In the spirit of goodwill and for the sake of the goal of commencement, study groups have been encouraged by some administrations in several different classes which involve the sharing of notes taken in class.

This innocent tool of learning and sharing information, has been blemished by the selfish and egotistical act of selling ones notes taken in class to websites that are intended for folks that do not show up to class for whatever reason.

This less-than-noble form of study has forced the hand of administrations to once again micro-manage the whole lot of us because the stupid selfishness of just a few misguided, enterprising idiots.

In order to deter the selling of notes from student to student, some administrations from both UC and California State University campuses strictly prohibit the selling and in some cases, even the sharing of notes taken in class, which would now be considered a copyright infringement issue. That is to say, the students do not have any rights over any of the material gathered in class.

This is the problem: The majority of students do not publish study notes for the sake of making a profit with material and information that did not come directly from themselves.

The intent and purpose of this ordinance speaks clearly to those who want to have an education, but do not wish to put in all the necessary time and effort to accomplish that goal.

To pass a class with somebody else’s notes is like making a purchase with stolen money. And what would be the purpose of passing a test by answering questions one has never studied and giving correct answers that one does not even understand. That is not the purpose of school, studying or an education. There is an old expression, stating, “Clever people are seldom intelligent.” In this case, a truer statement could not be said. If you want a degree in any given subject, you’ll have to earn it. On your own.

If you don’t have the time, patience, drive or will to earn a degree without buying notes somebody else wrote, then you do not deserve it. This is a universal law of cause and effect.

The problem with this ordinance is not the goal it is trying to achieve. Asking people not to quasi-cheat is not unreasonable. Creating a learning environment that assures a purity in study with integrity of self accomplishment should be the standard.