Cheating Scandal: 83 Students Allegedly Cheated Via App at OSU

A general view of Ohio State Buckeyes and Clemson Tigers team flags prior to the Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on Jan. 3, 2014, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Dozens Ohio State University students are being accused of using an app to help them cheat on classwork, NBC4i reported.

The university said that 83 students were caught using the “GroupMe” app. They collaborated on assignments in OSU’s Fisher College of Business.

“Students charged with academic misconduct violations may accept responsibility for the charges or request a hearing,” OSU spokesman Benjamin Johnson said in a statement, NBC4i reported. “If found in violation, students receive sanctions based on the nature and severity of the violation in accordance with university standards and protocols,” he said.

They were charged with violating OSU’s student code of conduct.

“I know it is very serious in Fisher and we don’t cheat because I don’t want to get out of the college,” said senior student Yulyla Abukhovich, NBC4 reported. “I think it is not right, but collaboration is required for a lot of classes especially in Fisher so as long as you don’t cross this boundary I think it is good to use it.”

The app lets users send chats to large groups of people simultaneously.

The investigation began after a professor reported the allegations in April, Fox8 reported. The names of the students haven’t been released to the public.

Penalties range from mere warnings to expulsion.

GroupMe hasn’t responded to the allegations. It is ranked 14th among social networking apps in the Apple Store.