School Revokes TPP Lawmaker's Degree for Plagiarism 碩士學位遭撤銷 蔡壁如將提救濟申覆

Takming University of Science and Technology recently revoked TPP Legislator Tsai Pi-ru's master's degree. Tsai said on Oct. 14 that if she violated academic ethics by neglecting to cite sources, then she will assume responsibility. She intends to apply for a review, and will resign as legislator if the defects are confirmed.

Tsai Pi-ru, TPP Legislator：“If the review result is that there were omissions in the citation of sources that violated academic ethics, then I will take responsibility even though I don't agree. I will also take steps to defend my interests. I would like the school to make related review materials public, and I will file an application for another review in accordance with the law.”

Takming University of Science and Technology recently received a report claiming that there were improper citations in the thesis TPP Legislator Tsai Pi-ru wrote for her master's degree in information management. The school's thesis committee reviewed the paper and concluded Tsai had failed to properly cite some of the research results and conclusions, which is a violation of academic ethics. The school decided to revoke her degree.

Tsai Pi-ru, TPP Legislator：“I'm willing to take political responsibility if there are unacceptable issues with my thesis. I don't think I will miss being a legislator.”

Chien Shu-pei, DPP Taipei City Councilor：“Tsai Pi-ru should apologize to me right now, because she referenced an entire Facebook post by me in her master's degree thesis. I would like her to learn from Lin Chih-chien and resign as legislator and then she can defend her innocence.”

Many politicians, including a number of candidates in the year-end elections, have been accused of plagiarism. On Oct. 14, Tsai convened a press conference. She said she's not a candidate in the elections, so there's no reason for anyone to waste resources on her. She added that there's no need to use this method to hurt the chances of her party in the elections.

Ko Wen-je, Taipei City Mayor：“With regards to Tsai Pi-ru, I asked her yesterday what actually happened. I believe she didn't intend to subjectively plagiarize.”

TPP Chairperson Ko Wen-je expressed his support for Tsai. He said he will wait until the full text of the judgement is released and issue a response to the specific allegations. He believes Tsai did not intend to plagiarize.
 

民眾黨立委蔡壁如表示：「如果只是在出處上面的引用的一個疏漏，違反了學術倫理，這樣的審查結果，我固然不服，但是我必須要來承擔。同時我也會捍衛自己的權益，也請學校公開相關的審查資料， 依法提出救濟的申覆。」

民眾黨立委蔡壁如就讀德明財經科技大學在職專班的碩士論文，遭檢舉有不當引用情形，經德明科大學倫會審議，認定蔡壁如在研究結果與結論部分，部分未加以適當引注，違反學術倫理，教務會議通過撤銷學位。

民眾黨立委蔡壁如表示：「如果說我的論文有瑕疵、不能夠被接受，那我也不會迴避，願意負起政治責任。我想我不會去眷戀立委這個職位。」

民進黨台北市議員簡舒培：「蔡壁如應該立即向我本人來道歉，因為在她的碩士論文裡面引用了我的臉書的完整文章。我只要求妳學習林智堅辭去妳現在的立委職責，然後再來捍衛妳自己的清白。」

年底選舉衍生出論文攻防，蔡壁如14日親上火線召開記者會，強調她沒有要參選，也不是候選人，有心人士不必浪費資源在她身上，若要藉此打擊民眾黨進而影響選情，大可不必。

台北市長柯文哲表示：「蔡壁如的問題是這樣，我昨天也問她到底發生什麼事，我相信她是沒有主觀要去抄襲的意圖。」

柯文哲力挺到底，強調態度坦蕩，等到判決書全文出爐後，就具體指控事項來回應，並相信蔡壁如絕無抄襲意圖。