Lie detector tests are generally thought of as tools to prove or disprove the innocence of possible criminals. But for one SIUC student, taking a lie detector test was an attempt to get a course grade changed from a B to an A.

Brent Ibata, a senior in pre-med from Chicago, said he turned in a physics homework assignment to the physics office on May 5. But the assignment never made it into the hands of his professor, Kenneth Johnson.

He received zero points for the assignment which lowered his grade to 89.2. Ibata said he had received straight A’s before the missing assignment.

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Ibata said he thought a lie detector test would prove that he was honest about turning in the assignment.

Ibata traveled to St Louis to Executive Screening Services where he took a lie detector test and passed.

The whole argument was that I couldn’t prove I turned in the assignment, Ibata said. So I thought this would be a way I could prove I did turn it in.

According to the College of Science procedural policies, a complaint regarding grades must first go directly to the professor. If the complaint is not resolved, then the complainant has the option of going to the chair of the department with the complaint, but has only 30-days to do so.

Ibata said he did not get the grade changed, despite giving a formal written complaint to his professor and to the physics chair,

Dr. Tao, chairman of the physics department, said there was not a hearing because Ibata did not meet the 30 day deadline.

If the complainant is still not satisfied, policy allows that a student may appeal to the dean of the college within 30 days after receiving the decision of the chairman to request a hearing.

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Associate Dean of Science William Dyer, who handled the case, could not be reached for comment.

Ibata said he appealed his case at the dean’s level, but his complaint was once again denied because of failure to meet the 30-day deadline.

He (Dyer) did not even look at how equitable a hearing would be, Ibata said. He did not want the case to go any further than his office.

Ibata said he tried to contact the professor within the 30 days, but he was unsuccessful. Since a complaint must first go through the professor, Ibata said he no chance of meeting the deadline.

In a written statement, Clinton R. Cook, who administrated the test, said It is my opinion that Brent A. Ibata was being truthful when he answered the aforementioned questions.

Cook asked Ibata if he turned in the assignment, whether he turned it in on time and if he completed it on time. Ibata was recorded as replying yes to all three questions.

Johnson said he could not comment because the appeal was in litigation.

In a signed statement, to the chairman of the physics department,Johnson said There is no evidence that the scantron sheet (homework) was lost by the Physics Department. To the best of my knowledge, no scantron sheet has been lost during the past 15 years that I have taught this or similar courses.

In conclusion, since I am unable to locate Mr. Ibata’s scantron sheet for homework number 8, I am unable to assign him any grade other than a zero for this homework.

Ibata said the policies of Loyola, where he used to attend, automatically give the student a hearing if they have a complaint. Ibata said he thought he would receive the same treatment here.

They told me I had to generate a witness, he said. I told them I generally did not bring witnesses when I turned in my homework.

I didn’t even know the procedures until it was too late.

Now Ibata has taken the matter to the office of Ben Shepherd, Vice-President of Academic Affairs.

Allan Perkins, associate vice-president of academic affairs said his office will review the case and come to an opinion on the situation. But Perkins said he cannot change the grade.

We can make recommendations to the dean, who can make recommendations to the chair, who can make recommendations to the professor, he said. But it is still the professor’s decision to make the change in the grade.

Ibata initially complained that a B on his transcript would affect his chances of getting into the medical schools he has applied for.

I was waiting for this grade to get cleared up before I sent out transcripts, he said. But it is getting to late, and I don’t think they are going to change the grade.

Now that his applications have already been sent out and the grade cannot be taken back, Ibata said he is fighting the B out of the principle of what he thinks is right.

I am now trying to make them aware that the University’s procedural process is wrong, he said. It makes me hate going to school here.