Posted December 28, 2005.

Student Admits Making Up Book-Watch Story

The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth student who claimed he had been visited by agents of the Department of Homeland Security for requesting a book written by Mao Zedung through interlibrary loan has confessed to making up the story. The unnamed senior tearfully admitted to the hoax after UMD history professor Brian Glyn Williams confronted him with inconsistencies in his story at his parents’ home December 23, the New Bedford Standard-Times reported December 24.

The student’s story began to unravel when he added new details—including a claim that agents had visited him the previous evening—in a December 22 interview with Williams and history professor Robert Pontbriand. The student’s brother, who attends the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, denied an assertion that he had requested the book on his brother’s behalf from that library.

“I grew skeptical of this story, as did Bob, considering the ramifications,” Williams told the Standard-Times. “My investigation eventually took me to his house, where I began to investigate family matters. I eventually found out the whole thing had been invented, and I’m happy to report that it’s safe to borrow books.”

UMD spokesman John Hoey said in the December 24 Boston Globe that the university did not plan to take any action against the student.

Posted December 28, 2005.