# Girl who sued school to be valdictorian caught plagarizing. Hee. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 6, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055 "2003-06-06T12:03:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/101 "2003-06-10T16:11:43Z")
[Tom Lehr] Don’t shade your eyes. That’s why God made your eyes. So, plagiarize, plagiarize, plagiarize. But please be so kind as to call it … _research_. [/Tom Lehr] ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/102 "2003-06-10T16:50:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Achernar \* > \*\*I don’t _think_ anyone has linked to this yet. I found an article that gives excerpts from her works, and the pre-existing works. At least people can stop guessing about what exactly she said: > > [http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--valedictorian-exc0604jun04,0,7747250.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire](http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--valedictorian-exc0604jun04,0,7747250.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire) > > I wanted to believe that the story was overblown, but I have to admit, it doesn’t look good. \*\* That is really damning. I don’t know of anyone who could crib that much, that badly and not know exactly what they were doing. Frankly, her trying to blow this off as normal makes me much less likely to believe her about all of the other things. ---
**Author:** ![Quantum\_Butterfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e79b87/32.png) [@Quantum\_Butterfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quantum_Butterfly)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/103 "2003-06-10T17:37:27Z")
::reads website with sad shaking of head:: And none of her teachers caught her at this before? ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/104 "2003-06-10T18:00:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NinjaChick \* > \*\*It does, actually. The two state requirements (curriculum-wise) in public schools in NJ are 4 years of English, and 4 years of PE. \*\* Hey, they could have neatly combined the two core requirements in the case of this young lady and offered her a course entitled, \*\* Stretchin’ and Kvetchin’ With The Hits \*\*. 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/105 "2003-06-11T07:10:58Z")
Getting back to the “sole valedictorian” issue: **They did not try to take the valedictorianship away from her. They merely asked her to share it.** > [@](#): > > “A lot of people in Moorestown are really privileged and self-centered about it,” said Katie Thomas, Blair’s former moot court partner. “Blair’s not like that. She’s always trying to help other people.” If she’s such a bloody saint, you’d think she’d be capable of saying to [guy who’s name I can’t remember], “I would be honored to share the valedictorianship with you”. What she has done is the very essence of being “self-centered”. BTW: **NinjaChick** , she lives in **Moores** town, not Morristown. Just out of curiosity, what is this “next town over” in which you live? I was born at Morristown General Hospital, lived in Denville until age 14, and would have gone to Morris Knolls if my dad hadn’t gotten transferred. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/106 "2003-06-11T08:27:31Z")
Looks like her/her dad’s efforts are relatively in vain. What a waste. [http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/6060620.htm](http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/6060620.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/107 "2003-06-11T11:02:06Z")
> [@](#): > > “… The hostile environment at the school has traumatized Blair both physically and emotionally, to the point that she cannot and will not attend the graduation ceremonies,” states Jacobs’ letter to John B. Comegno II, lawyer for the board. Poor baby… :wally ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/108 "2003-06-11T16:13:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Hornstine is scheduled to attend Harvard University in the fall along with Kenneth Mirkin, the Moorestown Class of 2003 salutatorian who joined the school board’s legal battle to earn a share of the valedictory honor. Perhaps Mr. Mirkin would be interested in securing a position on the staff of Harvard’s student newspaper. In any case, I think Hornstine will find college academic standards to be far too hostile, and will drop out after a lawsuit alledging that she should be the sole recipient of an “A” in her freshman English class. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/109 "2003-06-11T18:44:27Z")
So, after all the time and money and problems she caused, she skips out of graduation? So now what does the school do? Good god, what a brat. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/110 "2003-06-11T20:26:04Z")
**Guin** I agree. It shows she and her family have no character whatsoever. If my kid was caught plagarizing, you’d bet they would be made to attend the graduation ceremonies. If this were my child, I’d probably make her child take out a page in the newspaper to write a public apology to the school, school board and family. And, she would not allowed to be top grad honors. She would not deserve it. Can a school revoke a diploma have allegations damning as these surface? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/111 "2003-06-11T20:42:08Z")
Wow, I’m amazed at the amount of hatred and bile directed at this girl. It is entirely possible that she is just a messed up teenager with self-esteem problems and overbearing parents, and she’s being treated like she took a crap in your collective mouths. God knows there aren’t any other messed up teenagers out there, so let’s rip into this one. Sure she’s a snot, but c’mon people, a little perspective. ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/112 "2003-06-11T21:19:07Z")
Well, there are messed up teenagers, and then there messed up rich, selfish, cheating, lying teenagers who sue their schools for millions of dollars in spurious lawsuits. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/113 "2003-06-11T22:00:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hamlet \* > \*\*Wow, I’m amazed at the amount of hatred and bile directed at this girl. It is entirely possible that she is just a messed up teenager with self-esteem problems and overbearing parents, and she’s being treated like she took a crap in your collective mouths. God knows there aren’t any other messed up teenagers out there, so let’s rip into this one. > > Sure she’s a snot, but c’mon people, a little perspective. \*\* Do you have any evidence that she is a victim here? Because there’s plenty of evidence that she’s the bad guy, such as the plagiarizing, the lazy research, the lying, the fraud, and the shallow apology. What evidence do you have that she’s so put-upon? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/114 "2003-06-12T00:39:32Z")
She’s caused a shitload of a trouble-all because she wouldn’t share. She’s plagarized, and then when caught with her pants down, so to speak, she said, “Ooops! I didn’t know! My bad!” She’s smart enough to be validictorian, and to get into Harvard-and she didn’t know any better? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/115 "2003-06-12T09:47:05Z")
It gets even worse. Now her lawyer has sent a letter citing the hostility towards her as a reason _she won’t even be attending the graduation. And she still want’s to be acknowledged as valedictorian!_ [http://www.philly.con/mld/dailynews/local/6060620.htm](http://www.philly.con/mld/dailynews/local/6060620.htm) ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/116 "2003-06-12T11:06:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hamlet \* > \*\*Wow, I’m amazed at the amount of hatred and bile directed at this girl. It is entirely possible that she is just a messed up teenager with self-esteem problems and overbearing parents, and she’s being treated like she took a crap in your collective mouths. God knows there aren’t any other messed up teenagers out there, so let’s rip into this one. > > Sure she’s a snot, but c’mon people, a little perspective. \*\* This is just MHO, so please don’t take this as being a collective opinion from everyone in the thread. The reason I dislike Miss Hornstine isn’t because she’s “messed up” or has overbearing parents. We don’t know that those things are even true. The reason I dislike her is because she’s throwing a huge 'ol temper tantrum at the expense of her school, its reputation, and its wallet. And now that she’s been caught plagiarizing, she’s getting the treatment she so richly deserves. Everyone likes a good comeuppance, and that’s exactly what this is. If you were ever student, you’ve had the concept of academic honesty drilled into your head since kindergarten. Don’t copy from your neighbor’s test; don’t copy homework; and above all, **cite what you quote**. Most of us have learned these lessons quite well. She obviously didn’t. And now that she’s having to face the music and live up to her “mistake”, she can’t even do that. She wrote a non-apology in the local paper, and she’s got a zillion “spokespeople” going to great lengths to make sure we know that poor Blair is a “victim”. The only way Blair is a “victim” is that she victimized herself. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/117 "2003-06-12T11:55:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Baker \* > \*\*It gets even worse. Now her lawyer has sent a letter citing the hostility towards her as a reason _she won’t even be attending the graduation. And she still want’s to be acknowledged as valedictorian!_ > [http://www.philly.con/mld/dailynews/local/6060620.htm](http://www.philly.con/mld/dailynews/local/6060620.htm) \*\* Not attending is probably a wise idea, since she’d likely be booed off the stage. **Hamlet** while some of the more intense vitriol isn’t quite justified, the girl has certainly earned some scorn. She was asked to _share_ the distinction (which is getting more and more common these days) with a student who was an active part of the school community. She could have been gracious, but instead she litigated so it could be all about _her_ (she got what she wished for). Stripping the otherwise deserving co-valdictorian of the honor. All she had to do was share the spotlight for a day. With frivolous lawsuits in the news (like “McDonalds made me fat”) the public is showing their disdain. People were disgusted with her well-before her plagiarism was known – now it’s just icing on the cake for those who already think she and her parents are overbearing and self-centered. At age 11, I did a lot of public speaking. “No room for footnotes” there either, but I understood the importance of attributing quotes and knew I could be barred from competition if I “plagiarized” even by accident. The examples of her work are pretty damning. I can’t imagine any highschool senior not knowing better. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/118 "2003-06-12T13:05:10Z")
MsRobyn is pretty much speaking for me as well. Its nice to see the cosmic karma machine at work - I have faith that its there, but it shows itself so infrequently. And its especially nice to see it at work when the initial harm was to egos and monetary. I feel the same way about dear old Martha Stewart, but can’t bring myself to feel the same way about cosmic karma coming after serial killers or pedophiles. There is a certain joy is someone who was just being an ass getting theirs, there is no joy in someone who was far more than an ass receiving justice. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/119 "2003-06-12T16:27:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eats\_Crayons \* > \*\*Not attending is probably a wise idea, since she’d likely be booed off the stage. \*\* That’s exactly what the students were planning, according to [this article](http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/6067724.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/120 "2003-06-12T16:52:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeep’s Phoenix \* > \*\*That’s exactly what the students were planning, according to [this article](http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/6067724.htm). \*\* God, what a driveling, whimpering, sappy article. I’m reminded of Bart doing the “Bart’s People” segment on the Simpsons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055.md?page=7)