Columbia Valedictorian Admits Plagiarizing Comic

Another day, another commencement gaffe. Columbia's valedictorian has apologized for lifting part of his speech—a jokey riff on attending a class called Physics for Poets—from comedian Patton Oswalt, probably best known for his King of Queens supporting role. (See videos for comparisons.)

Oswalt called out Brian Corman on Twitter for plagiarism, and both the student and the school subsequently apologized, notes Gawker. “In people’s heads they think that comedians can’t possibly make up their own material,” Oswalt tells the New York Times. “They're like, 'I can just take it. He didn't make it up.'" (Read more Columbia stories.)