I am writing this petition out of sheer frustration and desperation. I was one of the many students in Math 2D at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) who received a blanket accusation of academic dishonesty. Without any explanation or detailed reasoning, I logged into my student portal to discover a zero on my midterm and final exam. The only communication from Professor Hamid Hezari was an ambiguous announcement on Canvas stating that accusations were made after a careful review, and only the 'strongest evidence' was reported.

It is perplexing and deeply concerning that such serious accusations are being made with no transparency. I've invested tens of thousands of dollars in my education at UCI, and with this sudden accusation, my academic future is now clouded with uncertainty. The method by which these accusations have been issued, seemingly without due process, highlights the negligence and incompetence at play. Furthermore, it is detrimental not only to our future coursework within the university, it is also detrimental to our wellbeing and mental health

The lack of a structured and understandable process for such accusations is unacceptable. Students, like myself, deserve to understand the basis of any allegations made against them. Being informed and given an opportunity to defend oneself is not just a right but a necessity, especially when the stakes involve future careers and reputations.

We demand that UCI conducts a thorough review of the procedures surrounding accusations of academic dishonesty, particularly in the Math 2D course under Professor Hezari. This should include clear, written explanations for each accusation, an opportunity for students to present their side, and an independent audit of the cases to ensure fairness. I also demand the school holds grades for those who are accused (Example: F to NR while the case plays out)

It's essential for UCI to uphold its reputation as a fair and prestigious institution by ensuring transparency and due process in its academic dishonesty accusations. I urge fellow students, alumni, faculty, and anyone who values integrity and fairness to support this petition.

Please sign the petition to help the school and the professor not only realize the mistake they’ve made, but to move quickly to resolve this matter for the better of their students.