change when it's the exact same test. When you have to purely memorize ~50 items and 10-15 facts about each item, it would sure help to know what to focus on for 50 questions, correct? Well those students had that unfair advantage while the rest of us didn't. It's well known this isn't the time they've had this advantage, but it's the first time with proof and the first time it's such a clear one. While my GPA depends on me alone, my class rank doesn't and that can be very important. That's at best 13 spots that I'm unfair being knocked down.

My goal is to level the playing field and right the old wrongs while remembering the golden rule we've all heard, if not before, during our time in school: DON'T BURN BRIDGES!

Options
1) Join them. Not easy to do because they're well aware of the consequences and because the high school clique-y nature of the class. On the plus side, improves my grade now and in the future
2) Approach the honor guard. a) don't know if they're "in" b) don't want to call more attention to myself (remember the golden rule)
3) Approach the professor - this one's tricky a) the old "life's unfair" bit where he/she does nothing and it doesn't solve either problem. b) prof changes the next exam and announces it to the class. This fails to make up for the past exam although leveling the field. c) prof changes the next exam and stays quiet. This both rights the wrongs and levels the field (those that study hard will still do so; those who expect the old exam, grades suffer) d) retest - if traced back to me, I will have burned every bridge...forever

I cannot leave the situation alone. It's all I can think about. How do i approach it?

Either way, you should get ahold of the old tests just to have the practice.