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Do you understand?
Ms. Chen!
Oh... sorry?
I said, if ruled today
that you did indeed plagiarize your last history essay
you will not have fulfilled enough arts credits
to receive your Computer Science degree next week.
So, Ms. Chen,
do you understand
the consequences of today's hearing?
I understand.
Professor, the floor is yours.
Okay, um... well...
I am so sorry.
The streetcars were backed up all the way on St. Clair.
- Have you started yet? - No.
I was just about to inform everyone
that I think it's best
that this case be led by Mr. Ward here.
Yes. Thank you.
And who are you?
I'm Keith Ward.
I'm one of Prof. Thornton's teaching assistants
And he is also my PhD advisor.
Why are you here?
Well, I'm the one
who originally caught April cheating.
And, thus, we both decided that it would be best
for me to present the case against her here today.
What is this, Alan?
Well, as you'll see, Richard,
Keith has a history with the student in question.
Wait.
Just to be clear,
does the professor even really believe April cheated?
Of course he believes it. We both believe it.
I'd like him to answer for himself.
I'm sorry, who are you?
Micah Shaw, student advocacy.
Student advocacy?
Of course you'd get a lawyer.
Actually, I was assigned to April's case
- and in the interest of... - Go ahead.
I know I didn't do anything wrong, so just...
go ahead. Whoever.
Mr. Ward, it would appear the floor is yours.
Okay. Thank you.
I'd like to start off
by thanking the tribunal for being here today.
I'm sure there are places that you would rather be on a Friday.
But, frankly, I'll take any excuse I can get
to get away from my thesis.
I'll begin by showing how April Chen
has shown a history of deceit and disrespect
towards myself and this university.
You see, this all began in our Poli Sci 100 class.
April, hi.
Please, have a seat.
So, this is your second year here at DuPont, correct?
Yeah.
And where are you from?
Uh, my family moved here from China when I was 9.
What part of China?
It wasn't a major city.
I might know it.
It's called Harbin.
It's in the north.
Yeah, I... I think I've heard of it.
The north, right, yes, um...
So, your paper.
Now...
as you can see here, the...
Oh, uh...
I got it.
Thank you.
Trying to quit, you know?
Yeah, know. I gave up on that a while ago.
Smoking?
No. Trying to quit.
Your paper.
You see these two passages?
See that they're the same?
Everything else in your paper is cited,
so do you think maybe you just forgot to cite this paragraph?
Will I be penalized?
- I'll let you off this time. - Okay.
But keep an eye on it in the future, all right?
Sure.
I appreciate you coming in.
No problem.
Okay. So you let her go?
Yes, but that is besides the point...
Why didn't you report this to Prof. Thornton?
With all due respect, I don't think people like you...
I don't think that those outside of the teaching faculty
understand what it's like for us TAs.
You see, there's just so many students for us to deal with
and I can't waste Prof. Thornton's time
with each and every minor infraction.
Oh, sorry.
So...
this takes us to the second time I met with April.
Hello?
April. Have a seat.
Can you please tell me in your own words,
what academic integrity means to you?
Oh, um...
I guess it means being original
and, um, citing your sources?
The reason I ask is because I'm wondering if this
is in line with what you just said.
This is your paper
and this is a paper that was published just last year.
Do you notice anything?
'Cause aside from a few minor cosmetic changes,
these two opening paragraphs are essentially identical.
I've never seen that other essay before.
Listen, I'm just trying to find out if this
supports your own definition of academic integrity.
I'm not a cheater.
Okay.
If that's how you feel, then I have no choice
but to hand this off to Prof. Thornton.
And he can deal with you.
Goodbye.
I'm very disappointed in you.
I then handed that paper over to Prof. Thornton.
Sir?
Uh, okay, yeah.
I, uh, questioned Ms. Chen on the details of her essay,
and I concluded that the similarities between the papers
were just a mere coincidence.
I didn't feel it was necessary
to bring that to the tribunal at that time.
Because you believed that she didn't cheat?
Yes, that became apparent when I spoke with her.
Although, I don't blame Keith
for bringing this matter to my attention.
It was an honest mistake.
Alan, your teaching assistant here
seems to be trying to establish a pattern of deceit.
Do you feel perhaps you were deceived in this case?
No, I think I know a liar when I see one, Richard.
Huh. You sure about that?
Yeah. I'm sure.
Professor, I have to ask,
do you think that we're all here today because of another
what you might call "honest mistake"?
No.
I believe that April's third and final essay...
The one that we're judging here today.
Yes, that essay was, indeed, plagiarized.
Which brings me...
Why don't we all quickly take a break?
You think we could get the AC on?
Yes, please.
They must have shut it off for the summer.
I'll see if I can get someone in.
You judge many of these?
Nah, not really.
If you're from student advocacy,
that means you're still in law school, right?
Yeah, applying to firms soon
and they love this kind of shit on a resumé.
Oh. See, I would have thought you were doing this
just for the satisfaction of helping out the less fortunate.
You know how much law school costs?
I am the less fortunate.
That you?
Oh, yeah. It's nothing.
Josh, I'm right here.
You can't keep pretending
you don't notice me.
You write for a student newspaper, Russ.
No one notices you.
Tell me about this tribunal
about a female computer science student?
I didn't know there were any girls in CS.
That's a bit sexist.
It's just the facts.
Aren't they a fifth of your department?
That's a shortage.
Can't force women to major in Comp Sci.
Like we can't force you to major in something useful.
What's that supposed to mean?
We don't need any more liberal artists.
We need more plumbers.
Thanks for the career advice.
You're already good at shovelling shit...
I know that, as the department rep,
you sit on those tribunals.
I can't talk about my tribunal duties.
Well, here's what I know so far...
it's a girl and I hear that she's Asian.
Well, Asians, those we don't have a shortage of.
Please forget I said that.
Bro, what do you take me for? It's forgotten.
So tell me about this tribunal.
Okay, okay.
Her name's April Chen.
She created a publishing platform
that got bought out by Snakeskin.
There's already a job waiting for her in the valley.
Also, it doesn't hurt that she's, you know...
What?
Oh, a hot female computer science star.
In our world, we call that a unicorn. So are we good?
- Yeah. - Okay.
I just need one more thing from you.
What?
Okay. Thank you.
Should be cooling off shortly.
First time?
Yeah.
I was just promoted to co-chair of the department.
However, this? This was not in the job description.
Seems like you and Alan know each other well.
Yeah, we went to grad school together.
Quite the long friendship.
Ah, I wouldn't say we're friends.
Hey. Just so you know,
you shouldn't feel obligated to talk.
I mean, you know, if you don't want to.
Why wouldn't I talk?
Because that's kind of my job.
I'm here so you don't have to go through this thing alone.
Can you please stop coddling me?
I'm not some kind of victim. I'm just innocent, okay?
Okay.
Typical administrative bureaucrat.
She has no idea what it means to be an academic.
This pantomime of a court is what you asked for, Keith.
And you got it.
Sir, I really think we should be working together on this...
Together? You went behind my back.
Only because there wasn't any time.
If I didn't petition for this tribunal,
- she would have graduated. - Right, right.
And you think it was right
to drag me into your little crusade? Hm?
When I got the email from Judge Judy over there
approving this hearing,
I was too embarrassed to tell her
I didn't know what she was talking about.
All because you didn't go through the proper channels.
I heard back from Belgrade this morning.
And?
Oh, shit.
You just have to keep applying
until you find a university that's the right fit.
You'll get hired eventually.
Yeah.
I find it helps with the cravings.
I'm good.
Mr. Ward? Ready when you are.
The reason that we are all here today
is because of April Chen's final essay
for International History 300.
This paper examines the role that the atomic bomb played
in Japan's surrender of World War II.
The essay offers a succinct analysis
of the Hasegawa interpretation
which posits that the Japanese decision to surrender
was not because of the two nuclear bombs dropped on them.
No. The real reason that they surrendered
was because of a little-known pact
with the Soviets that fell through.
Now, this theory is controversial because...
You know what? Ms. Chen?
Would you like to expound further on the subject?
The...
The interpretation is controversial
because it basically suggests that after the war,
Japan elicited the sympathy of the international community
by portraying itself as the victim of an atrocity,
and used it to overshadow their role
as the violent aggressors they were earlier in the war,
such as during the rape of Nanking.
And Pearl Harbor, of course.
Yes, that is virtually identical wording
as to what is in this essay right here.
So, you're gonna accuse me of plagiarizing myself...?
Well, only someone who's worried
about being caught for plagiarism
would go through the effort
of memorizing a paper.
So I know my topic too well.
No, you know it too precisely.
You see, it doesn't matter.
If you question April,
she will regurgitate the words for you
like some kind of robot.
Now, if I may, I would like to call my first witness.
Mr. Ward, while I don't have any issue
with you calling any witnesses,
this isn't a court of law.
We can't exactly put people under oath.
We would like to call in witnesses
to testify on April's behalf, as well.
You can't.
We are within our right to question...
No!
We're here to prove that plagiarism has occurred.
That's why we're all here.
We're not here so that she can bring in her people
to prove that such a thing did not occur.
This is my case to prove.
Uh, if I may?
I think we should let the student defend herself
in whatever way she wants.
I mean, that just seems fair.
I'm inclined to agree.
We have to try and treat this like a real court room,
even if it is just a simulation of one.
Or a simulacrum.
What?
The precise term for what we're doing here is a simulacrum.
Are you quite finished?
Let's get on with it then.
Deborah!
Hi, Irene!
So, uh, how was your first day?
Did you meet everyone or...?
Almost, I think.
I just finished speaking
with the Vice-Provost to Academic, Theresa?
Actually, it's "Ter-essa".
She's the Vice-President of Faculty and Academic Life.
Oh, I thought you were the VP of Faculty and Academic Life.
No, I'm the Assistant Vice-President
of the Office of Academic Operations.
And that's separate from
the Vice-President of Students and...
Undergraduate Education, yeah. That's right.
Okay, so, as Academic Integrity Officer,
I'm under the purview of...
That would be my supervisor,
the Vice-President and Provost of DuPont.
Oh. I see.
So are you my boss or am I yours?
Well, technically, I'm your superior.
Oh, my gosh! I know, I was...
Never mind.
So, I'm having a small dinner party next week
with some potential donors
and I think it would be a good idea if you'd be there.
Oh! I'd love that.
We'll be spotlighting the new recruitment initiatives in Asia.
Great. I'll look over the material.
No, you don't need to look over the materials.
What's important for you to understand
is that it's a sensitive time
to be marketing Western education in that region.
There's a growing perception that Canadian schools
are as unaccommodating to foreigners as the American ones.
But our message is clear: we're not like the Americans.
We're better than them.
Yes. We are.
You know, the little twerp's right.
Technically, we are engaging in a simulacrum.
Which doesn't make him any less of a very real little shit.
I'm sorry. May I please take this call?
Mr. Ward?
My witness just got off the streetcar
so he's gonna be another five minutes.
- Make it quick, Ms. Chen. - Thanks.
Hi, Mum!
How was your flight?
Yeah.
I'm at lunch with friends.
Uh, yeah.
Okay. Bye, Mum.
I have a proposition for you.
We can end this here and now.
If you just admit what you did to me,
I'll let you re-write the essay and I'll mark it next week.
So, I'll miss the ceremony?
Yeah, but who cares? They'll mail you your degree.
I think you're a good kid.
You made a mistake and I can forgive you.
As long as you just admit what you did and apologize.
Apologize?
Yes.
I'm not a cheater.
You sure you want all those people in there
to find out who you really are?
We don't need to go through all of that. Do we?
I'm okay with who I really am.
Are you?
Tell us your name and what you do.
Ian Reed. I'm a Poli Sci grad student
and teaching assistant here at DuPont.
And what are you currently working on?
My dissertation is preliminarily titled
"Peace, Order and Good Gnocchi:
Understanding Quebec's Italian Diaspora."
And when you're marking students, can you tell us
how you detect if a paper's been plagiarized?
Sure.
The main thing is inconsistencies
within the essay.
What do you mean by "inconsistencies"?
Well, for example,
if the first and last paragraph of an essay is poorly written,
but the middle section is perfect, that's a red flag.
Hm. What else?
If the student's previous work was sloppy
but then suddenly the writing is pristine...
that's another red flag.
Thank you. That's all I have.
I'd like to ask a few questions.
Uh, just a moment.
I'm the one
that's supposed to be asking the questions.
I want to do it myself.
That's not how this works.
I don't care.
Stop me if I start doing something stupid.
I'm trying to.
So, are you saying
that any time someone's writing gets better,
that means they're cheating?
No, of course not.
Students can improve, right?
I mean, isn't that the whole point here?
Certain types of students do improve, yes.
Okay. Um, what types are those?
They tend to ask a lot of questions during class,
email me about assignments, come to office hours.
The type to hire a writing coach?
Yes, of course.
I have some experience in that area.
You've been a writing coach.
I am now. Yes.
But not for my students, of course.
But you did help students write their essays?
Not exactly, no. I wouldn't say that.
Do you think that you are kind of helping students cheat?
Wha... Of course not. I would never do that.
But they are paying you to help make their essays better, right?
No, that's not... I mean, yes, I will give them notes.
But that doesn't mean I'm their... their ghost writer
or anything like that.
I would charge them way, way more if that were the case.
Which it never will be,
because I would never do that sort of thing.
No matter how much they paid me.
Ms. Chen, is there a point to this line of inquiry?
Oh, I just wanted to show that getting writing help
isn't the same as cheating.
So, established. Anything else?
Yes! I'd like to call my first witness.
My name is Mark Lin and I was April's writing coach.
What kinds of things did you teach me?
Essay structure, thesis statement,
crafting supporting paragraphs, citation...
The essentials, basically.
Thank you.
Are you in academia?
I'm a former grad student, yeah.
Uh, poli sci.
What were you working on?
Uh, my thesis was titled "You Sunk My Battleship:
A Game Theoretical Approach to Right of War Protocols
Between American Pleasurecraft and Maritime Piracy."
I never finished it.
Not everyone finishes.
How long did you tutor April for?
A few months.
That doesn't seem like nearly enough time
to teach the craft of essay writing, does it?
Do you think you significantly improved her writing skills?
Well, I don't know what you mean "significantly".
I mean that her writing skills changed significantly
for the better.
Have you seen her past work?
No, I haven't.
Well, I have.
Her previous two essays were B-minus at best.
And that's even with the help
- of her plagiarizing them, as well. - Objection!
Yep, okay. Thank you.
What I'm trying to say is that you don't know
if you helped her in the slightest, do you?
I'm sure I helped her.
I mean, I taught her all the essay structures and everything.
In fact...
you don't know if you taught her anything at all, do you?
Have you ever written an essay for money?
What?
Are you now or are you ever been a writer for hire?
No!
Tutoring's not enough money to live off,
what else are you doing?
Nothing.
- Just this. - Where is this going?
You couldn't get a job as a grad school dropout,
and you needed money, right?
And then when April hired you to be her tutor,
you saw that she was struggling
and you offered to write her entire essay for.
- Didn't you? Didn't you?! - I write erotic fan fiction!
What?
I have a site where people donate to me
to write erotic stories about Korean popstars or...
you know...
characters from books and cartoons.
Cartoons?
What is the name of your site?
I think we've seen enough.
Mr. Ward?
Nothing further.
Break?
Sure.
Yes, please.
I think I need to go bleach my brain.
- Josh, buddy! - You gotta stop calling me in there.
I tried texting.
Yeah, I know. I'm a little busy.
Yeah, about that.
Take the phone out of your pocket
and put it on the table.
I can't hear shit.
No, no way.
That's gonna look too suspicious.
Don't be paranoid.
No one's gonna know I'm listening.
Alright, fine.
Just stop texting me.
Wait, wait, wait.
I need to know who the dean's office sent over.
Or I could just write the story
about how you feel there are too many Asians
in the CS department.
All I said was we don't have a shortage of Asians...
in the department.
How do you think that's gonna play
with your Asian colleagues?
Of which there are many, apparently.
Deborah Lewis.
Her name's Deborah Lewis.
Hello?
Keep the phone on the table.
Hey.
If I could just get by...?
- Oh. Yeah, sorry. - Alright.
Hey, I wanted to say thanks for sticking up for us back there.
What?
Yeah, look, you guys should be able
to have your own witnesses.
That's like a no-brainer.
Is it always run like this?
Like what?
Like you guys are just making up the rules as you go along.
Yeah.
That is messed up, man.
Yeah. Ya know...
Something on your mind, Richard?
Do you remember the last time you spoke to me, Alan?
- Uh, 10 minutes ago? - No.
It was the day you looked me in my eyes
and you lied about how it wasn't you
who sent that letter to the tenure committee.
You remember that letter, don't you?
The one that recommended they deny me my tenure?
Well, I guess I never got a chance to congratulate you...
- But no thanks to you. - ...on your tenure.
I thought we were friends.
I am your friend, Richard.
Now, please, if you'll excuse me?
No, you're not.
Friends don't snub friends
and they certainly don't try to de-rail their careers.
Are you jealous of my work, Alan? Is that it?
Look at you, Richard.
You're a grown man holding me hostage in a bathroom.
You think maybe there might be someone else in the department
who thinks you're a little unfit for tenure?
It wasn't me.
Now, excuse me.
Richard, for your own sake, let it go.
Goodness, he looks worse for wear.
What?
You'd think he was the one on trial.
I think I've figured out what his crime is.
The fashion police arrested him for looking like a total cliché.
My name is Kelly Nakashima
and I've been April's roommate for two years.
Did you see me working on this essay?
Yeah, for sure.
You were stressed out for, like, half the semester.
Okay. Thank you.
Did you see any history books next to April?
I dunno. Probably.
Did she talk to you at all about her essay?
No.
Did you proofread any of her paper off her computer screen?
No.
So...
you don't know that she was working on my assignment.
She could have been stressed about anything.
I guess so.
She complained a lot about her history class
so I just figured that's what was stressing her out.
What did she complain about?
She said her TA was a dick.
Thank you. You may go.
Wait.
You said April never discussed her essay with you.
That's right.
So you have no idea what it's about.
No idea.
Your last name is Nakashima.
That's Japanese, right?
My dad's Japanese. My mum's from the Prairies.
If your friend was writing a paper about your heritage,
wouldn't she tell you about it?
I was born in Saskatchewan.
Ms. Nakashima, why did Japan surrender in World War II?
What?
The unconditional surrender.
Why did your people give in?
Come on. Think.
Mr. Ward?
Why? Why did they surrender?
Because they got bombed?!
I mean, right?!
According to April's paper,
the real reason
that Japan surrendered World War II
was because of the neutrality pact with the Soviets,
not because of the bomb.
So what?
Well, if April wrote this,
then why wouldn't she educate her Japanese friend
on this bold, new interpretation of her people's history?
Because she didn't write this.
No, it's because it doesn't affect her life in any way.
Does it?
I'm in accounting!
Thank you. You may go.
You need a fucking therapist.
My name is Tim Mistry
and I have taught you in the Computer Science department
your entire undergrad.
How would you describe me, as a student?
You've been offered a position in Silicon Valley.
I think that speaks for itself.
Uh, April created a pretty revolutionary
publishing platform that optimizes insets...
Sorry, can we move on?
She's allowed to be good at computers.
I'm not contesting that.
Have you ever suspected me of cheating?
No. Your work's too original for that.
Are you comparing writing code to real writing?
Absolutely.
Coding, like any language,
can be composed with elegance, efficiency and style.
Do you think coding skills can translate over
to essay-writing skills?
I believe they can.
Great, thank you.
Alright.
Has April's coding always been good?
Yes.
Since her first assignment for you?
As I recall, yes.
So if coding skills translate to writing skills,
the quality of her writing should be just as consistent
as the quality of her coding.
Is that right?
I guess you could say that.
Well, that's strange.
Because the quality of her writing
only got better in the last semester.
How do you explain that?
Perhaps she only started trying in your classes recently.
And why wouldn't she try in my classes?
I can't speak for my students.
Well, maybe you should try harder.
- Excuse me? - Mr. Ward.
Watch your tone.
Are you aware
that your students need to take credits
outside of the Computer Sciences department
in order to graduate?
And that those classes are generally in the Humanities?
Of course.
The university mandates a well-rounded education.
Do you think that students like her
resent having to take those classes
because they feel that they are useless?
Again, I don't speak for my students.
Sure. Sure.
Professor... do you think that a liberal arts education
is useless?
The liberal arts don't provide much value to the world.
Certainly not compared to what we do.
Professor, sorry to interrupt.
Have you worked in Silicon Valley?
Yes, I have.
You familiar with the tech culture there?
Very much so.
I wasn't done questioning the witness.
Do you think April would get hired
even if she didn't have a university degree?
What?
Of course she would.
April will get a job...
no matter what.
Without a degree?
Silicon Valley is run by drop-outs.
At the end of the day,
the credentials a student earns here?
No substitute for raw talent.
Professor, one more question.
Why would a computer science student
bother cheating on a meaningless history assignment
when she already has a job waiting for her?
She wouldn't.
Thank you, Professor.
Irene, hello.
Deborah, my office just received an email
from a reporter at the DuPont Gazette.
Oh, okay.
He asked for a comment on an ongoing academic tribunal
racially targeting students of Asian descent.
What?
Plus, they asked for you by name,
and your name is not on the site yet.
I think somebody in that room is talking to the press.
Your tribunal...
is it, in fact, an Asian student?
Yes.
If this story comes out
and looks even a little racially-motivated,
I can't fathom the consequences.
Should I postpone?
No, no. That'll look like we're stalling.
Just get the job done
and be careful in there.
People are listening.
You know, your job's not gonna save you.
Just because you don't need to pass my class
that doesn't make you innocent.
You know, there's been something
I've been wondering all day.
What exactly are you getting out of all of this?
I'm upholding the integrity of this school.
What are you getting out of this?
I want to clear my name.
I'm not gonna let you call me a cheater in front of everyone,
and get away with it.
You still care what people think?
You're just...
What do you guys call it, "saving face"?
That's pathetic.
Hi, Mum.
Okay, Mum. I'm glad everyone's landed
but I really have to go.
I'm still with my friends right now, okay?
Mom, I don't care.
For the last time, I can't talk.
I really have to go right now, okay?
Darling, you sound not so good.
Is everything okay?
Yeah. Everything's fine.
Yeah.
Okay, well, thank you very much.
Keith, the way you are treating that girl is unconscionable.
I'm sorry you feel that way, sir...
Now, I'm going to go back in there
and I'm gonna withdraw our complaint
before any more people are humiliated in your little farce.
Actually...
you don't have the authority to do that.
It's my class, Keith.
Yes, but... both of our names are on the complaint,
so we would both need to be in agreement
for it to be withdrawn.
It'll be over soon.
Promise.
Why are you trying to drop the case?
This trial's a waste of our time.
She one of your indiscretions, Alan?
You did always have a type in grad school.
Richard...
I'm not gonna listen to this.
It's come to light that certain details
about today's hearing have made their way out of the room.
Therefore, I'm going to need everyone
to hand over their phones.
Mr. Bertier?
Would you please collect everyone's phones?
Uh huh.
Can you tell use your name and scholarly background?
My name is Elisha Sinclair.
I've completed a PhD in political science
and my dissertation is entitled
"All Quiet on the Best Western Front:
Hotel Economies, Black Markets and Jihadist Financing
in a Global World."
And what is your current line of work?
I'm an essay writer.
You mean that you write original essays
that students pass off as their own?
Yes.
Can you walk us through your process?
Sure.
Before I start, I ask my clients
for copies of their old essays for reference.
So that I can match the writing quality of their previous work
to prevent arousing suspicion.
And do you take any other precautions?
Specifically concerning the digital files.
Yeah, well, as you know,
digital files are required to be submitted
so that they can be run through
the school's plagiarism detection software.
But what people don't know,
is that each digital file carries with it
an invisible signature of the author in its metadata.
So, to make sure my clients don't get caught,
I wipe that metadata before I hand the files over.
And if you didn't erase the metadata?
Then it would show the name of the true author of the essay.
Here is the metadata
for the three essays April has submitted to me.
As you can see, her name appears on the first two.
But with the third essay,
the one we are discussing here today,
the metadata appears blank.
As if someone's erased it.
I recently scrubbed my personal information
from my computer for privacy reasons.
Well, I think the files speak for themselves.
Okay, then, I'm gonna go.
Why do you do this?
Pardon me?
Why do you help students cheat?
Do you just need the money?
No, I don't need the money.
I help students cheat because you cheat them.
We're both shilling overpriced pieces of paper
to kids too dumb to know any better.
Yours just happens to say "diploma" at the top.
I'd like to question Professor Thornton.
- What? - Wha...?
No, no. I didn't even mark the damn thing.
Unfortunately, I don't have the authority
to force Professor Thornton to be questioned.
Just like I can't force you to be questioned either, Ms. Chen.
- Oh, I don't mind! - Whoa! No, wait.
I can't let the happen.
I bet you'd like to ask me some questions, wouldn't you?
- You ready to testify? - Absolutely not.
I have nothing to hide.
I need a moment with my client.
Go.
Water?
Please.
I am not letting you do this.
You're the accused.
You're not supposed to be testifying.
Do you think anyone in there cares
about how things are supposed to go?
I can handle myself.
He's not as smart as he thinks he is.
Neither are you! No!
No way. If you go up there, I will leave in protest.
Is that what you want?
No, I don't want you to leave in protest.
Okay, then.
You should leave because you're fired.
You can't fire me.
What are you gonna do? Represent me against my will?
Is that how things are supposed to work?
Go home.
Keith, I need you to trust me on this, okay?
I will not be questioned by that girl.
Sir, with all due respect,
I don't understand why you won't testify...
Because, Keith!
Look, something happened that day
when she came to my office.
What happened?
Hm.
I've never seen that other essay before.
Where's your family from, April?
They're from Harbin.
Harbin? You ever to been to the ice festival?
Yeah. As a kid.
I went there a few years back. It was breathtaking.
Why don't I make you a deal?
How about to make up for this,
you come and take one of my summer courses
and you'll get the same credit?
Classes are much more relaxed.
It's basically just hangin' out.
I'm actually planning to go visit my family this summer.
So...
Do you have any photos from Harbin?
Sure.
Um...
- Yeah, this is Zhaolin Park. - Hm.
- Pretty windy that day. - Uh huh.
Kid just ran up and photo-bombed me.
Oh, you'll have to give me advice on where to go.
Absolutely.
Here. I'm gonna text myself so you have my number.
Sure.
- There. - Thanks.
Now, getting back to the matter at hand here.
When you look at these,
do you see why I had to bring you in here?
Yeah, I think I do.
I mean, it seems innocent enough.
With these kinds of mistakes,
sometimes you're not even aware
that what you're doing is wrong even as you're during it.
- You know what I mean? - Uh huh.
That's me.
Why would you write this?
Okay, I think I can see a way to mark this as-is
and not take this situation any further.
After all, this is just a one-off, right?
- Won't happen again. - Good.
I'm glad we understand each other.
Okay, wait.
It's your word against hers.
So they can't...
If she shows that text to anyone,
there's gonna be an inquiry.
It'll be a witch-hunt like at Concordia
and I will not be crucified...
No, it won't because there were multiple women
at Concordia...
How many others?
Oh, grow up.
They were all adults.
They know what they were doing, okay?
At least tell me they weren't all Asian.
Fuck!
You're gonna be buried for this.
They're gonna bury you, too.
I'm sorry, Keith.
You're sorry?
I won't be able to get another supervisor after this.
I won't be able to finish my thesis.
Which means that my entire time here was worthless!
Look, drop the case and you don't have to worry about it.
Drop the case.
No.
If we cover this up that makes us just as bad as her.
I'm not like her.
And I'm not like you.
I'll be fired.
You're finished either way.
I'm removing you as my supervisor
and I'm going to the department myself
to tell them about your indiscretions.
Why would you do that?
Because you don't deserve what you have.
I'll give you a chance to retire on Monday.
But if you don't quit by then,
I have no choice but to report you.
You're destroying your life.
No, Alan. You already did that.
Keith...
Keith, wait!
Alan...
- What? - I, uh...
You know what?
I'm done with this place.
You win, Richard.
You feel good about yourself?
I can't say I feel much of anything right now.
I...
I wanna say that I forgive you for what you did to me.
You forgive me?
Oh. That's big of you.
Do you know what, Richard?
I don't want your forgiveness, you fucking pompous prick.
Do you know why I sent that letter? Hm?
Because you're an embarrassment to our field.
And you do not deserve to be called my peer!
Alan...
Take care of yourself.
- Hello? - Hello, Ms. Lewis.
My name is Peter Hanson
and I'm the VP and Provost of DuPont.
One moment, please.
Hi, sorry about that.
I'm in the middle of a tribunal.
Have you spoken with Irene?
Actually, Ms. McDonnell has been placed on leave.
You'll be liaising with me from now on.
We're working on trying to get ahead of this story
and we need your assistance.
Am I gonna be fired?
If you can ensure that the final verdict
won't be, uh, problematic
that would be helpful to both the university
and to yourself.
Do you understand?
Hey!
What, man?
What, are you leaving? What's going on?
She fired me.
Fuck!
Can she even do that?
She's out of control
and I can't protect her from herself any more.
You need to look out for her in there.
Me?
Yeah.
Well, what am I supposed to do?
It's not that complicated.
Where's Mr. Shaw?
He's gone.
Gone?
And where's Professor Thornton?
He won't be joining us but...
I'm willing to testify in his place
if April's still willing to honour our deal.
Yeah. Okay.
You know what?
Okay, fine. Let's finish this.
- So... - Keith Ward.
Poli sci PhD student.
Working title of my thesis is "Chasing Anarchy:
Understanding Subaltern Praxiography
- in the Spanish Civil War"... - Keith.
How many students have you taken to an academic tribunal?
You're the first.
So you've never suspected anyone else of cheating before.
Well, I have but they all confessed
when I confronted them.
Were they punished?
Of course.
Re-writes, grade reductions...
Did you fail them?
No.
Deny them their degree?
No.
Yet you are trying to do
both those things to me.
Why?
Because I've never met a student as deceitful as you.
Oh.
You must not like me very much.
I like all my students... as long as they're honest.
Is there something about me, specifically,
that makes you think I'm not an honest person?
Yes.
What?
It was your lack of remorse.
What do you mean?
When you were first caught for cheating...
I let you off and you just took it and left.
You weren't even sorry for what you did.
And I knew you'd try and cheat again.
You have no respect.
No gratitude.
So that's why you dragged all of us here today.
Well...
Mr. Ward...
let me just take this opportunity to say that...
I'm so sorry
that two years ago I forgot to say
I'm so sorry.
Are you finished?
Do you resent being forced to take my classes?
Well, I don't think I should have to pay for them.
Why not?
Because I didn't come here to learn how to write papers
no one will ever read.
Then why did you come here?
To build stuff. That's what people like me do.
We go out and build the world
while people like you just sit around and discuss it.
Do you hate me, April?
You're not interesting enough to hate.
Hm.
Now, you don't need a degree
in order to be employed in your field.
Is that correct?
That's what I'm told.
Then I guess that begs the question,
why even bother cheating in the first place?
But...
what if, even though you don't need a degree,
you desperately do need to graduate?
Do have any guests attending the graduation ceremony?
Anyone flying in?
Some family.
Some family?
See, I called the head of the grad committee
and they said you have 12 seats reserved for your family.
Thank you very much.
Twelve.
And they've come from quite a ways away, haven't they?
How embarrassing would it be
for you to have to explain to them
that they flew all the way here for nothing?
Admit it.
You're only here covering up for cheating
because you can't bear to face your family
and tell them that you won't part of that ceremony.
How hard have they worked to send you here?
What have they sacrificed for you, huh, April?
What would they say if they knew
that their daughter was a lying, cheating...
I am not a...
Because the truth is
that you don't respect me or my classes.
And you loathe the fact
the someone like me would come in here
and shame you in front of your entire family!
Isn't that right, April?!
Yes! Yes!
I hate your classes and I hate you
and this entire fucking school!
- Which is why I... - Cheated.
Say you plagiarized the essay.
- Say it, April. - You...!
Pfft.
You're wrong.
I'm not a cheater.
Please give us the room.
Okay, so...
how do you think we should proceed?
Professor Gould?
I could care less how we proceed.
Ms. Lewis?
What do you think?
What do I think?
We're fucked, is what I think.
There's a story coming out about today.
About this.
What?
How do you know that?
Because my fucking boss just got fired,
that's how I know.
And guess who's next?
I can't believe she would do this to us.
Wait, you think April leaked the story?
Who else would it be?
Oh, ho, ho...
If she's trying to manipulate us
she needs to be held accountable.
It's too late.
The story's already out.
We have to let her go.
And what if we fail her?
Then we'll end up looking as prejudiced
as the American schools.
The university will be publicly shamed and I'll be fired.
Deborah, this is nothing short of extortion.
She is deliberately preventing us
from fulfilling our duty as arbiters...
Richard! Let's be honest.
Our duty today was nothing more than offering customer support.
There's only one thing to do.
So, should I bring them in?
No.
I'm not just gonna let this happen.
Nothing you do will make a difference...
I don't care. I will not be cornered like this.
And I'm gonna tell her that. Screw the university.
Stop!
Stop.
Okay, it was... it was me.
Excuse me?
I'm the one leaking the hearing.
You?
Yeah.
I'm sorry.
Did you say leaking?
Does that mean that someone is listening right now?
It wasn't supposed to get this far!
And then nobody was supposed to get fired.
I screwed this whole thing up.
You...
- Whoa! - Hey!
You know, I get why you did this.
And I get why you had to do this.
Family's important.
You don't know anything about my family.
I know they came here to celebrate you.
Or, more importantly, all your successes.
That's what this is all about, right?
I mean, if it wasn't for all your accomplishments,
what would you even be to your parents?
You think that they'd probably just disown you at that point?
Boy, that must be hard.
Going your whole life knowing that your family's love
is ultimately just...
conditional.
What do you think is gonna happen to you...
when this is all over?
What are you supposed to do with yourself now?
Do you have a life?
Huh?
I mean, who even are you without this place?
You wanna know what I think?
I think you're just gonna disappear.
Because if there's one thing I know about you,
it's this: there...
Shut up!
There.
That's who you really are.
After careful consideration of the evidence
brought forth by both parties
concerning April Chen's final International History 300 essay,
this academic tribunal has unanimously found
that there was no sufficient evidence
to suggest that an academic offence has been committed
by the student, April Chen.
Therefore, the grade given on the essay will stand
and she will be awarded her degree in Computer Science.
On behalf of DuPont University,
I would like to thank everyone for coming in today.
Our decision is final
and the university considers this matter closed.
Hello?
So, a deal's a deal.
Right, April?
Hey.
You okay?
Yeah, I'm good.
So what's up?
I need a favour.
Again?
I need you to write a story
about DuPont's plagiarism tribunals
targeting Asian students.
You got caught, didn't you?
You can start by finding the Comp Sci rep.
His name's Josh Bertier.
Yeah, I know Josh.
What do I get out of this?
You know I built a platform that was bought
by Snakeskin Media Group, right?
Does this mean you can get me an interview
at one of their sites?
I can get you a full-time writing position
in their New York bureau.
New York?!
Shit!
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