Why Melania Trump's Plagiarism Is Inexcusable | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

Why Melania Trump's Plagiarism Is Inexcusable

If she was in college she wouldn't get a second chance.

13
Why Melania Trump's Plagiarism Is Inexcusable

Social media has been buzzing lately about the fact that a section of Melania Trump’s speech at the Republican National Convention was plagiarized from Michelle Obama’s 2008 speech at the Democratic National Convention. When you look at the speeches side by side, there is no denying the rumors are true.

For 36 hours, the Trump campaign denied that any part of Melania’s speech was plagiarized, but then Meredith McIver came forward and acknowledged herself as the speechwriter, apologizing for her mistake. She said she offered her resignation to Donald Trump, but he denied it. He said, “everyone makes mistakes.”

And this also is true. Everyone does make mistakes. But when you plagiarize the current first lady’s speech during a presidential campaign, mistakes matter, and should be consequential.

At Boston College, and I’m sure most other universities, penalties for plagiarism and other violations of academic integrity can include university probation, suspension or expulsion because the theft of intellectual property is not a crime to be dealt with lightly. Boston College defines plagiarism as "the act of taking the words, ideas, data, illustrations or statements of another person or source, and presenting them as one's own. Each student is responsible for learning and using proper methods of paraphrasing and footnoting, quotation, and other forms of citation, to ensure that the original author, speaker, illustrator, or source of the material used is clearly acknowledged.”

Even if, as McIver claims, she did not check Michelle Obama’s speech to make sure there was a significant distinction between their words, copying the same “ideas” so closely also is considered plagiarism. It is not professional or ethical, two adjectives that ought to describe a presidential campaign.

Meredith McIver aside, one way Melania Trump could have avoided this humiliation would have been to write her own speech. Because regardless of who actually wrote it, she is the one who represents the words read to the public. I have spoken with many individuals on this matter, and I’m usually met with: “Well no one writes their own speeches.” While this may be correct, that does not mean that politicians cannot write their own speeches.

I’m going to pick on Melania for a moment, but only because she made herself the perfect target, not because I have any specific disdain for her. This goes for all politicians.

I’ve heard on the news how well educated Melania Trump is. She speaks five languages: English, Slovenian, French, Serbian and German. This is certainly an intelligent woman we are speaking of. And she is campaigning to hold an extremely powerful and respected position in our country, alongside her husband Donald Trump. Would it be so difficult, then, for such a clearly scholarly woman to take the time to write her own speech? If we were speaking of Trump himself, I might let it slide, because he’s running for president. And though I’m sure Melania has numerous responsibilities during this time, I’d go out on a limb and say her speech in front of the Republican National Convention should have taken top priority.

Even if she’d jotted down a draft or two, and then given them to her speechwriters for editing, she would have escaped this entire plagiarism debacle. She has basically a 50-percent chance of becoming America’s next first lady; shouldn’t she put in a little academic effort?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
nothing on to-do list

Winter break is a cherished time for many after enduring a grueling fall semester. It’s a time of relaxation and time spent with loved ones over the holidays. However, once the new year rolls around, we’re all ready to go back to school. Here are thoughts every college student has during winter break.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

2696
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

5329
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

3308
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments