By Jeff Moss
DetroitSportsRag@GMail.com
January 25, 2016
Drexel University. The University of Pittsburgh. Drew University. Brown University. Fordham University. Goucher College. Tufts University.
All of the above-listed schools of higher learning have one thing in common. They have distanced themselves from serial rapist Bill Cosby by revoking honorary degrees presented to the disgraced comedian when he was still a beloved figure and not a defendant.
And while we aren’t comparing drugging dozens and dozens of women before raping them to the “crime” of plagiarism, we have to ask when Detroit Catholic Central will rescind the “Distinguished Alumnus Award” the parochial school bestowed upon Drew Sharp in 2010.
Yes, the Catholic school feted Sharp at a dinner in 2010. The school pulled out all of the stops, even having MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo introduce the Freep columnist to the gathering of CC alumni.
ADVERTISEMENT
You have to wonder what the faculty and other distinguished alumni are thinking now that the DSR has contacted the school to inquire as to why Sharp has not been stripped of this honor in the wake of his plagiarizing the work of iSportsWeb.com blogger David Harns.
Early Friday morning I sent the following email to Father John Huber, the president of Detroit Catholic Central ….
As of this writing I have not heard back from Father Huber. Considering that the school’s motto is “Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge,” you’d have to wonder how they can stomach one of their “Distinguished Alumni” being nothing more than a petty, lazy thief.
Not only a common criminal, but one who STILL hasn’t apologized to his victim. It has now been six weeks since Sharp was caught lifting Harns’ material and the columnist still hasn’t personally offered a mea culpa to Harns.
And even if he did, at this late date, would anyone think it genuine? How very Christian.
And it’s not like plagiarism is specifically mentioned in the school’s Code of Ethics …
Oh, crap, it is. And what kind of message does it send to the current student body if an unrepentant plagiarist — who finds the offense humorous — gets away with this theft without facing any repercussions?
If Catholic Central doesn’t revoke the honor they are basically stating that plagiarism is acceptable to them. Just like the Detroit Free Press before them when they suspended Sharp for two weeks but refused to cop to what occurred.
Will Catholic Central handle the Sharp plagiarism scandal like his radio employer Detroit Sports 105.1 did? By claiming that since the disingenuous troll’s malfeasance didn’t occur on their watch they don’t have to address it at all?
You would think a high school that has its basic foundation in the teaching of Christ would have a moral obligation to respond to this matter.
And what about the school’s famous alumni?
Maybe we should contact them and ask them how they feel about being associated with a plagiarist …..
I wonder if Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan believes that plagiarism is the electric chair of morality. You can ask him at Info@DugganForDetroit.com.
Or how about former Attorney General Mike Cox? You can reach him on his Facebook page.
Maybe try Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bryan Gruley. You can email the Bloomberg News reporter at grules@bryangruley.com.
Or you could post a comment on former Michigan Chief Justice Thomas E. Brennan’s blog asking the founder of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School what the judge thinks of stealing someone else’s hard work.
I’d actually advise you contact all of the above Catholic Central alumni and ask them what they think of their fellow “distinguished” comrade.
If you are REALLY enterprising you could also peruse this list and ask any of the following notable alumni what they think of Mr. Sharp ….
Finally, I would implore you to ask Father Huber or Principal Father Dennis Noelke how Detroit Catholic Central plans on handling the shameful behavior of 1978 graduate Not the Sharpest Drew.
Or any of the other staff members you can find on this handy directory …
Let us pray …..