She Had High Hopes

but oops, there goes another doctor's degree. The line is referring to our Minister of Science and Education and giving once more tribute to Ol' Blue Eyes*.

Thirty-two years ago, Annette Schavan submitted a thesis titled: Person und Gewissen (Personality and Conscience) to Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf. On February 5, the University revoked her degree because, as a doctoral candidate, she systematically and deliberately presented intellectual efforts throughout her entire dissertation that were not her own. As such, she is guilty of intentional deception through plagiarism. The faculty board voting 12 to 2, arrived at the decision to declare German Science and Education Minister Annette Schavan's Ph.D. thesis invalid and to revoke her doctorate.
*I still remember that at one time, Sinatra had changed the lyrics of High Hopes singing: Vote for Kennedy ...

Cartoon found in Badische Zeitung of February 6, 2013: In Goethe's play Faust the titular character sitting in his study deliberates about the recent plagiarism revealed:

Now here I sit, a fool for sure!
No wiser than I was before:
Master, Doctor, what they call me,
Holding the titles already many years.
Still have to tremble all the time
That they will pin plagiarism onto mine.

Why "oops" another doctor's degree? Remember Defense Minister Karl-Theodor von und zu Guttenberg stepping down from his position in the spring of 2011 after it was proven that he had plagiarized large sections of his Ph.D.? He somehow fled Germany and is now hiding somewhere in the US, booed by students and professors alike whenever he tries to spread his wisdom on the relation between the US and Europe at one of the universities in the States. Nevertheless, Theodor kept his title of nobility. In contrast, without passing a bachelor's or master's degree - Annette directly wrote her thesis, an unusual practice at a German university - she is now without academic qualifications. Although even the political parties in opposition to the Merkel government acknowledge her excellent work, is this sufficient for a Minister of Science and Education to talk to her peers?

What makes me angry is that when von Guttenberg's thesis was under attack, Schavan declared openly: Pirating material is no trivial offense; for the protection of intellectual property is a great good. She had added that she was ashamed, not just secretly, concerning her colleague. What a pharisaical attitude compared to the title of her "was a thesis!"

While on an official trip to South Africa, Schavan told some waiting journalists: I will not accept the decision and shall file a suit against the University of Düsseldorf. Back from her business trip to South Africa, where she was attributed a doctor honoris causa, Annette Schavan resigned as minister on February 9, 2013.

*