KOCHI:The students of the English Department of St Albert’s College have set a trend by publishing the first plagiarism free journal from the campus.
The publication titled ‘MELA’ (Magazine of English Literature and Arts) is an attempt by the students to promote original works and to sound a caution against plagiarism.
The concept of bringing out a magazine of original works would encourage students to create original works, said Dr Leslie Thomas, Head of the English Department. Accredited anti-plagiarism software was used by the faculty to scrutinise and select original works by the students, he said.
The task was not easy as there is a tendency among students to resort to cut and paste writing, he added. Naturally, the number of works in the first issue of the magazine was just ten but this would set a benchmark but also a trend in creative writing by the young generation, he hoped.
MELA was released by Fr Antony Arackal, manager, St Albert’s College, by handing over a copy to noted lyricist Madhu Vasudev at a programme held in the College. Prof Harry Cleetus, Principal, T P James, research editor, The New Indian Express, Dr Leslie Thomas, head of the department, Prof Mary Sapna, Prof George Vineeth and student editor Rahul James spoke on the occasion.