Identical Twins Denied Degree Over Exam Results, Charge University $3M

No Ordinary Exam The twins were exhausted after six hours of writing their final exams. Although they knew this was no ordinary exam, they pressed on anyway. It was supposed to be the stripping stone to let them embark on the long-awaited career they had always wanted. Their eyes were blurred with tears as they sat before the school disciplinary committee. They couldn't believe they were watching in real-time as their dreams were snuffed. Fess Up Pexels It never should've gotten this messy. They were never informed that things had escalated to this extent. However, the committee took its work seriously. One of the professors yanked his glasses from his face as he declared, "Cheating in an examination is a severe offense. Admit you cheated, and we can put this behind us." They were trying to trick them into fessing up. They refused to admit to something they didn't do. Their Dream Pexels For Beaufort natives Sadie and Sally Miller, attending the Medical University of South Carolina had always been their dream. Having studied hard for long hours in high school, they were able to secure their positions there. Their dream had come true, and the nineteen-year-old twins were overjoyed. They had no idea that their lives were about to be ruined by a simple misunderstanding. The Ultimate Goal Pexels Their ultimate goal had always been to become doctors. No matter what their background was, helping others spoke to them, and it should have been their life's work. But the day Sadie sat next to her sister in front of a panel of professors, the school's dean, their mother, and several student leaders, it seemed that their dream would never come true. The girls couldn't help the tears that rolled down their cheeks. The painful end was here. Wasting Time Pexels While everything unfolded in front of her, Sadie sat silently. She couldn't help but reflect on the week before the painful day. As usual, the girls sat through many late nights studying. They grinned as they sipped their coffees and stacked more textbooks on their night desks. "This is it," they had reminded each other. They felt so confident in themselves. However, they would soon learn that none of it mattered and they were wasting their time. Natural Memory Pexels It had never occurred to Sadie to cheat on an exam. Having a natural memory unlike anyone else, she had a gift for remembering things in a way that most people couldn't. Many people found it odd that she loved studying and always preferred it over spending time with friends or traveling during the holidays. Sally was the only person with whom she ever let loose. But Sally was different. They Were Different Pexels Despite being identical twins and looking similar, the girls were very different in every way. Sally enjoyed being outdoors while Sadie preferred snuggling on the couch with a good book. Did she ever miss a campus party or spend a Friday night away from the sorority house? Sadie warned that if she wasn't careful, this behavior would come back to bite her. But here they were, watching as everything they'd worked for fell apart. Unhinged Pexels The professors continued to talk as Sally watched. As opposed to her, who was wallowing in tears, Sally was clear-eyed and leaning into her seat as if nothing had happened. While sitting, she spread her knees as wide as possible, instead of crossing her legs as a lady should. She chewed gum loudly, wearing cargo shorts instead of a respectable dress. What could possibly have caused her to become so unhinged? Top Student Pexels Sadie watched her dreams fade before her eyes as she sat quietly. She felt her mom's support as she squeezed her fingers. It was obvious even to her that Sadie had not cheated. The girl's hard work had always been rewarded with results. Through high school and most of her four years of medical school, Sadie was the top student. But what about her sister? Could they say the same about Sally? Similar Results Pexels Even though Sadie and Sally had different behavioral characteristics, both excelled academically. Their academic performance was usually a reflection of that indescribable connection that only twins had. They scored similar results, but they usually differed by a few points. There was no doubt that they were both extremely intelligent and hard-working. As a result, Sadie knew the exam results would be similar when the disciplinary committee presented them. Sketchy Behavior Pexels While taking exams in the school library, the twins' professors observed some sketchy behavior between the sisters. Their pace of answering questions was similar, even though they were sitting across the room from one another. Almost simultaneously, they lifted their heads to look for each other and asked for extra pencils. But there's much more to it than that. The girls had a lot to defend. Monitoring Their Work Pexels When the head professor observed the exam answers in real time, he leaned toward the screen of his computer. He'd noticed something very interesting. The professor was surprised to find that not only were the twins moving through the paper at a similar pace, but they were getting the same questions correct. But soon, the professor found that there was even more sketchy business taking place. Incorrect Answers Pexels In addition, the twins got the same incorrect answers, which indicates that they were communicating. After two hours of doubting himself, the professor finally decided that enough was enough. It was reported to the invigilator in charge of the exam that there was an irregularity in the exam. The mere fact of that prompted an investigation. There would be consequences for the twins to face if the cheating allegations were true. No Tolerance Pexels There is no tolerance for cheating at the Medical University of South Carolina, as with many other universities around the world. "An institution meant to produce healers cannot be involved in such unscrupulous activities," the dean at the disciplinary hearing stated. "No sick person would want to be treated by a doctor who doesn't know anything about medicine but has a degree saying they're qualified to diagnose and prescribe medicine or medical procedures," he added. Serious Problem Pexels It was easy for Sadie to understand his perspective. In a world where liars and people who forge documents get to high places, this was a serious problem. A complete understanding of the material was essential to the practice of medicine, unlike many other professions. "No one would want to be seen by a quack," the dean said. But this didn't mean that the twins had been lying. Video Footage Pexels They were presented with irrefutable evidence by the professors. Sadie and Sally watched footage of the exam room which showed them pushing away from their computers at the exact same time. During the six-hour period, they asked for extra stationary and constantly nodded their heads at the exact same time. They also glanced around the classroom and shuffled their scratch papers simultaneously. Passing Notes Pexels The dean paused the video and said the twins may have been passing notes and signaling answers to each other. The girls sat three rows apart but that didn't matter. During the exam, the two didn't lock eyes at any point. The dean neglected to mention that. In spite of that, he proved his point with the test scores. They got the exact same results for the exam, which is why they thought they'd cheated. Three Years Pexels A final verdict was read by the committee. The twins were suspended immediately for a thousand academic days. As a result, Sadie and Sally's last semester of school did not count. This meant that they would have to wait three years before they could retake their final exam. Sally had never broken down in front of Sadie before. She had always managed to control her emotions, but today was different. Support Pexels Sally's lashes were tipped with tears just as Sadie's began sobbing loudly. It was no longer possible for them to see the dream they once saw so clearly. As kids, they spent countless hours playing doctor, and their hard-earned future was gone. Sally's hand reached out to Sadie before she stood up to hug her. "I'm so sorry," she whispered into her sister's hair, no longer listening to the dean. Hardships Pexels Their lives had been filled with hardships for Sadie and Sally. At the tender age of seven, they lost their dad, and they vowed to work hard so that their mother could be taken care of. That, too, was no longer an option. While driving home, Sally, who rarely sheds tears, wept uncontrollably. She couldn't even look at her sister. As she cried in the carried home, she saw the blurred South Carolina vista rushing outside their car. She Knew Pexels "It's not over yet, girls," their mom kept saying, despite knowing that it was. The twins faced a suspension of three years, which was nothing to scoff at. "I'll call in some favors and see if we can't do something about this misunderstanding." She was there throughout her daughters' lives, and she knew the committee had made a mistake. She loved them with all her heart, and she would stop at nothing to fix things. Doing What She Could Pexels The following week, Mrs. Miller, Sadie, and Sally's mother, returned to their school with all their test results. She knew she had to do something to help her girls. Having gathered her own evidence, she met with the dean overseeing the disciplinary proceedings. She wanted to show him how wrong he was. Even if it were the last thing she ever did, she would save her daughter's future. The Documents Pexels In addition to her daughter’s college and high school exams, Mrs. Miller also included their preschool results. Sadie and Sally's SATs, MCATs, and LSTATS results were almost identical. Additionally, Sadie and Sally took cognitive tests at ages three, seven, thirteen, and nineteen. These documents were also brought along. She would use them all to prove their innocence. Genetic Profiles Pexels Sadie's and Sally's genetic profiles were identical, according to cognitive tests. As a result, they would likely perform similarly academically rather than the other way around. The dean's eyes widened as he took it all in, rubbing his hand across his lips. It was apparent to him as a medical practitioner that the documents were credible. But was it possible to reverse the committee's decision to suspend the twins? They’re Innocent Pexels "They're innocent," the dean said, brows furrowed. In his advice, he suggested that Mrs. Miller appeal the case. She had valuable evidence that could prove her daughters' innocence. There was no time to waste for Mrs. Miller. Two weeks later, she was sitting in the same council room with her daughters. There was no pain in Sadie and Sally's tears this time. They were crying happy tears and their mother was so proud. She had no idea what damage was done. Colder Than Usual Pexels Sally and Sadie returned to school, eager to graduate. However, they found the school to be significantly colder than usual. Their old university friends weren't interested in hanging out with them. Their phone calls to prestigious medical institutions went unanswered. It didn't take them long to realize there was something terribly wrong. Social Pariahs Pexels During their time at Medical University of South Carolina, Sadie and Sally had become social pariahs. They wouldn't even get a hello on the road. They wouldn't even be allowed to sit in their favorite coffee shop for much longer than necessary. Their lives were already in shambles before they had even picked up their degrees. Despite how besmirched their names were, the twins could not cry. In shock, they couldn't process anything. Reverse The Damage Pexels In an attempt to reverse the damage, Mrs. Miller visited the school faculty several times. However, she could only do so much when word had already spread that her kids were cheaters and liars. They were not getting accepted by any hospitals or research centers. As their degrees dwindled, depression showed its ugly head, slowly devouring them alive. Their mother couldn't stand to witness this. It was breaking her heart. No Surprise Pexels It was no surprise that she doubled down on her efforts, begging for assistance from the school faculty. Couldn't they send letters to all medical bodies notifying them of her daughters' innocence? Rather than helping her, they escorted her off campus grounds by calling campus security. According to them, she disrupted the college's educational process, which they deemed a nuisance. It should have been obvious to them who they were messing with. Suffering Pexels Seeing her daughters suffer from depression and PTSD was unbearable for Mrs. Miller. Despite their inability to eat, they would not leave their rooms. Sally sobbed through the night while Sadie slept during the day. In the middle of the night, both of them woke up screaming from panic attacks. After digging into her savings, the worried mom called a lawyer friend. "Defamation, negligence, and gross negligence," she said over the phone. Her daughters' future had been ruined by the school. The day it crossed them would be a regretful one. Disclaimer: To protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.

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