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Bolton Accuser a Serial Plagiarizer (There's more badnews about Melody Townsel)
little green footballs ^ | 4/27/05

Posted on 04/27/2005 11:05:25 AM PDT by finnman69

Bolton Accuser a Serial Plagiarizer

Yesterday we noted a post at Daily Kos from John Bolton accuser Melody Townsel, in which she admitted committing plagiarism while working at the Abilene Christian University student newspaper, the Optimist.

The ACU Optimist has a report on this today, with the revelation that Townsel was also involved in another plagiarism incident at the University of Texas at Arlington: Former student acknowledges past plagiarism.

Townsel left ACU soon after being removed from the Optimist to continue her undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she worked for the student newspaper, the Shorthorn. Marler said he received a call from UT-Arlington several months after Townsel left ACU regarding another situation of plagiarism with Townsel.

John Dycus, former adviser of the Shorthorn, recalled the event.

"I remember Melody as being very bright," said Dycus, adviser of the UT-Arlington Shorthorn when Townsel worked for the paper. "I remember thinking she didn't have to do this. She was bright enough; her mechanics were good enough; her research skills were good enough. This wasn't necessary."

UPDATE at 4/27/05 8:58:11 am:

In the post at Daily Kos, Melody Townsel wrote:

Months later, while working for another college newspaper, I wrote a review for a local play that tracked closely in format to another writer's review - and, although it was not plagiarized, it made my editors, who had become aware of my recent past, very uncomfortable, and we mutually agreed that I would no longer submit stories to them.

But that isn't how the paper's former editor in chief remembers it: Ex-editor key to Bolton debate. (Hat tip: Ward Cleaver.)

Theo Carracino, who had been editor in chief of the paper that previous semester, said he had read several news stories in other publications on the issue, and when he read a few of the first paragraphs of Townsel's story, many of the paragraphs seemed familiar to him.

"I knew I'd read them and read them recently'" Carracino said.

With his interest piqued, Carracino said he researched back issues of Time and Newsweek magazines, which had run stories regarding the famine.

He compared Townsel's story to an article titled "An African Nightmare" published in Newsweek on Nov. 26, 1984, and found many similarities.

About 80 percent of Townsel's story was plagiarized, Carracino said.

"I had to overcome my disbelief" he said.

The realization that The Shorthorn had a case of plagiarism to deal with quickly became apparent, he said.

"This was major plagiarism" he said. "Not the case of copying some sentences."

07:52 AM PDT | link: 135 comments | link only
last comment: rightasrain 10:41:29 am 4/27/05
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TOPICS: Breaking News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abilene; abilenechristian; bolton; campus; melodytownsel; plagiarism; townsel
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To: traderrob6

Powell?


61 posted on 04/27/2005 12:43:00 PM PDT by lugsoul ("maybe those who are defending this judicial murder could be said to be WORSE than Nazis." - EV)
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To: finnman69

Rush was talking about this today. This is oh so fun!!


62 posted on 04/27/2005 12:53:43 PM PDT by RushCrush (Blind Rushbot- Waiting for instructions from the Maha.)
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To: Mo1

When are we going to be finding out that Unpleasant Melody reverse-copied other artists work and sold it on the internet?


63 posted on 04/27/2005 1:06:31 PM PDT by prairiebreeze (Blogs have a strangle hold on the MSM. The MSM is kicking out the windshield.)
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To: Boston Blackie

Cracked me up!

sorry about the preposition;)


64 posted on 04/27/2005 1:09:14 PM PDT by sodpoodle (sparrows are underrated)
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To: Boston Blackie

Cracked me up!

sorry about the preposition;)


65 posted on 04/27/2005 1:09:23 PM PDT by sodpoodle (sparrows are underrated)
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To: finnman69

It's just a college newspaper. Everybody plaigerizes at a college newspaper. Don't you know that. Now lets move on with the business of destroying a great American, shall we? Hmmm?


66 posted on 04/27/2005 1:13:03 PM PDT by johnb838 (Free Republicans... To Arms!)
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To: smag999

Newsweek ran a photo of the Papa's corpse lying in state, looking rather badly decomposed. On the COVER. I thought it was disrespectful, ghoulish, and disgusting. I mean, I could understand running the picture, after all it was in public view on display. But on the cover was over the line, imo.


67 posted on 04/27/2005 1:15:15 PM PDT by johnb838 (Free Republicans... To Arms!)
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To: finnman69

(very evil giggle)


68 posted on 04/27/2005 1:19:41 PM PDT by tiredoflaundry (If you think pushing 40 is hard, try dragging it!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum; finnman69

"It's the seriousness of the allegations that matter, not their truthfullnes. Tom Foley taught us that."

So did Dan Rather, and Mary Mapes, et. al.


69 posted on 04/27/2005 1:24:15 PM PDT by Purrcival (Good grief, can you Senators just cut the crap and CONFIRM JOHN BOLTON, already?????)
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To: NavVet
What do Dan Rather and the Democratic Party have in common?

They both lie, hate America, hate God, hate President Bush, hate, hate, hate.......

What did I win for the right answer?

70 posted on 04/27/2005 1:34:51 PM PDT by zip (Remember: DimocRat lies told often enough became truth to 48% of Americans (NRA))
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To: finnman69

Gee, no word on Dummie Underground of the fact that this woman is a serial liar, what a shock.


71 posted on 04/27/2005 1:35:42 PM PDT by NavVet (“Benedict Arnold was wounded in battle fighting for America, but no one remembers him for that.”)
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To: finnman69

Bumping for a later read. Thanks.


72 posted on 04/27/2005 1:38:24 PM PDT by Lady In Blue ( President 'SEABISCUIT' AKA George W Bush)
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To: finnman69

So was Joe Biden. He is still a socialist senator.


73 posted on 04/27/2005 1:59:41 PM PDT by RetiredArmy (Let there be no mistake. Let me be very clear: I HATE DEMOCRATS! Enemies of the Republic.)
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To: Graymatter
And whatever your definition of the goal, the advisor was clearly implying that if she couldn't turn in excellent work, she'd have to do something dishonest, and that's just not so.

The definition of the goal is important here. If the goal is to turn in excellent work and someone is incapable of doing that for whatever reason, then they would have to either do something dishonest or not accomplish the goal. The moral path would certainly be to not accomplish the goal.

I'm pretty sure we agree on the fundamental issue here. That is, that plagiarism is unacceptable regardless of the situation. I agree that, as you said, "You never have to plagiarize.", but I don't think that's what the advisor meant and neither did I.

In any case, I realize that I'm splitting hairs and this isn't a very important issue.

74 posted on 04/27/2005 2:04:17 PM PDT by Diversity 7-2521
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To: finnman69

Melodie Townsel is a big fat liar.

And I do mean FAT.

She makes Kirstey Alley look like Twiggy.


75 posted on 04/27/2005 2:05:03 PM PDT by Palladin (Proud to be a FReeper!)
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To: Palladin

Haven't seen a pic of her yet but i'm not surprised.


76 posted on 04/27/2005 2:07:15 PM PDT by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
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To: finnman69

Mmmm....wonder if Biden will show up when that one is discussed.


77 posted on 04/27/2005 2:08:32 PM PDT by Protect the Bill of Rights
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To: finnman69

These people are willing to tell any lie to get the outcome they desire. They are evil!


78 posted on 04/27/2005 2:14:39 PM PDT by conservativecorner
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To: finnman69

I'm sure it was an accident.


79 posted on 04/27/2005 2:22:32 PM PDT by Cinnamon Girl (OMGIIHIHOIIC ping list)
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To: Howlin; Miss Marple; PhiKapMom

She is based in Dallas, with a journalism background, and a history of fabricating stories to fit an agenda. Seriously, what are the chances that she has crossed paths with Mary Mapes in Dallas, or the Rathers, etc. Could she be part of the Kinko's connection?


80 posted on 04/27/2005 2:58:10 PM PDT by Diddle E. Squat
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