[Graymatter]

Her advisor: "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."

So...if she'd been less intelligent and skilled, it would have been necessary? Sounds to me like she isn't the only one with an ethical blind spot.

[Diversity 7-2521]

Her advisor: "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."

So...if she'd been less intelligent and skilled, it would have been necessary? Sounds to me like she isn't the only one with an ethical blind spot.

I disagree. Nothing is necessary in the absolute sense. So when we that something is necessary, we mean it is necessary in order to accomplish a certain goal. If a person can't write well and doesn't have research skills then it in order to write a good article it would be necessary to plagiarize, but that doesn't mean it's ok.