Merriss: The Meehan I know
Issue date: 8/30/07 Section: Opinion
Very rarely do you meet a person who everyone likes, someone who everyone agrees with and even more rarely do you meet someone who is perfect. Although, that is what many people have expected from JSU President Dr. Bill Meehan.
Personally, I have known Dr. Meehan for over eight years and he has always been someone I have looked up to. Not because I believe him to be perfect, but because I respect him as a friend, a mentor and as the leader of our university.
Even in light of the ongoing plagiarism fiasco, I have no doubt that Dr. Meehan is the best person for the job. I believe he had no prior knowledge of what was being done. Upon being presented with the evidence, Dr. Meehan took responsibility and admitted he was wrong in his actions of not checking the source of what had been ghostwritten for him. To me, that is something a strong leader should do.
Some members of the faculty are unsure of how this should be handled and yes, there are issues of what to tell students who would like to do the same but not be disciplined. My answer for them? Get to be President of Jacksonville State University and then we can talk about it.
Ghostwriting is something that has been around for a very long time and seriously, does anyone really believe that a busy person, such as Dr. Meehan has nothing better to do than sit in his office and think up weekly column topics or maybe fact checking everything that crosses his desk?
Like I expressed before, Dr. Meehan is someone that I have always looked up to and his actions in this matter only make me respect him more.
Many have focused so much on this one incident, it seems they have forgotten all the great things he has done for this university.
Thank you, Dr. Meehan, for showing us not only is it okay to be wrong but admitting when you are wrong is probably the best medicine for a bad situation.
Toni Merriss is the Editor In Chief of The Chanticleer. She can be reached at (256) 782-5701 or at chantyeditor@gmail.com.
Personally, I have known Dr. Meehan for over eight years and he has always been someone I have looked up to. Not because I believe him to be perfect, but because I respect him as a friend, a mentor and as the leader of our university.
Even in light of the ongoing plagiarism fiasco, I have no doubt that Dr. Meehan is the best person for the job. I believe he had no prior knowledge of what was being done. Upon being presented with the evidence, Dr. Meehan took responsibility and admitted he was wrong in his actions of not checking the source of what had been ghostwritten for him. To me, that is something a strong leader should do.
Some members of the faculty are unsure of how this should be handled and yes, there are issues of what to tell students who would like to do the same but not be disciplined. My answer for them? Get to be President of Jacksonville State University and then we can talk about it.
Ghostwriting is something that has been around for a very long time and seriously, does anyone really believe that a busy person, such as Dr. Meehan has nothing better to do than sit in his office and think up weekly column topics or maybe fact checking everything that crosses his desk?
Like I expressed before, Dr. Meehan is someone that I have always looked up to and his actions in this matter only make me respect him more.
Many have focused so much on this one incident, it seems they have forgotten all the great things he has done for this university.
Thank you, Dr. Meehan, for showing us not only is it okay to be wrong but admitting when you are wrong is probably the best medicine for a bad situation.
Toni Merriss is the Editor In Chief of The Chanticleer. She can be reached at (256) 782-5701 or at chantyeditor@gmail.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
James J.
posted 8/31/07 @ 5:00 PM CST
I don't doubt that Meehan is a good man and a great president - and I actually tend to think plagiarism is a bit over-stigmatized - but the University needs to have a clear policy on ghostwriting and plagiarism among its staff and enforce it consistently. (Continued…)
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