I'm a professor at a small college who deals with academic integrity violations four or five times each year. Students who are suspected of cheating have to prove their innocence beyond a reasonable doubt, not the other way around. I love the U. S. legal system, but in running and academics, the burden of proof is on the accused, not the accuser. I'm so fed up with our society's washed-out moral and ethical standards of behavior. If we all don't start holding ourselves to a higher standard, especially we runners, our future looks bleak indeed.
There. I've said my piece.[/quote]
"but in running and academics, the burden of proof is on the accused, not the accuser."
So what you are saying is that if someone accuses a student for cheating, and even tho he didnt do it but just because he cant prove that he was guilty he will be punished? How ridiculous! This is not the way it should be. You are innocent until proven otherwise, not guilty until you can prove your innocence.