A University Student in Minnesota, Accused of Utilizing AI, Files Lawsuit Against Institution for Expulsion
Haishan Yang, a University of Minnesota Ph.D. candidate, is embroiled in a contentious legal battle following his expulsion for supposedly utilizing AI to write his essays. Yang vehemently denies the accusations, labeling the situation as a "conspiracy" against him, as reported by local Minneapolis NBC affiliate KARE11. He's currently suing the university due to the financial consequences, like the loss of his student visa.
The controversy stems from a preliminary exam Yang completed remotely from Morocco during the summer of 2024. This exam required essays within an eight-hour timeframe using study materials but not AI. Yang insists he penned his answers manually, but his examiners strongly disagree.
A panel of four professors reviewed Yang's responses, asserting they discovered concepts not covered in class, unusual acronyms, and similarities in content and formatting between Yang's work and ChatGPT-generated essays. Yang contends the similarities arise from ChatGPT drawing from the same sources as himself, while also believing the professors manipulated ChatGPT-generated answers to resemble his responses more closely.
Both parties maintain that individual contexts outside the essay responses are essential to the case. Yang alleges animosity was directed towards him, with his financial support cut off and derogatory comments made. A subsequent appeal won him funding and an apology.
Conversely, the professors highlighted that this wasn't the first time they alleged AI usage from Yang. They cited an assignment where Yang confessed to using AI for English grammar checks, but not for generating answers, which led to a warning without further consequences.
Yang's case was dismissed by the university's panel, driving him to file lawsuits at both the state and federal levels against both professors and the university themselves. Yang declared he used ChatGPT in writing his lawsuit filings, emphasizing the distinction between the contestable exam and the lawsuit context.
The University of Minnesota has maintained that it adhered to its policies and procedures during the disciplinary hearing, and that their actions were fair. However, they've refrained from directly commenting on the specific accusations due to privacy laws.
Experts raise concerns about the reliability of current AI detection tools, as well as fairness to students who rely on AI for academic support, such as non-native English speakers or those with neurodivergent conditions. Perhaps a more reliable approach would be designing tough assignments that AI tools can't easily mimic.
As of now, Yang resides overseas due to visa constraints and handles his legal proceedings self-represented while seeking affordable attorney assistance. The University of Minnesota is due to file its legal responses imminently.
- In his lawsuit, Haishan Yang claimed that he used ChatGPT to assist him in drafting his legal filings, emphasizing the distinction between the controversial exam and the lawsuit context.
- Allegedly, the panel of professors found concepts not covered in class, unusual acronyms, and similarities in content and formatting between Yang's work and ChatGPT-generated essays in the 2024 preliminary exam.
- Haishan Yang's case has sparked debate among experts about the reliability of AI detection tools and the fairness to students who rely on AI for academic support.
- Following his expulsion, Yang is currently in a legal battle against the University of Minnesota due to the financial consequences, such as the loss of his student visa, caused by the allegations of AI usage in his essays.
