Ethical Case Study 2

Shelby has been studying for the past two weeks for her final in chemistry. Her grade in the class is much lower than it should be, and she wants to improve it. By declining party invitations, restricting her time with friends, and spending hours in the library, Shelby has done a lot to prepare for her exam.

Come exam day, Shelby sits next to a friend who lives on the same floor in her dorm. Talking with her before the test, Shelby notices that this friend has hidden a cheat sheet at the top of her backpack. Ordinarily, Shelby wouldn't be concerned about it; however, the instructor has already announced that he will be grading the test on a strict curve. Even if everyone does really well, the professor will divide up the grades to make sure there's a limited number of A's and B's.

Should Shelby report what she's seen to the teacher? Should she keep it to herself?