Department chair defends accused prof

Sociology Department Chairman Paul Allison announced yesterday that his department will stand behind a faculty member accused of plagiarizing in her latest book.

The University will take no disciplinary action against Kathryn Edin, who was accused of lifting the "analytic scheme" of her new book from the work of another Penn sociologist.

When Edin and her co-author, Maria Kefalas -- a St. Joseph's University professor -- published Promises I Can Keep: Why Poor Women Choose Motherhood Before Marriage in May, rumors began flying throughout the sociology community that their book did not give enough credit to the work of Penn sociologist Elijah Anderson.

To resolve the dispute, Edin and Anderson attended mediation sessions over the summer, the terms of which are confidential.

Both professors agreed to a compromise, and no further discussion was planned.

"The Department of Sociology stands behind the scholarship of Professor Edin and Professor Anderson," Allison wrote in a statement.

Until last Thursday -- when Sociology professor emeritus Harold Bershady sent a memo to the entire Penn Sociology Department accusing Edin of "conceptual plagiarism" -- the issue seemed to have been put to rest.

Bershady's motivation for reviving the controversy is unknown. He has declined repeated requests for comment.

"Professor Bershady has been retired from the University for several years and does not usually participate in departmental affairs," Allison wrote. "He knew about the agreement but decided, for reasons that are unclear to me, to make his charges anyway."

Although Bershady wrote in the memo that he wanted a "full and frank public accounting of the case," Allison called the recent public debate "unwarranted and unnecessary."

Since both Edin and Anderson said they were satisfied with their private resolution, Allison said he considers those mediation techniques adequate to deal with the problem. No formal complaints against Edin were filed.

In the wake of the recent public debate, 13 well-known sociologists have also pledged their support for Edin.

In a letter to The Daily Pennsylvanian, faculty from several prominent American universities expressed their confidence in the originality of Promises I Can Keep.

"The idea that [Edin and Kefalas'] new book ... is 'conceptual plagiarism' of Eli Anderson's work is absurd," the letter read. "While both authors address the question of why poor women have children outside marriage, their arguments could not be more different."

Despite the strong reactions from those both supporting and challenging Edin, the official stance of the department remains unaffected by the recent debate.

"I know [Edin and Anderson] worked very hard to reach an amicable resolution of the issues," Allison wrote. "We hope they ... will remain at Penn for many years to come."

A controversy unfolds - Summer 2005: Professors Edin & Anderson attend mediation sessions and reach a confidential agreement - Sept. 29: An emeritus professor sends a memo to the Sociology Department accusing Edin of 'conceptual plagiarism' - Oct. 5: The department chairman releases a statement saying he stands behind the accused professor

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.