An email sent by Proctors last Friday warning against plagiarism caused confusion for some students who thought it was intended specifically for them.
Students across the University emailed their tutors to ask if they were being disciplined.
One Keble undergraduate concerned by the message said, “The email was a bit worrying.”
“As far as I was aware I hadn’t engaged in any such activity, but I did email my tutor to say what I had received and that since none of the other Keble geography students has received his, ask if he had reported my work to the Proctors.”
Academic registrar Michael Sibly claims he was asked to send the email by previous and current proctors in an attempt to make students aware of the regulations regarding plagiarism.
“Whenever this [plagiarism] becomes an issue students often say that they just didn’t know,” he said.
Sibly admitted that it was “mildly ambiguous” that the message, which appeared to be individually addressed to each recipient, was mass-mailed.
He added that the email was “meant to be low-key” and that as far as he is aware there is “no particular issue” with plagiarism at present.
A message clarifying the situation was sent out later on Friday evening.
