When you put your name on your work, you are implicitly saying, "this is my work." When you steal the ideas of others without giving them credit and call those ideas your own, you diminish the value of your name. The Student Conduct Code (http://conduct.truman.edu/conduct_code_rules.htm) defines plagiarism as "representing the words or ideas of another as one's own in any academic exercise. The term 'plagiarism' includes, but is not limited to, (a) the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work or sections of a work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement; (b) the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials, including material taken from or ordered through the Internet; and/or (c) the unacknowledged use of original work/material that has been produced through collaboration with others without release in writing from collaborators." Plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, is a serious academic offense. Hence, you need to know how to recognize and avoid plagiarism. The Reference Librarians suggest that you consult the following web resources

A large problem for many college women and an increasing number of men is eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. In conjunction with National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, University Counseling Services and the Student Health Center will offer free eating disorder screenings on Wednesday, March 1 from 9 am until 11 am at University Counseling Services and from 4 pm until 5 pm at the Student Health Center. An online version of the screening is also available at at https://mentalhealthscreening.org/screening/welcome.asp. 

If you have a friend you believe has an eating disorder, try:

• Talking to them when you are calm, not frustrated or emotional. Be kind.

• Mentioning evidence you have heard or seen that suggests disordered eating. Don't dwell on appearance or weight. Instead talk about health, relationships, and mood.

• Realizing that your friend will not change until she or he wants to.

• Providing information. Provide them with good books and informative websites (http://www.anred.com/ and http://www.something-fishy.org/)

• Being supportive and caring. Be a good listener and don't give advice unless you are asked to do so. Even then, be prepared to have it ignored.

• Continually suggesting professional help. Don't pester. Don't give up either.

• Agreeing that recovery is hard, but emphasize that many people have done it.

• Offering to go with him or her the first time to see a counselor if your friend is frightened to see a counselor.

• Asking yourself what you want out of life. Consider the effect your eating disorder has on your dreams.

• Considering how your life might look without an eating disorder.

• Asking people you trust for 'reality checks' and feedback.

• Asking others for help and support.

• Beginning to challenge the life story that your eating disorder has written for you. Rewrite a truer story.

• Challenging your thinking. Is that your voice or the voice of your eating disorder? When you hear it talking, go against it. Tell it to shut up and acknowledge your courageous move as a victory.

If you need to talk to someone about eating disorders (or any other mental health issue) contact University Counseling Services at 785-4014 to make an appointment to meet with a mental health professional.

Quote of the Week

--From Science Nourishes the Mind and Soul by Brian Greene from NPR Morning Edition Series "This I Believe"