Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Bromance?
Uh... Mr. Arthur Murphy, Esq. seems downright smitten with the subject of his biography... 
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
A Playground on Rock?
We went on a family outing to southern Utah this past weekend. We were able to see Canyonlands and Natural Bridges National Parks. It was a nice adventure and I was very impressed with the Native America Petroglyphs that we were able to see while hiking. Some were off the beaten path away from most tourist spots. Like young children, they were able to tell stories through pictures. A true written dialogue.
In one park we were able to see the ruins of the Anasazi from at least 700 years ago. As we were looking at the homes in the cliffs, I was struck by the thought of how difficult it would have been to allow children to safely play on the sloping rock. We don't even allow slides on school playgrounds anymore and here was an entire village on a cliff. Where was the gate for the top of the stairs? I am happy that we are so conscious of safety in our time, but I wonder if children were more prepared for life when they had to learn how to protect themselves. Perhaps many children in the 1300s lost their lives because of their lack of protection. But, it makes me wonder if sometimes we protect children so much they don't develop life skills. Maybe protect is not the correct word. Maybe it's smother. Just thinking out loud as I wonder how they stayed up there.
Cambridge changes rules to make sackings easier
Proposed changes to an ancient Cambridge University statute may make it easier to sack and silence difficult dons.
Ross Anderson has lost count of the times he has made himself unpopular with ministers and big business in the past 20 years. In March last year, the Cambridge University professor of computer security co-wrote a report that found government databases, including a directory that holds the name, address, date of birth, GP and school of all under-18s, were "almost certainly illegal".
In the last few months, Anderson has published papers proving that criminals can deceive high street banks' chip and pin devices to steal their customers' money.
"If I hadn't had the guaranteed security of tenure I do as an academic at Cambridge, I certainly would have thought twice about criticising the government of the day and powerful institutions," he says.
That is why Anderson is so worried by a proposal to reform one of Cambridge's statutes, which he, and others, say will make it easier for the university to sack and silence difficult dons. The reforms have been proposed by the majority of the university's council, which is headed by the vice-chancellor.
This week and next, just over 4,000 members of Regent House — the dons' parliament which comprises half the university's staff and includes academics, heads of colleges, librarians, curators and administrators – will be asked to vote on the changes. If the reforms are passed, it will mean Regent House will be stripped of its right to approve the names of staff pinpointed for redundancy.
Grounds for the dismissal of academics will be changed too. At the moment, they can only be sacked for "conduct of an immoral, scandalous or disgraceful nature, incompatible with the duties of the office or employment". This has hardly changed since the Reformation.
But the wording – thought by some to be "unnecessarily broad" – will be changed, so that academics can be fired if their actions come under "gross misconduct", which includes an "unreasonable refusal to carry out a reasonable instruction".
The changes would mean academics who face a redundancy hearing will be placed on an equal footing with librarians, lab technicians and other non-academic staff who have their cases heard by a tribunal of three people chosen at random by a head of a department at the university. Until now, academics have had the right to have their cases heard by the vice-chancellor and a committee of seven, which acts as a university court of appeal.
The vote will be counted on 7 May and the reforms, if passed, are likely to be incorporated into the university's statutes over the summer.
It is unfortunate timing. Cambridge is having its funds from government cut by 1.9% in real terms from this September, although the university is far less reliant on state funds than many other institutions. Some fear a further £20m cut after the election – 11% of Cambridge's current government subsidy. On top of this, the university's accounts – while healthier than many – revealed a deficit of £19m in November, after a £28m surplus the previous year.
"I am afraid that some people will see this as an easy way to deal with the cuts," says Anderson. "My deep concern is that once tenure goes, the culture will change. We evolved as a bottom-up university, a place driven by the academics. Our administration tries in dozens of little ways to make us more top-down and to replace the culture of academic self-governance with one of managerialism, targets and box-ticking. Giving the managers the power to hire and fire would be a huge step along that road, and must be resisted if Cambridge is to remain great."
The unions are also concerned. The general secretary of University and College Union, Sally Hunt, says: "UCU is strongly encouraging its members at Cambridge to take part in this important ballot, recognising as we do that the very act of exercising a vote on how their university is run has already been eroded at many other institutions. We will resist any attempts at Cambridge, and beyond, to reduce the protection of the rights of academic staff, which is the cornerstone of any university. It is no coincidence that those universities with the highest academic reputations worldwide tend to be those which are the most democratically governed."
Mike Clarke, reader in therapeutic and molecular immunology, is worried that the reforms will be used to weed out academics who "don't toe the party line". "In a university, we need to protect the rights of individuals to fall out of line and speak out against things they are concerned about," he says.
Such anxieties are unnecessary, say those who back the reforms, such as William Brown, professor of industrial relations and master of Darwin College.
There would be no change to academics' security of tenure or any weakening of their freedom of speech, Brown says. "There are no plans to sack academics, although we are having to freeze a regrettable number of posts as they fall vacant, as are all universities. The university is not making it easier to sack academics. Our protections are enviable and envied by most other universities and will continue to be so."
Brown says that at the moment, grievance procedures are "lamentably slow". The new procedures would impose time limits, to stop delays being used as weapons, and would make more use of conciliation to resolve disputes. Grievances take on average a year to resolve at the moment. Academics would also get a right of appeal against disciplinary judgments made by their heads of department.
"Our university's procedures are no longer fully adequate. The absence of effective time limits means that grievances have been slow to resolve. Precisely the same right [on academic freedom] remains enshrined in the statutes," he says
Both sides admit that they can't remember the last time an academic was sacked, but then we are in different territory now. Universities have been asked to make cuts of almost £1bn by 2013.
The knock-on effect is, as a Guardian investigation found in February, that universities across the country are preparing to axe thousands of teaching jobs, close campuses and ditch courses.
Outside Cambridge, institutions are considering using post-graduates rather than professors for teaching and delaying major building projects. Such plans are inevitably being resisted by academics. Just last week, staff at University College London and the University of Westminster voted for strike action over a dispute about funding cuts.
Anderson believes that instead of sacking academics, universities should be encouraging them to pick up the phone and ask businesses for cash to fund PhDs and research.
But for the time being, some Cambridge dons are anxious about the consequences for smaller faculties if these reforms go through. David Abulafia, professor of Mediterranean history, says although his department is large, his biggest fear is for "small departments that might be zealously shaved off the university in the name of financial necessity".
From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education
Ross Anderson has lost count of the times he has made himself unpopular with ministers and big business in the past 20 years. In March last year, the Cambridge University professor of computer security co-wrote a report that found government databases, including a directory that holds the name, address, date of birth, GP and school of all under-18s, were "almost certainly illegal".
In the last few months, Anderson has published papers proving that criminals can deceive high street banks' chip and pin devices to steal their customers' money.
"If I hadn't had the guaranteed security of tenure I do as an academic at Cambridge, I certainly would have thought twice about criticising the government of the day and powerful institutions," he says.
That is why Anderson is so worried by a proposal to reform one of Cambridge's statutes, which he, and others, say will make it easier for the university to sack and silence difficult dons. The reforms have been proposed by the majority of the university's council, which is headed by the vice-chancellor.
This week and next, just over 4,000 members of Regent House — the dons' parliament which comprises half the university's staff and includes academics, heads of colleges, librarians, curators and administrators – will be asked to vote on the changes. If the reforms are passed, it will mean Regent House will be stripped of its right to approve the names of staff pinpointed for redundancy.
Grounds for the dismissal of academics will be changed too. At the moment, they can only be sacked for "conduct of an immoral, scandalous or disgraceful nature, incompatible with the duties of the office or employment". This has hardly changed since the Reformation.
But the wording – thought by some to be "unnecessarily broad" – will be changed, so that academics can be fired if their actions come under "gross misconduct", which includes an "unreasonable refusal to carry out a reasonable instruction".
The changes would mean academics who face a redundancy hearing will be placed on an equal footing with librarians, lab technicians and other non-academic staff who have their cases heard by a tribunal of three people chosen at random by a head of a department at the university. Until now, academics have had the right to have their cases heard by the vice-chancellor and a committee of seven, which acts as a university court of appeal.
The vote will be counted on 7 May and the reforms, if passed, are likely to be incorporated into the university's statutes over the summer.
It is unfortunate timing. Cambridge is having its funds from government cut by 1.9% in real terms from this September, although the university is far less reliant on state funds than many other institutions. Some fear a further £20m cut after the election – 11% of Cambridge's current government subsidy. On top of this, the university's accounts – while healthier than many – revealed a deficit of £19m in November, after a £28m surplus the previous year.
"I am afraid that some people will see this as an easy way to deal with the cuts," says Anderson. "My deep concern is that once tenure goes, the culture will change. We evolved as a bottom-up university, a place driven by the academics. Our administration tries in dozens of little ways to make us more top-down and to replace the culture of academic self-governance with one of managerialism, targets and box-ticking. Giving the managers the power to hire and fire would be a huge step along that road, and must be resisted if Cambridge is to remain great."
The unions are also concerned. The general secretary of University and College Union, Sally Hunt, says: "UCU is strongly encouraging its members at Cambridge to take part in this important ballot, recognising as we do that the very act of exercising a vote on how their university is run has already been eroded at many other institutions. We will resist any attempts at Cambridge, and beyond, to reduce the protection of the rights of academic staff, which is the cornerstone of any university. It is no coincidence that those universities with the highest academic reputations worldwide tend to be those which are the most democratically governed."
Mike Clarke, reader in therapeutic and molecular immunology, is worried that the reforms will be used to weed out academics who "don't toe the party line". "In a university, we need to protect the rights of individuals to fall out of line and speak out against things they are concerned about," he says.
Such anxieties are unnecessary, say those who back the reforms, such as William Brown, professor of industrial relations and master of Darwin College.
There would be no change to academics' security of tenure or any weakening of their freedom of speech, Brown says. "There are no plans to sack academics, although we are having to freeze a regrettable number of posts as they fall vacant, as are all universities. The university is not making it easier to sack academics. Our protections are enviable and envied by most other universities and will continue to be so."
Brown says that at the moment, grievance procedures are "lamentably slow". The new procedures would impose time limits, to stop delays being used as weapons, and would make more use of conciliation to resolve disputes. Grievances take on average a year to resolve at the moment. Academics would also get a right of appeal against disciplinary judgments made by their heads of department.
"Our university's procedures are no longer fully adequate. The absence of effective time limits means that grievances have been slow to resolve. Precisely the same right [on academic freedom] remains enshrined in the statutes," he says
Both sides admit that they can't remember the last time an academic was sacked, but then we are in different territory now. Universities have been asked to make cuts of almost £1bn by 2013.
The knock-on effect is, as a Guardian investigation found in February, that universities across the country are preparing to axe thousands of teaching jobs, close campuses and ditch courses.
Outside Cambridge, institutions are considering using post-graduates rather than professors for teaching and delaying major building projects. Such plans are inevitably being resisted by academics. Just last week, staff at University College London and the University of Westminster voted for strike action over a dispute about funding cuts.
Anderson believes that instead of sacking academics, universities should be encouraging them to pick up the phone and ask businesses for cash to fund PhDs and research.
But for the time being, some Cambridge dons are anxious about the consequences for smaller faculties if these reforms go through. David Abulafia, professor of Mediterranean history, says although his department is large, his biggest fear is for "small departments that might be zealously shaved off the university in the name of financial necessity".
From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education
Comic Preface
"The only source of the true Ridiculous (as it appears to me) is Affectation"
-Henry Fielding, Joseph Andrews
Monday, April 26, 2010
Fresh twist in Fredrics v Scott case
Harassment judgment set aside, but lecturer may still see day in court. An academic’s conviction for harassing his former vice-chancellor via a website has been set aside, meaning that he could face a new trial.
Howard Fredrics, a former senior lecturer of music at Kingston University, was convicted in December 2009 of harassing Sir Peter Scott, Kingston’s vice-chancellor, by posting critical messages on a website the lecturer had set up, www.sirpeterscott.com.
Dr Fredrics was found guilty in his absence by Kingston Magistrates’ Court, having failed to appear for the hearing owing to ill health. A warrant was also issued for his arrest.
Judith Jewell, chairman of the bench, said: “We believe the course of conduct he pursued in setting up this website was intended to harass Sir Peter Scott... he ought to have known that such actions would amount to harassment.”
As well as criticising the vice-chancellor, Dr Fredrics had used the site to expose controversial practices at Kingston.
In 2008, he posted a recording of lecturers pressurising students to inflate their National Student Survey responses. [Check: Kingston University students 'told to lie' to boost rankings - Universities face survey warning]
Dr Fredrics’ barrister, Richard Thomas of Doughty Street Chambers, argued that the lecturer was denied the right to a fair trial with legal representation because the court would not agree to postpone the case until Dr Fredrics was well enough to attend.
He also said that the prosecution was an “unjustified interference” with Dr Fredrics’ right to free expression.
On 23 April, the court set aside both the conviction and the arrest warrant on the grounds that the trial should not have gone ahead without the academic being present.
A directions hearing on 14 May will decide how to proceed with both the harassment charge and an outstanding offence under the Public Order Act, which relates to a chance encounter between Sir Peter and Dr Fredrics in Kingston.
The academic is accused of “threatening behaviour” towards the vice-chancellor.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Vindicated!
A District Judge presiding at the Kingston Magistrates' Court overturned the conviction of Dr Howard Fredrics on charges of harassment in relation to allegations that the website http://www.sirpeterscott.com, which exposes facts concerning his former employer, constituted a breach of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
The Novel Comic: a Mix of Pleasure, Violence and Decorum
Time to start researching eighteenth-century theories of genre! And here, model Sara Blomqvist shot by Richard Burbridge for New York Times Style Magazine, to illustrate the titillating joy of what Henry Fielding might lovingly call a comic Romance (with Chanel)....images from fashion gone rogue
It is funny yet off-putting at the same time; beautiful and a little disturbed. Reminds me of these Man Ray works that I photographed (probably wasn't allowed, but oh well) at MoMA last year:
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Uni to host meeting on bullying
An international conference on workplace bullying and harassment is due to take place in Cardiff.
The Centre for Research on Workplace Behaviour at the University of Glamorgan Business School is hosting the 7th International Conference on Workplace Bullying and Harassment in June, the first time the conference will visit Wales.
The conference, titled 'Transforming Research: Evidence and Practice', returns to the UK after an eight-year gap and brings together researchers, academics and practitioners at a three-day event.
The aim of the conference is to share knowledge and understanding around the complex workplace issues of bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence.
Co-chair of the conference, Professor Duncan Lewis, of the Glamorgan Business School, said: “This should be an excellent opportunity to bring together world experts to discuss how we take forward the theory and practice of these important workplace issues. We are delighted to be hosting the seventh occasion of this international conference.”
Keynote speakers include Professor Staale Einarsen from the University of Bergen in Norway, Professor David Yamada of the Suffolk Business School in Boston, USA, and Professor Ralph Fevre, lead expert on the UK Government’s 2nd Fair Treatment at Work Survey.
Other speakers include Denise Salin from Finland, Dr Gary Namie from the USA and Rachael Maskell from union Unite.
Professor Michael Sheehan, co-chair of the conference, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to attract many of the leading researchers and practitioners in the field to be the keynote speakers at the conference.
“Equally, we are excited that there is an international flavour to the conference, with delegates coming from across the globe.”
The conference (June 2-4 at the Cardiff Hilton) will welcome 200 delegates, with papers being presented by delegates from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, North America, Japan and Brazil.
Visit the conference’s website at www.bullying2010.com if you are interested in securing one of the last few places available.
The conference is sponsored by the University of Glamorgan, Acas, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Public Service Management Wales, the Institute of Leadership and Management, People Resolutions and Hogrefe.
From: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news
Friday, April 23, 2010
Karen Walker/Virgin Suicides/Mary
I wrote ALL DAY yesterday and it was hurt-your-eyes sunny with all that ocean-side reflection. It was warm, even. To combat the desire to sit by the ocean and write lyrical poetry, I engaged the old coffee-shop-revolution academic-writing strategy, whereby you have a coffee, write for an hour, get distracted and then, instead of staying distracted and writing blog posts and FB stalking etc., you GET UP AND WALK TO THE NEXT COFFEE SHOP. Order a coffee, and get back down to work.Here is a list of the day's events:
8am: Blenz on Davie & Bute/ milk hot chocolate
12noon: Starbucks on Denman & Pacific/ coffee, fruit cup, various treats
1:30pm: Delany's on Denman/ americano
2:30pm (getting tired and antsy): Starbucks on Georgia and Denman/caramel frappucino
4pm: Dulcinea Cafe on Denman/coffee, chocolate cookie
as you can see, everything is pretty close together, and I find the brief walk between paragraphs is really useful for clearing my head.
Now that I have handed in the paper (yay!) I have like, two days off before starting the next one. I gifted myself the time to read The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides, and I have also been checking up on my fav NZ designer, Karen Walker. Her eyewear collection is filled with the kind of tension only possible when you mix bauhaus with tortoise-shell. Also, the Catholic-icon inspired ads make me think of poor Cecilia Lisbon and in her sheared-off wedding dress. I kind of love how they manage to look like the virgin mary, cleopatra, and some sort of aztec coin simultaneously.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
"Try New Things!" she said brightly. Enter: Capoeira
My flatmate has the most engaging personality, and is responsible for 90% of the fitness-related things that I have tried since moving to Vancouver. Yoga? check. Hot yoga? Check. Running, dance, hiking the Baden-Powell trail, check check check. Hunting for Easter eggs filled with vodka jello shots? Also check.
Tonight we went to capoeira at the Coal Harbour Community Center. Capoeira is like what happens when fighting, breakdancing and acrobatics got together and had a really cool, prodigal child. Actually, according to out instructor it originated in Brazil through the influence of African slaves. I really like what Wikipedia has to say about it, which is that:
Some interpretations emphasize capoeira as a fighting style designed for rebellion, but disguised by a façade of dance.
Ah the facade of dance. This is also the facade of accessibility to non-capoeirans. My flatmate called to check that it was 1. drop-in, and 2. FOR BEGINNERS. The first was true, and the second is up for debate.
"Can you do fitness? Have you another sport?" Were the questions leveled at us when we admited to never having done this before. The teacher looked dubious, but took us on anyway. ...I am going to be sore tomorrow.
Abuse of PhD students
Although rife, abuse of PhD students is a part of life that seldom gets talked about, or even acknowledged. It is the dirty little secret of academia. The humiliation and belittling; the demoralizing and power tactics. The terrible neglect by supervisors as if you and your work really is not important at all (and worse, you are just so hopeless and stupid!). Of course, these bullies were once subjected to this same process and so the cycle gets perpetuated...
Anonymous
Anonymous
Monday, April 19, 2010
Finishing a 5 K
This past weekend I competed in a 5K race to celebrate my birthday. The best part of the entire experience is that this old man finished the race on two legs! I was not quite as fast as I may have been ten years ago, but I was pleased with my time. Isn't it funny that we judge a race by how fast we can get to the finish. The first one over the finish line wins the race. Because I am not an athletic competitor at this age, it is the triumph of working to be able to actually run the race that is important to me. The process that I have gone through during years of running have helped me in other aspects of life.
I often think that for some parents, teaching their child is like a race. They want their child to know everything and get to the finish line first. Perhaps the process of building the skills appropriately would benefit the child more in the long run. I remember working with parents occasionally who were so driven to push their young child that they had very unreal expectations. I also realized that in most cases it was the parents' ego that was the driving force, not having a well-adjusted child with appropriate skills.
Some would call my race last week a failure because I didn't cross the finish line first. However, I was a winner because I finished the race. I learned that I still have what it takes to run the race. Pretty good for an old man.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
sartorialist inspired
Things/peoples
that I am reminded of ...My mom, who has (almost always) rocked short hair and an expression at once contented and interested.
My dad's friend Horst, who would admittedly, probably not be riding a bicycle, but has the hair, the style, and the cigar.
Mood board mania!
This one is from Lanvin, I think, and it reminds me of the way that everything in my flat lives in little groups. I love to collage things that are framed.
This one is from Lanvin, I think, and it reminds me of the way that everything in my flat lives in little groups. I love to collage things that are framed.And this summer style pic from Vogue Italia is like the weather today: sunny and moody. I love you, Vancouver. I think I will paint flowers on my jeans.
everything:
c/o the sartorialist
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Prisoners of Fear
It seems that there are some academics who find themselves in situations so oppressive as to make them afraid to sign the petition.
IT IS THEN UP TO THE REST OF US TO SIGN THIS PETITION ON THEIR BEHALF.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Justice-Bullying/
IT IS THEN UP TO THE REST OF US TO SIGN THIS PETITION ON THEIR BEHALF.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Justice-Bullying/
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
On Cafe Talk-Stalkers
I like being "alone in public." I like to sit in a cafe with my laptop, people-watch and eat dense, fruit-filled muffins. And I am perfectly happy to chat with strangers, but I cannot stand it when people feel the need to co-opt all my attention for 35 minutes in order to converse with me. Especially when those people are not young, eligible men, but rather annoying middle-aged house-husbands. This paunchy guy will not leave me alone. I am updating this blog WHILE HE IS TALKING and he will not take the hint. Save me. He is explaining to me how sad it is that young people (i.e. moi) are not educated about the rudiments of finance will they are in highschool. Now he has started on about mortgages. And the crisis in the US. At the beginning of our little dialogue he identified how cute and ironic it is that here we are: he is reading a book about historical finance cycles, and I am writing a paper on Frankenstein, and that represents HIM DEALING WITH THINGS THAT ARE RELEVANT and ME WORKING ON IRRELEVANT MATERIAL. Isn't that funny? Oh ho ho. I was not laughing.
Let's think about something else. Here are some happy spotted elephants care of NZ artist Tony Cribb.
Problems in the Osteoporosis Research Group at Sheffield University
Senior academic staff at the University of Sheffield have faced considerable criticism over their handling of longstanding scientific and other problems within the osteoporosis research group headed by Professor Richard Eastell (1, 2).
This statement follows procedures carried out by the University in reaction to recent press reports (3, 4).
In the opinion of many, the University have not dealt with these problems in a realistic way. A tangled web of procedures have been employed in an apparent attempt to avoid necessary action, and to protect Professor Eastell.
The University maintain that their procedures are 'robust' despite much worrying evidence to the contrary (see Statement to Redundancy Appeal Hearing - 18 Mar 2010). Professor Eastell has received considerable funding from industry.
Several academic staff, including myself, have complained about pressure placed upon them to publish scientific reports for commercial companies which do not reflect the underlying data. Staff have complained about suppression of publication, and that publications have been generated in the absence of data. Academics who have complained have seen their research and reputation blackened and undermined. Colleagues have been encouraged to present the work of these academics as if it was their own and to sign misleading statements of attribution.
At the centre of the recent press reports was a very simple event. As an experienced, professional and highly qualified post doctoral fellow and as a radiologist, I decided to submit two meeting abstracts without the explicit consent of Professor Eastell. I submitted these abstracts without the consent of a pharmaceutical company. I did not invite other scientists whose work I was criticizing to co-author the abstracts with me. I received a direct order from the University to withdraw the second abstract within 24 hours. I failed to respond to this order. I have still failed to follow this order.
Yesterday (23 March 2010), the University held a promised 'independent review' of its actions (4). The University have attempted to give the impression that they wish their actions and the context of these actions to be judged through such a review. This review replaced disciplinary procedures which should have taken place. Having initiated this 'review' it would have been expected that the University would have provided an honest and complete summary of the context they wished to be reviewed. The University did not however provide such information (see Statement to Independent Review - 23 Mar 2010). The purpose of the University in calling for such a review is therefore unknown.
I believe that the University have refused to renew my employment contract specifically in order to prevent publication of scientific findings and to prevent publication of an atlas of radiological images. These images would allow debate about the interpretation of drug trials. The University have maintained that access to these data and images will be prevented by the University upon termination of my contract of employment. I have however agreed to remain attached to the University for no salary until fellow scientists are permitted the opportunity to examine the science in whichever forum I choose. During a redundancy appeal hearing, the University suggested that suppression of scientific findings through redundancy is not a valid ground for appeal against redundancy at Sheffield University.
The so called independent review of yesterday has not yet reported, but was not encouraging. Given the desperate manoeuvres to prevent scrutiny and transparency, it seems unlikely that this will help the University to restore its reputation. In contrast to the intended disciplinary procedure (3, 4), this 'review' is not subject to appeal. It is outside the University's procedures. No witnesses were heard. Such was the desire for transparency that the University found it necessary to inform me the day before that the 'review' would be held in secret. They informed me that I would not be permitted to know or to listen to the arguments the University provided, or to listen to the testimony of Professor Eastell. I was refused the right to tape record the reading of my own statement. Furthermore, the University provided a set of documents to the review which made it impossible to believe that the University really wish to have their actions examined as they maintain they do (See Statement to Independent Review - 23 Mar 2010). The University have not responded to explain why reviewers were associated with the University of Sheffieldor why they could not be selected by anyone other than the University itself.
The University of Sheffield called for this review itself because it wished to give the impression that the University wanted its actions to be judged honestly and transparently. As such, the decisions of the University remain inexplicable.
References
1. Statement to Redundancy Appeal Hearing (18 Mar 2010), Dr Guirong Jiang
2. Statement to Independent Review (23 Mar 2010), Dr Guirong Jiang
3. February 18 2010 Contractual ties trip up radiologist
4. March 4 2010 Volte-face in radiologist case
5. PDF copy of this Press Statement (24 Mar 2010)
From: http://www.fracturedefinition.uk.com/index.html
This statement follows procedures carried out by the University in reaction to recent press reports (3, 4).
In the opinion of many, the University have not dealt with these problems in a realistic way. A tangled web of procedures have been employed in an apparent attempt to avoid necessary action, and to protect Professor Eastell.
The University maintain that their procedures are 'robust' despite much worrying evidence to the contrary (see Statement to Redundancy Appeal Hearing - 18 Mar 2010). Professor Eastell has received considerable funding from industry.
Several academic staff, including myself, have complained about pressure placed upon them to publish scientific reports for commercial companies which do not reflect the underlying data. Staff have complained about suppression of publication, and that publications have been generated in the absence of data. Academics who have complained have seen their research and reputation blackened and undermined. Colleagues have been encouraged to present the work of these academics as if it was their own and to sign misleading statements of attribution.
At the centre of the recent press reports was a very simple event. As an experienced, professional and highly qualified post doctoral fellow and as a radiologist, I decided to submit two meeting abstracts without the explicit consent of Professor Eastell. I submitted these abstracts without the consent of a pharmaceutical company. I did not invite other scientists whose work I was criticizing to co-author the abstracts with me. I received a direct order from the University to withdraw the second abstract within 24 hours. I failed to respond to this order. I have still failed to follow this order.
Yesterday (23 March 2010), the University held a promised 'independent review' of its actions (4). The University have attempted to give the impression that they wish their actions and the context of these actions to be judged through such a review. This review replaced disciplinary procedures which should have taken place. Having initiated this 'review' it would have been expected that the University would have provided an honest and complete summary of the context they wished to be reviewed. The University did not however provide such information (see Statement to Independent Review - 23 Mar 2010). The purpose of the University in calling for such a review is therefore unknown.
I believe that the University have refused to renew my employment contract specifically in order to prevent publication of scientific findings and to prevent publication of an atlas of radiological images. These images would allow debate about the interpretation of drug trials. The University have maintained that access to these data and images will be prevented by the University upon termination of my contract of employment. I have however agreed to remain attached to the University for no salary until fellow scientists are permitted the opportunity to examine the science in whichever forum I choose. During a redundancy appeal hearing, the University suggested that suppression of scientific findings through redundancy is not a valid ground for appeal against redundancy at Sheffield University.
The so called independent review of yesterday has not yet reported, but was not encouraging. Given the desperate manoeuvres to prevent scrutiny and transparency, it seems unlikely that this will help the University to restore its reputation. In contrast to the intended disciplinary procedure (3, 4), this 'review' is not subject to appeal. It is outside the University's procedures. No witnesses were heard. Such was the desire for transparency that the University found it necessary to inform me the day before that the 'review' would be held in secret. They informed me that I would not be permitted to know or to listen to the arguments the University provided, or to listen to the testimony of Professor Eastell. I was refused the right to tape record the reading of my own statement. Furthermore, the University provided a set of documents to the review which made it impossible to believe that the University really wish to have their actions examined as they maintain they do (See Statement to Independent Review - 23 Mar 2010). The University have not responded to explain why reviewers were associated with the University of Sheffieldor why they could not be selected by anyone other than the University itself.
The University of Sheffield called for this review itself because it wished to give the impression that the University wanted its actions to be judged honestly and transparently. As such, the decisions of the University remain inexplicable.
References
1. Statement to Redundancy Appeal Hearing (18 Mar 2010), Dr Guirong Jiang
2. Statement to Independent Review (23 Mar 2010), Dr Guirong Jiang
3. February 18 2010 Contractual ties trip up radiologist
4. March 4 2010 Volte-face in radiologist case
5. PDF copy of this Press Statement (24 Mar 2010)
From: http://www.fracturedefinition.uk.com/index.html
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Last night I read this portion of The Memoirs of Emma Courtney out-loud to my flatmate (who really, truly appreciates my academic orations) and we were astounded because we have this EXACT SAME conversation ALL THE TIME.
In fact, I think every person who has ever pursued a degree in the humanities or fine arts has had this conversation with themselves (while drinking alone), their parents (when asking for money), or their contemporaries (while bemoaning the fact that they cannot afford to go shopping or eat nice food).
My favourite part is the long-dash + exclamation mark combination.
Dependence! -- ...I felt my heart die within me...
Because this is the ugly truth: every night before I go to bed I look to the heavens and proclaim, WHY WAS I NOT EDUCATED FOR COMMERCE!?!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Some Advice
"Do not be a martyr to philosophy, which you will be, if you do not take more exercise, be a little more foolish, and look at the world with all its awkward things, its clumsy, lumpish forms, its fools, its cockscombs, and its scoundrels with more endurance"
Some advice given to Mary Hays by the non-conformist poet George Dyer sometime in the 1780s.
Also: an amazing watercolour by Keinyo White, an American artist living in NZ. I modeled for him when I was living in Christchurch in 2007.
So little time...
My small sister is gone back home, and my to-do list has reached never-before-seen lengths. But don't you love this tapestry-inspired painting by NZ artist Megan Campbell?
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