Using artificial intelligence to complete writing tasks is plagiarism. This should be obvious, and yet a record number of academic infraction cases were brought before the Academic Infractions Board last semester. Not only is AI usage academic dishonesty, it is also laziness. Why spend four years at Kenyon — and up to hundreds of thousands of dollars — to cheaply “Chat” your way through your education? To do so, quite frankly, is a shame. 

We should be a student body that pursues excellence over convenience. Cutting corners to complete a 100-word assignment is not in line with the ethos of a Kenyon education. While we understand how busy students are and how quickly assignments like discussion posts and reaction papers can pile up or appear to be busy work, the purpose of education is not to pass, but to learn. Challenging yourself to push through boredom and to grow as a writer and thinker is core to how we should be learning at a liberal arts institution.

You came to Kenyon to learn — or at least, we hope you did. With learning comes tasks that aren’t always fun. If you are someone who can find enjoyment in crafting discussion posts — great! If not, those posts still serve a purpose. While a single assignment might not make a difference in the quality of your education, consistent AI usage certainly will. And the person you’ll be hurting the most is yourself.

Sincerely,

Annalia, Audrey and Katie

This editorial was written by editors-in-chief Katie Sparvero ’25 and Audrey Baker ’25 and managing editor Annalia Fiore ’25. You can contact them at sparvero1@kenyon.edu, baker10@kenyon.edu and fiore1@kenyon.edu, respectively.