Does Hacking Grades Warrant 20 Years in Jail?

While there have been many students who decided they would rather change their grades than come by them the usual way, the punishments for the most part have been pretty reasonable. However, the latest chapter in this type of behavior finds two culprits facing a $250,000 fine and 20 years in jail based on the number of charges leveled against them. "The guys have been charged with "unauthorized computer access, identity theft, conspiracy, and wire fraud." Obviously, these guys did a bad thing, but it's hard to see how the possible sentence matches with the crime. Of course, it seems unlikely that any judge would give them the maximum sentence, but even hearing that it's possible just for changing your grades seems ridiculous."

Re:Confusing The Issue

[elrous0]

Actually, if the 80's taught me nothing else it was that hacking grades was a slippery slope to international espionage. One day you're changing your grades, the next you're starting a global thermonuclear war and getting yelled at by Dabney Coleman.

They've got bigger problems than this...

[penguin_dance]

They're 29 and 28 years old and STILL in college!

Link to the full story [infoworld.com]

That's easy for you to say...

[nunyadambinness]

But you left out that they could cause a Global Thermonuclear War.

Re:Simple Solution

[Rob the Bold]

Don't break the law.

Simple and authoritarian, what's not to love?

Re:Simple Solution

[CortoMaltese]

This reminds me of a joke with another simple solution:

A student comes to a young professor's office. She glances down the hall, closes his door, kneels pleadingly.

"I would do anything to pass this exam."

She leans closer to him, flips back her hair, gazes meaningfully into his eyes. "I mean..." she whispers, "I would do... anything."

He returns her gaze. "Anything?"

"Anything."

His voice softens. "Anything?"

"Anything."

His voice turns to a whisper. "Would you... study?"

Re:Confusing The Issue

[kurzweilfreak]

For $5, I'll change your English grades....

Re:Simple Solution

[felipekk]

Although this is a funny comment, that is exactly why I don't want to be a professor.
I mean, I can be kinda weak sometimes...

Re:Simple Solution

[Anonymous Coward]

To each his own. I mean, I would do anything to be a professor. Anything.

Re:Confusing The Issue

[gbulmash]

"replaced all the computer batteries with turnips"

My VAIO laptop might have a longer battery life on a turnip than it does on the Sony battery that came with it.