The president of the NUS raised eyebrows on Wednesday, after delivering a stirring speech that bore a startling resemblance to one from political drama The West Wing.
Amid suggestions of life imitating art, Shakira Martin’s speech at the NUS conference in Glasgow, where she was reelected as leader, seemed uncannily similar to one given by President Jed Bartlett in the American fictional series.
The West Wing speech, called College Kids, from episode three of the fourth series, includes a number sentences that Miss Martin appears to have ‘borrowed’ from.
NUS president Shakira Martin raised eyebrows on Wednesday, after delivering a stirring speech that bore a startling resemblance to one from political drama The West Wing
In one passage, the student leader said: ‘There is evil in the world, there always has been, and we can’t do nothing about that.
‘But there’s violence in our colleges, racism in our universities, there’s bullying in our workplaces, and we can do something about that.’
Many students then pointed to The West Wing’s Jed Bartlett, played by actor Martin Sheen, who said: ‘There’s evil in the world, there’ll always be, and we can’t do anything about that.
Amid suggestions of life imitating art, Shakira Martin’s speech at the NUS conference in Glasgow, where she was reelected as leader, seemed uncannily similar to one given by President Jed Bartlett, played by Martin Sheen (pictured), in the American fictional series
‘But there’s violence in our schools, too much mayhem in our culture, and we can do something about that.’
While perhaps the most damning is her triple repetition of the line ‘not nearly enough’ delivered in the middle of both speeches that both end with the line ‘we can do better, we must do better, and we will do better.’
Despite suggestions she ‘borrowed’ from the show – a cult favourite among aspiring student politicians – the inspiring single mother-of-two astonishingly claimed to have never watched the series, and instead preferred The Real Housewives of Atlanta
Despite suggestions she ‘borrowed’ from the show – a cult favourite among aspiring student politicians – the inspiring single mother-of-two astonishingly claimed to have never watched the series, and instead preferred The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
She said on Twitter: ‘I have never watched the West wing…I’m more of a housewives of Atlanta type of girl. I got my own mind and I talk what i believe and feel. I use my own words. Im a leader not a follower! I am me and there is only 1 Shakira and I can’t be compared to anyone but myself. Bloop!!’
She said on Twitter: ‘I have never watched the West wing…I’m more of a housewives of Atlanta type of girl. I got my own mind and I talk what i believe and feel. I use my own words. Im a leader not a follower! I am me and there is only 1 Shakira and I can’t be compared to anyone but myself. Bloop!!’
Another called it ‘hilarious’ and compared it to her degree induction speech where she was warned against plagiarism
Another Twitter user demanded angrily she admit it
‘It’s word for word. You even did the same pauses and hand movements’
Few were convinced by her denials however, with one person replying on Twitter: ‘It’s word for word. You even did the same pauses and hand movements.’
Chris Miller said: ‘If it looks like plagiarism and quacks like plagiarism then it probably is plagiarism. Not a good look for someone setting an example for students.’
Another called it ‘hilarious’ and compared it to her degree induction speech where she was warned against plagiarism.
Hilariously, student publication The Tab, ran the speeches through plagiarism software, used widely by academic staff, and found a 36 per cent chance of plagiarism.
While some lines had a 61, 90 and 100 per cent match to The West Wing script.
MailOnline has approached Miss Martin for comment.
How do their speeches compare?
Fictional President Jed Bartlett
‘All I know for sure, all I know for certain, is that they weren’t born wanting to do this.
‘There’s evil in the world, there’ll always be, and we can’t do anything about that.
‘But there’s violence in our schools, too much mayhem in our culture, and we can do something about that.
‘There’s not enough character, discipline, and depth in our classrooms; there aren’t enough teachers in our classrooms. There isn’t nearly enough, not nearly enough, not nearly enough money in our classrooms, and we can do something about that.
‘We’re not doing nearly enough, not nearly enough to teach our children well, and we can do better, and we must do better, and we will do better, and we will start this moment today!’
NUS President Shakira Martin
‘But I don’t know why this is happening, and I know for sure … and I’m not sure, but all I know for certain, they weren’t born to want to do this.
‘There is evil in the world, there always has been, and we can’t do nothing about that.
‘But there’s violence in our colleges, racism in our universities, there’s bullying in our workplaces, and we can do something about that.
‘There’s not enough books or chairs or spaces or advice in our system; there’s not enough teachers in our schools. There’s not enough counsellors in our campuses. There’s not nearly enough, not nearly enough, not nearly enough money in our colleges, and we can do something about that.
‘We can do better. We must do better, and we will do better.’