Double standard

I'm sure you've seen it on the news: Harvard sophomore Kaavya Viswanathan writes a book (How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life), and is accused of "literary borrowing" (a.k.a. plagiarism). It seems that she "borrowed" passages for Opal Mehta from authors Megan McCafferty, Meg Cabot, and Sophie Kinsella. Publisher Little, Brown and Co. cancelled her two-book deal, and Viswanathan has been excoriated on every blog from here to Bolivia. (As an aside, a friend of mine will be published by Little, Brown next year, but Sara writes her own books).

Compare Viswanathan's downfall with that of William Swanson. Swanson, the CEO of Raytheon, wrote a booklet. It turns out that Swanson's Unwritten Rules of Management actually were written...in 1944 by W.J. King (The Unwritten Laws of Engineering). Swanson's punishment? He won't get as many stock options as he would have been eligble for (cut by a whole 20%!), and as if that's not punishment enough, he won't get a raise this year! Imagine trying to live on only $1,120,934 a year (less bonuses, of course).

Send your donations to:

William Swanson Raytheon Company 870 Winter Street Waltham, MA 02451-1449