UNG student fights accusation of using AI on assignment

Marley Stevens said she thought it was a mistake at first.
After turning in her two-page paper for her criminal justice course in October, the Virginia native said she received an email from her University of North Georgia professor informing her that she would receive a zero after third party software detected that her paper was written with the use of artificial intelligence.
“I thought he just sent it to the wrong person at first,” she told The Nugget on Monday night. “I was shocked.”
Stevens, who is a human services and delivery and administration major, said she only used a free web-browser version of Grammarly, which, when used ths way, is essentially an advanced SpellCheck.
She then took to TikTok to express her frustrations and warn other students of the potential for Grammarly-related artificial intelligence entanglements.
She was soon in for another shock, as the post went viral.
“I posted this video about Grammarly thinking 12 people were going to see it,” she said. “But it just kept getting attention. And I was like ‘This is kind of nuts.’”
As of press-time her post had received more than 5.1 million views. That video is accompanied by a flood of comments from students who said they too were unfairly flagged for AI use.
This has since resulted in nationwide media coverage with stories from sources ranging from the NY Post to TechTimes.
Stevens said she recently received a link from her mom that went to a Russian news story detailing her ordeal.
“I did not expect it to get that kind of attention, nor did I expect to get on the news,” she said with a laugh. "Life takes you to some crazy places.”
Stevens’ video also received an official response from Grammarly itself.
“We’re so sorry to hear this, Marley,” stated the blue-check account. “Grammarly has reached out to your university admin to understand more on their AI policies.”
The Nugget reached out to the University of North Georgia as well for a comment on the situation. In response UNG Director of News & Communications Clark Leonard sent a statement noting that officials cannot discuss any matters related to a student’s academic standing due to federal privacy laws.
“Our faculty members communicate specific guidelines regarding the use of AI for various classes, and those guidelines are included in the class syllabi,” stated the UNG release. “The inappropriate use of AI is also addressed in our Student Code of Conduct.”
When asked if an official would speak more generally about the complications of AI when it comes to enforcing that student code, Leonard said that the statement was “all UNG can say about AI at this time.”
In the meantime, Stevens said she requested a hearing with the Student Integrity Office because she felt she could clear her name. That hearing took place last Thursday, and did not go as planned for Stevens.
“I got an email that I had been put on academic probation because I had been charged with plagiarism with AI and unauthorized use of an outside source without prior authorization of the professor,” she said.
Stevens said she works multiple jobs to help pay for school and was counting on solid grades to regain her HOPE scholarship.
“I worked my butt off and kept my grades up so I was supposed to get it back for next semester, but they gave me a zero on the paper and I failed the class,” she said. “So I’m not getting it back now.”
However, soon after setting up a GoFundMe account, Stevens reportedly received a financial boost from an unexpected source:  Grammarly.
“The day after the meeting they donated $4,000 to my GoFundMe which was how much I lost in my scholarship,” she said.
That GoFundMe account titled “Let’s Fight the Curse of AI in College Academia” had a goal of $1,000 and currently stands at $5,910 as of press-time.
Stevens said she is contemplating getting a lawyer but declined to elaborate.
In the meantime, she said she would advise her fellow students to keep a close watch on code of conduct rules, as well as their web browsers.
“The only thing I would add is just from here on out especially at UNG if people want to use things like Grammarly they need to talk to their teacher first and make sure they get it in an email and some kind of writing,” she said. “Because it didn’t work out very well for me.”