His mother, Amy, points out the pragmatic reality—a suspension could permanently damage Cory's college applications.
"Notorious" is ultimately a test of the bond between Cory and Shawn. When Mr. Feeny discovers Cory at the scene of the crime, he suspects Cory is the culprit but realizes he is likely protecting the true guilty party. This places Cory in a classic ethical dilemma: [S2E3] Notorious
The episode begins with Cory and Shawn seeking a shortcut to social status by joining the school newspaper. However, they quickly find the editorial process under the school administration's thumb to be "stiflingly rigid". Driven by a desire for notoriety rather than journalistic integrity, Shawn decides to spice things up. His mother, Amy, points out the pragmatic reality—a