Musleguy - I tell them to do everything themselves, but to properly attribute any copyrighted works if they DO use some external media. This semester, they are all focusing their efforts on some other Maya project (I'm their 3dsmax teacher), so what they do in my class isn't really portfolio class work, more of an exercise. Thats fine with me - I want them to do a good job in my class, but if they choose to do their Piece de Resistance in Maya, that's their choice. BeatYourSoul - I totally agree, her basic attitude towards her learning and career development seems corrupted. I would have wished her to express her desperation and maybe I could have helped. I'm sure she understands that her education is for her own sake, not the teachers'... but this whole desperate, mindless conduct must be the result of some alarming private situation that I cannot fathom from the cosy confines of my own comfortable life...