Episode Report Card Kim: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Cheating
By Kim | Season 1 | Episode 6 | Aired on 11.02.1998
Elena knocks on Knoll's door; when he opens it, she blurts, "You're on my list." Knoll is confused (as usual), so Elena explains that she is being harassed because Knoll "violated a student-RA confidence." Knoll still doesn't get it, so Elena explains that some girl just started singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" to her in the bathroom, proving that everyone knows about her and Blair. Knoll says that he doesn't care about her and Blair. Just then, Blair walks up to say hello. Elena says that she has a class and tries to duck out, but Blair wonders whether he may come around later so they can get something to eat. Elena curtly says, "Cool. Four o'clock," and jets. Blair asks Knoll whether Elena is always like that, and Knoll says that she is.
Felicity, Julie, and Ben sit in English class and listen to a lecture. The professor (who is listed in the credits as "Regalsky," so I'm going with that) calls on Ben, who says that his hand wasn't up. Regalsky says that's why he called on Ben. I hate when professors do that. Ben struggles, and Felicity rescues him by blurting out the answer. Regalsky continues with his lecture. Ben looks stunned. Julie asks Felicity what that was about, and Felicity says she doesn't know. Felicity surreptitiously tries to look over at Ben to see his reaction to her interruption.
After class, the students pick up their graded papers. Julie and Felicity compare notes, and both are happy with their grades. Ben goes to pick up his paper, too, as Julie makes a comment to the effect that Regalsky got her Liz Phair reference. Ben can't find his paper. Regalsky comes out and asks to speak with Ben. Felicity warily watches Ben walk into the room.
Regalsky waits until Ben is in the classroom before shutting the door. He tells Ben that if he has suspicions about a student's academic performance, he prefers to deal with it within the department. Uh oh. Regalsky holds up Ben's paper and asks whether Ben has anything to say before the questions begin. Ben wonders, "You didn't like my paper?" Regalsky says the problem is that he liked it very much.
FVO explains that she was only trying to help as Felicity watches through the window while Ben tries to explain his situation to Regalsky. They must have been really proud of the shot of Ben talking to Regalsky while you can see Felicity's reflection in the window, because they stay on it for a really long time. Finally, Ben walks out, and Felicity asks what happened. Ben says that Regalsky is keeping his paper. Julie asks why, and Ben explains that the English department is going to start some kind of investigation because Regalsky thinks Ben didn't write it. Ben looks sick to his stomach, and hurries off. Felicity stares after him, guilt-stricken. Man, doesn't Felicity know anything? When you write a paper for a friend, you never make it as good as you possibly can! If your friend was able to write that good a paper, he would just do it himself. And you always let them read the paper over before handing it in, so that you can explain it to them in case they get questions about it. Not that I've ever done such a thing. It's unethical. What are you looking at?