# 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:** 16\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/121 "2003-06-12T17:26:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*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). \*\* Huh? In the article that **Phoenix** provides the link to, it says: > [@](#): > > In a letter dated Tuesday, Hornstine’s attorney, Edwin Jacobs Jr., told school officials that “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.” What’s with “traumatized both _physically_ and emotionally”? Emotionally, I understand. I may not agree with it - others reading this may or may not agree - but I can understand the claim being made, and see that it’s at least arguable. But traumatized **physically**? Wouldn’t that mean that someone has assualted her - provided a physical injury? The article makes no mention of this happening, and I would think they would! Am I misunderstanding what “physical trauma” means, or is there information I’m not aware of, or is this just BS from Hornstine’s attorney? ---
**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 12, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/122 "2003-06-12T17:31:50Z")
I was going to say the same thing, **NE Texan** , but then I figured that by “physically” they mean she was pushed around a little in school, taunted, bullied, that sort of thing. There doesn’t need to be physical injury for there to be physical trauma, I would think. ---
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/123 "2003-06-12T18:06:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*I was going to say the same thing, **NE Texan** , but then I figured that by “physically” they mean she was pushed around a little in school, taunted, bullied, that sort of thing. There doesn’t need to be physical injury for there to be physical trauma, I would think. \*\* I could see that, except… isn’t the whole point of this that she isn’t physically in school? How would any of that happen? ---
**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 12, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/124 "2003-06-12T18:14:53Z")
She’s at home for some classes, I thought, not all. ---
**Author:** ![lachesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@lachesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lachesis)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/125 "2003-06-12T18:39:57Z")
maybe the poor dear developed ulcers because of all the upset. no, she’s probably stricken with insomnia. or, wait! i’ll bet she’s developed _hives_, the delicate little thing. (that’s the only type of physical trauma i can conceive of in a situation like this.) and yes, as a matter of fact, i **DO** enjoy indulging in sarcasm whenever possible. ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/126 "2003-06-12T19:16:52Z")
I think it said she attended school for her morning classes and was tutored for the afternoon classes which were done at home. Also, I don’t think he meant that she was physically harmed at school. I interpreted the lawyer’s statement to mean that the stress of this all caused her emotional suffering and may have aggravated her “medical condition”. What do you want to bet she sues the school for this as well? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/127 "2003-06-13T00:36:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Saying he had received no response to an earlier letter, Jacobs wrote: “I assume the Board of Education intends to take no action to reduce current tensions at the high school and ensure a civil graduation ceremony.” :rolleyes: On top of everything else, it’s up to them to stop everyone from hating her? ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/128 "2003-06-17T07:45:13Z")
She went to homeroom most semesters, and to debate class for some semesters. Otherwise she was homeschooled. On several blogs where people claiming to be fellow students posted, they all said things like “she’s not going to be at graduation” anyway, as though this trip was planned some time ago. Various blogs also had “mothers” claiming, loudly, that “Blair did not get extra time on her SAT!” even though no one had made that assertion… funny, huh? Basically, she and her family decided she could make better grades if she was removed from the student body with private tutors and her own class and grading schedule - and they found out that the school considered her so removed from the student body that they weren’t considering her part of the class… Half the upper-level managers I’ve worked with would flock with Blair as birds of a feather. I’m sure she’ll find work and make more money than all of us… ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/129 "2003-06-17T09:26:34Z")
[Just in case anyone’s interested](http://www.msnbc.com/news/926843.asp?vts=061520031535) ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/130 "2003-06-17T12:30:14Z")
Let’s be positive! The Moorestown [lacrosse dynasty](http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/high_school/6068947.htm) continues! ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/131 "2003-06-17T12:31:26Z")
Based on the picture at the top of the MSNBC story, she may be smart but she apparently walks into walls on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/132 "2003-06-18T18:30:15Z")
Anyone read the story about her in Newsweek? Maybe it’s just me, but the story seems blatantly sympathetic to her despite all the trouble she’s brought upon herself. ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/133 "2003-06-18T19:22:42Z")
I read it and thought the same thing. In addition to a lawyer who’s working full time for her, she has also employed a PR person to spin some positive news for her. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/134 "2003-06-23T15:10:32Z")
[Graduation Day!](http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/education/6130028.htm) Robin ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/135 "2003-06-23T20:01:11Z")
She blew it. If she had told Mirkin, “It would be an honor to share the valedictorianship with you,” she would have been able to be there, and she would have shared that last moment, and whatever revelry followed, with her fellow students. She got what she wanted. But it is very lonely at the top. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055/136 "2003-06-23T22:11:40Z")
> [@](#): > > But it is very lonely at the top. …or the bottom. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-who-sued-school-to-be-valdictorian-caught-plagarizing-hee/180055.md?page=6)