IS COPYING MATERIAL WITHOUT CITATION PLAGIARISM?  IT DEPENDS ON WHAT “IS” IS:   Ah, the joys of academia. These days it is virtually impossible to condemn someone for plagiarism. They simply blame a student research assistant, freelance editor, or other third party.  And it gets even more complicated when the faculty member in question is a member of a minority group. The latest tale from the history department at Arizona State University.