Uni lecturer sacked

**caesius** · 8th August 2007, 06:58

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...ectid=10456446

Some won't, but I side with the lecturer. He's stating the truth, albeit in the most direct way possible. He could have been a little more tackful in the spirit of keeping his job.

I'm a student. Not particularly racist (unless I'm debating with an idiot socialist about immegration - in that case I'm pure KKK just to piss 'em off), but this doesn't strike right with me.

Thoughts?

**Colapop** · 8th August 2007, 07:24

Yes. I quite often think. It helps to occupy space in my head...

**jrandom** · 8th August 2007, 07:34

I'm sure that the student in question was, in fact, an annoying and incompetent little raghead, but he should have maintained his professional approach as a lecturer and not pointed that out to her so bluntly.

**caesius** · 8th August 2007, 07:35

Yes. I quite often think. It helps to occupy space in my head...

Me too!

So far people argee with me, according to a Herald poll. Yay.

**Pussy** · 8th August 2007, 08:02

I'm on the side of the lecturer. In this PC world now you're not supposed to tell it like it is...... well, guess what?, in life there are winners and losers. The student needs to pull finger and get over it

**Colapop** · 8th August 2007, 08:07

The question seems to be asked more often these days "Why are there so few quality graduates these days?"
It's because the standards required are being allowed to slip. It's supposed to be more difficult and slightly elitist, thats why there are higher levels of attainment required. It's the same reason why honourary doctorates should not be given out. An aging once was a rock star getting an honourary doctorate for 'services to music'? WTF is that?

Make it harder - force people to achieve higher standards. The overall level improves then.

**forkoil** · 8th August 2007, 08:07

What seems a twist on the saga, is that the lecturer (Buchanan) apologised after and the student accepted the apology. But whether this was before or after she reported him? And looks as if the person who sacked him, he had argued with earlier as well, which obviously didnt help his case. There are implications of uni policy encouraging foreign fee payers to boost uni $ at the expense of lowered standards of entry for these students. (its not clear whether in fact her father HAD died or not, thats at the heart of his caustic email)

**Crisis management** · 8th August 2007, 08:09

Like all these incidents wouldn't it be nice to be sure we have all the facts first?
An interview on National radio yesterday indicated the student had applied for the extension one day after the essay was due, not before and I note there has not been any corroborating (big word for the day) evidence of her fathers health.
Call me suspicuious, but I'm with the lecturer on this one.

**janno** · 8th August 2007, 08:14

Sounds like the dean has used this as an excuse to get rid of someone they didn't like. My pa has been a lecturer for a couple of decades and said this sort of thing is not as uncommon as you think.

Also sounds like the lecturer is a curmudgeonly old sod who has high standards and short patience for fools. I really liked being taught by those types, as when you made the effort you got it back twofold, and praise from them was definitely earned, not given out like bonus toys in a packet of cornflakes.

I wonder if he'll get snapped up with glee by some other uni who can't believe their good luck??

Be interesting to see if a loyal group of his students will protest on his behalf, or if he was genuinely disliked . . .

**Lil_Byte** · 8th August 2007, 08:24

I'm on the side of the lecturer on this one.

You should have to work for a degree and not expect it to be handed to you on a plate.

Also why should we need to be PC. I am sure the students country would not cater to our cultural beliefs as we seem to have to cater to theirs.

**ManDownUnder** · 8th August 2007, 08:27

Originally Posted by Colapop

Yes. I quite often think. It helps to occupy space in my head...

Me too - and putting my pants back help to quell them - and the swelling.

Re the lecturer... I like him. I think he handled this badly and if it's the only instance of suck behaviour then a smack on the hand and send him to the library for some research ought to do it.

If it's an everyday thing then I'd suggest you look at what he lectures on... he's a strategic analyst by trade. Something tells me he'd have fully predicted the fallout of what happened... and to that end I'd be asking "why did he do it?"

Watch this space - I have a feeling the poo hasn't all hit the fan... yet...

**caesius** · 8th August 2007, 08:29

I really liked being taught by those types, as when you made the effort you got it back twofold, and praise from them was definitely earned, not given out like bonus toys in a packet of cornflakes.

I'm with you on that one. Slightly different matter, but one of my lectureres actually kicks people out of the lecture theatre for talking/texting etc - which actually means I can hear the lecture. Makes a change from lectures taught by "younger" people, you wouldn't believe but I've even seen someone take a phone call in a lecture.

Too many people see uni as a way to delay the reality of being an adult. Oops gone of topics.

I wish I was born in the 70's...

**xwhatsit** · 8th August 2007, 09:19

Originally Posted by caesius

Too many people see uni as a way to delay the reality of being an adult. Oops gone of topics.

Hehehe yeah -- ain't it great?

Seriously though, I have friends who have taken classes taught by Buchanan. He's well known as a bit of a wanker. Not at all out of character for him to completely disregard the advice of the medical department (I'm assuming she applied for an aegrotat?), rightly or wrongly.

The circumstances don't really look very good for the student, especially how she applied a day after the assignment was due. Not a good idea even in undergraduate studies. However you can easily understand Morrow's position -- you don't want the sort of person who shoots their mouth of like that representing your university, much less your own (very small) department.

**Street Gerbil** · 8th August 2007, 09:23

Marxist asshole of a teacher vs. slacker affirmative action student? My, for the sake of the quality of graduate education in NZ I hope the Uni expells both of them...