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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Student says plagiarism was message to Ybarra

Associated Press
An Idaho high school student newspaper editor says she intentionally plagiarized an editorial because she wanted send a message to State Superintendent-elect Sherri Ybarra. Earlier this year the Republican was accused of plagiarism because some text on her campaign website exactly copied portions of her opponent’s website. As first reported by Idaho Public Television, the Borah High School student newspaper copied a piece from Boise Weekly writer George Prentice with an editor’s note explaining why: The staff felt that if the new head of schools could plagiarize, so could they. Senior Harmony Soto tells The Associated Press that she hopes it sparks more people to pay attention to political candidates. Soto said she first got permission from Prentice before plagiarizing his words. Ybarra’s spokeswoman Melinda Nothern was aware of the editorial, but had not read it as of Wednesday afternoon. She had no immediate comment.