Roy, a 21-year-old computer science student, has been expelled from Columbia University, a renowned institution for tech education, due to his involvement in creating a software tool aimed at cheating on LeetCode, a platform used for honing coding skills and preparing for tech interviews.
The Incident
The tool shown above allegedly allowed users to cheat by bypassing the platform’s checks, which are in place to serve as another way to filter out candidates. Despite LeetCode questions being generic and not proving proefficiency they are the preferred tool of big tech companies for hiring.
When those big companies realized, they immediately started a crusade to take down Roy’s videos and content, which contradicts their many claims that A.I. will take over programming in the future.
University’s Response
The documents reveal that Columbia University justified its decision to expel by stating that Chungin “Roy” Lee, the creator of the AI tool, had violated policies by sharing a recording of a disciplinary hearing and posting a photo of university staff on social media.
All of this after Amazon allegedly contacting the university.
Community Reaction
The decision has divided opinions. Some students argue that Roy’s actions were a byproduct of the intense pressure to excel in the competitive tech industry, while others support the university’s stance, stressing the importance of fair competition and honesty.
Roy’s Background and Achievements
Before the controversy, Roy was celebrated for his coding prowess and had received acceptance letters from several prestigious institutions, including Tech Innovators Institute and Code Mastery University, prior to his enrollment at Silicon Valley University. His academic record was dotted with accolades, including top placements in regional coding competitions.
The expulsion leaves Roy’s academic and career path in question. While his coding abilities are undeniable, the stigma of the ban may pose challenges as he seeks to continue his education and enter the professional tech arena.
Source: Youtube, CNBC, Roy’s Twitter
