tl19720324-000 "towerlight Volume XXV No. 8 Towson State College March 24, 1972 Towson, Maryland 21204 Appeals to Attorney General: Fisher calls for legal action to halt termpaper sales on campus by George E. Mattingly Calling termpaper agencies ""abhorrent and immoral,"" Towson State College President, Dr. James L. Fisher this week launched another attack against the termpaper industry. Fisher also launched an attack against the services in the outside community, calling on Attorney General Francis Burch to take legal action against them. Fisher's latest remarks are the result of that request. ""Probably legal"" Fisher said that he didn't think, ""that there are any laws governing the practice."" He said that he has always felt the services to be ""immoral,"" but that ""they were gaining such acceptance that they should be made illegal."" Fisher stated that he felt that the Attorney General's point concerning the services acting as a research organization, is ""a masquerade."" He said that he acted on the matter for two reasons; one being the personal requests that he has received, and the other the attack on such services by the student newspaper. in addition, Fisher ""felt that. it was contingent upon someone. in the educational system to make a statement."" While admitting that the problem of using other people's work has long been a problem in education, Fisher said that he felt the current services may ""attain a high degree of social acceptibility."" Absolve newspaper Fisher went on to state that he feels that the criticism directed towards Towerlight is ""unwarranted"" and that it was the result of a misplacement of blame. ""The criticism directed against the newspaper should be directed against the students who are using the termpaper services."" He went on to state that he felt that the newspaper was ""merely doing its job,"" and that it had taken ""an admirable position on the subject, one that many advertising executives in the outside world would not dare take."" ""To desist"" Dr. Fisher said ""while the legality of this activity has not previously been subject to the scrutiny of our courts, it is our conviction that it is an ethically questionable involvement in the educational process. It is not my intention to seek punishment of those who have heretofore been involved in these operations, but rather to cause those individuals and firms engaged in termpaper activity to be made to desist."" The President said that in fact he hoped that such compliance ""might be achieved voluntarily but we view the gravity of the situation to be sufficiently great to warrant the legal action."" Bring it home In conclusion, Fisher said that he felt that he had accomplished his goals in bring. ing the situation home to the general public. He hoped that the bill currently before the legislature would be passed quickly in order to protect the integrity of Maryland's educational system. 'Photo by I.,�ic A lloopcN President James L. Fisher, of Towson State College has called on Maryland legal authorities to put an end to the sale of termpapers to college students. Bill introduced to assembly: Prosecution of paper firms doubtful by Mike Dilworth Termpaper services, soliciting business to Maryland area college and university students, according to Francis B. Burch, Maryland attorney general, may not be prosecuted because no laws exist governing their activities. Fisher requested action Burch made the statement last Saturday in the Evening Sun, responding to an appeal for action by President James L. Fisher of Towson State College. ""I would seriously doubt,"" Burch said, ""there would be any criminal violation and I would seriously doubt any civil action could be taken."" Integrity, Fisher's concern Fisher asked Burch to ""begin appropriate legal action"" against termpaper selling firms soliciting at Towson State. ""Our ultimate concern,"" Fisher said, ""is for the integrity of the educational process and the intellectual well-being of our community."" School's problem Burch said all schools must resolve the termpaper problem themselves. ""There's no guarantee,"" he said, ""that any paper turned in by any student has been done by the student. The educational institution has to evaluate it against the work the student has done over a period of months."" Termpaper selling firms can easily claim that their products are used as ""prototype or guides,"" he said. A documented answer fm Fisher will be complied by thE attorney general's office within thirty days. Bill introduced A bill was introduced to the Maryland general assembly two weeks ago that would make the selling of termpapers illegal in Maryland. According to the Sun, in the past eighteen months the sale of termpapers has grown into a million dollar business. Several company branch offices have begun operating in Maryland and advertise regularly in college newspapers. The bill introduced by delegates Weisengoff, Robby, and Lee would make it illegal for arr 'me to engage in the selling any assertation, thesis, termpaper, essay or report for use in obtaining a degree from or completing course work at any Maryland State educational institution. Stiff fine The bill provides for a fine not to exceed $1,000 or prison April 20th: Schedule booklets available not to exceed six months or both. Currently, the bill is assigned to the constitutional and administrative law committee of the legislature where the delegates expect to face a tough fight on the grounds of unconstitutionality. Schedule of Courses Booklets for the 1972 Fall semester will be available to students on Thursday, April 20, in the Registrar's Office, room 213, in the Administration Building. Preregistration materials will be forwarded to the students' permanent address during the Spring vacation. Students who do not intend to be home during this period should make arrangements to have the materials forwarded to their college address or may pick up duplicate materials in the Registrar's Office. Preregistration for the Fall semester will be held from Wednesday, April 26 to Thursday, May 4, 1972, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students are advised to obtain all necessary course permit cards and non-academic priorities (health, employment, family, etc.) before returning their completed registration materials to the Registrar's Office. (Continued on back page) Index page 1 news page 2 commentary page 3-4 . letters pages 5-12 on-campus news page 13-14 on-campus news page 15-19 features page 20-21 sports page 22-23 goings-on page 24 off-campus news "
