ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø

 : : : Posting

Let me share my experience of a campus visit at a somewhat renowned private university in the U.S., following the 2004 Summer ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø in Boston. Before my research presentation, I went for lunch with a delegation of the local faculty members, where the department chair had a large beer. During my subsequent presentation, the department chair fell asleep, sitting in the first row and snoring.(A graduate student then trying to land his first faculty position, I continued with my presentation. Looking back now, I would have reacted differently.) The chair woke up just before the end of my talk and then actually asked me a question about my presentation. I used to think that this must be a very rare incident until I learned that the same thing also happened to a colleague of mine during a campus visit at a different school.

Moreover, the school never reimbursed me for my travel expenses. Having been provided with the travel receipts, the department chair never responded to any of my emails or returned any of my numerous messages left with his secretary. After months of trying to get a response, I finally gave up since I had to finish my dissertation and the discontent caused by this situation was counterproductive. At that time, I was living overseas and my speculation is that it was a conscious decision by the chair not to respond – however, since he was provided with the receipts of the expenses, one is left wondering what happened to the money. It should be noted that this school has a religious affiliation and places a strong emphasis on teaching ethics and values.