Marcia Carroll, PEI Council of Disabled CEO and plagiarist

Executive Director submits letter to newspaper under her signature that she stole from someone else

It’s OK to use other people’s words but it’s not ethical to claim you wrote them.

Pride turned to sorrow and then despair yesterday when I read the eloquent letter from Marcia Carroll, Executive Director of the PEI Council of People with Disabilities.

Empowering People with Disabilities was published in the Charlottetown Guardian under the name “Marcia Carroll is executive director of the P.E.I. Council of People with Disabilities.”

As soon as I read the well-written first paragraph I knew I had already seen it before. Some of it was written by Traci Walters of Independent Living in Ottawa Ontario on November 27, 2009.

Carroll stole her letter from an invitation sent out by Independent Living for an event they were holding in Ottawa to celebrate UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

“Plagiarism, as defined in the 1995 Random House Compact Unabridged Dictionary, is the “use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one’s own original work.” Within academia, plagiarism by students, professors, or researchers is considered academic dishonesty or academic fraud and offenders are subject to academic censure, up to and including expulsion. In journalism, plagiarism is considered a breach of journalistic ethics, and reporters caught plagiarizing typically face disciplinary measures ranging from suspension to termination of employment.” Wikipedia

Plagiarism is theft of someone else’s words and the misrepresentation of them as your own. Carroll has a degree from UPEI so she understands that plagiarism is unethical and dishonest.

The UPEI student guide says “Not documenting your evidence means you are guilty of plagiarism, or an attempt to pass off someone elses words and/or work as your own. University students often inadvertently plagiarize by copying passages word-for-word from sources, and then later using this material in their papers without crediting the sources.” UPEI

Carroll knows better. She plagiarized her letter last year. See Council of Disabled lacks ethics

Does it matter? People with ethics act ethically and honorable. We have been saying for years PEI Council of People with Disabilities is not representing us. It wants the glory but doesn’t have the guts to look after the interests of Islanders with disabilities.

How much of her letter is copied from somewhere else? Carroll’s letter to the Guardian is 485 words long. She wrote about 100 words herself then copied the rest without giving attribution for her sources.  The first two paragraphs of her letter are almost word for word.

Tracy Walters wrote “The annual observance of the United Nation’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on December 3rd promotes a fuller understanding of disability issues, and the human rights of persons with disabilities. IDPD is intended to provide an opportunity to mobilize for the enjoyment of human rights and full participation in society by persons with disabilities.”

Marcia Carroll wrote ” The annual observance of the United Nation’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on Dec. 3 promotes a fuller understanding of disability issues, and the human rights of persons with disabilities. IDPD is intended to provide an opportunity to mobilize for the enjoyment of human rights and full participation in society by persons with disabilities.” (the word in bold is the difference, a contraction of the word December)

The 3rd paragraph is plagiarized from the UN document announcing the celebration.

The UN document says “However, all over the world, persons with disabilities continue to face barriers to their participation in society and are often forced to live on the margins of society…Many persons with disabilities are forced into institutions…”

Carroll plagiarizes “However, all over the world, persons with disabilities continue to face barriers to their participation in society and are often forced to live on the margins of our communities. Many are forced into institutions…”