Wikipedia Watch: Not Satisfactory for College Papers
College: Wikipedia Not Source for Papers
Middlebury College in Vermont Says History Students May Not Cite Wikipedia As a Source
The Associated Press
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Middlebury College history students are no longer allowed to use Wikipedia in preparing class papers.
The school's history department recently adopted a policy that says it's OK to consult the popular online encyclopedia, but that it can't be cited as an authoritative source by students.
The policy says, in part, "Wikipedia is not an acceptable citation, even though it may lead one to a citable source."
History professor Neil Waters says Wikipedia is an ideal place to start research but an unacceptable way to end it.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright © 2007 ABC News Internet Ventures
I know that I'm often hard on the "democritization/relativization of knowledge" inherent in the Wikipedia. But in reality, Middlebury College's decision isn't really so much a slam against the Wikipedia as a reaffirmation that encyclopedic references are not suitable for college papers. Any encyclopedia, whether the Wikipedia or Britannica are beginning sources for research that should point to other, more detailed information that would be appropriate in a college paper.
When I was in college, I would have ever used an encyclopedia as a reference, but I often I did stop there first in my research. Could it be that the internet has just made some students a bit lazy?