Autonomy Rights

In this case, Helen Kanell obtained a copy of the final exam from her best friend, who took and copied it from professor’s personal mailbox without permit. So, What Helen’s best friend did threatens the professor’s rights to property and privacy. If Helen got an A in this exam using the “inside information”, for the others including professor fellow classmates and members of Beta Alpha Psi, their right to truth is violated. Teachers should promise a fair exam in order to build a level playing field. That Helen’s friend could have access to the original exam questions and leak them out, however, threatens the professor’s right to promise. Finally, Nobody’s right to body is infringed in this particular case.

Fairness

Compare peers who should be equal. It is unfair between Helen and other classmates who work hard on the same exam because only Helen had the copy of the exam, just like a short cut in the marathon, thus she could work out the problems with much more time and got the right solution by all possible means. However, others couldn’t have the same privilege.

Compare earned versus received treatment. It is unfair between that Helen spent the time and energy on the exam and got an A using the copy of exam her friends gave to her because examination are designed to test how much knowledge and skills students have acquired and whether they made well preparations for the exam. Usually more preparations means better outcomes. That Helen got good result with the “short cut” really violated the purpose and nature of exams.

Consequences

Alternative I: Helen decided to use the copy. Say she got an A and graduated with the highest academic honor as if nothing happened. Or she was caught cheating, failed, most likely removed as president of Beta Alpha Psi, and graduated with a decent offer from Big & Apple LLC unless the company were to find out of her unethical behavior afterwards. Her best friend would be found out cheating as well, losing the job in the accounting department.
Alternative II: Helen refused to use the “short cut”, graduated without the honor of summa cum laude, but still proceeded her career with Big & Apple.
For Helen using the copy is unwise, because it is too risky to remain a blot on her and her friend’s escutcheon for the sake of short-run benefit. Especially as an accounting student, unethical behaviors could possibly result in frauds or embezzlement on the financial statement, ruining one’s future eventually.
For Helen’s friend, leaking the exam is unkind because doing so violates the professor’s rights to privacy and property. To make things worse, she may lose her own job and ruin her own future as well.