New faculty orientation - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Aug 23, 2004

New faculty orientation

Date: Aug 23, 2004

i'm amazed we didn't outsource our food service to Barnhills.

Date: Aug 23, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"i'm amazed we didn't outsource our food service to Barnhills."

Who at USM has a vested interest in Barnhills?

Date: Aug 23, 2004

I didn't hear about Barnhills--this, apparently, paled for the new faculty members I spoke to in comparison with being asked to pray before the meal (last I heard, this was still a public university) and with hearing male colleagues referred to with title ("Dr. X") and female colleagues given first and last name only. Have others heard the same? This is tacky, rinky-dink, embarrassing, and potentially very dangerous, not to mention just plain wrong.

No quarter.

Ellen Weinauer

Date: Aug 23, 2004

forensic science has the vested interest--they'll be doing the autopsies on those who eat at barnhills.

as to the prayer before meals--for years faculty have complained about the prayers at graduation but to no avail.

Date: Aug 23, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Ellen Weinauer
"with hearing male colleagues referred to with title ("Dr. X") and female colleagues given first and last name only. Have others heard the same? This is tacky, rinky-dink, embarrassing, and potentially very dangerous, not to mention just plain wrong. No quarter. Ellen Weinauer"

Becky Woodrick is still here through December. I too heard that the females were referred to by first and last names and the males were referred to by title. It is totally unreal.

Date: Aug 23, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Swan Song
"Becky Woodrick is still here through December. I too heard that the females were referred to by first and last names and the males were referred to by title. It is totally unreal."

Are you saying that a complaint needs to be filed? Sounds like a plan to me.

Date: Aug 23, 2004

Sounds like a discrepancy to me. Men and women both work for and earn similar degrees with similar titles, but the men are called by the title they earned (such as "Dr.") but women are called by other titles ("Ms.", "Miss", " Mrs.") rather than the title they too earned ("Dr."). The connotations are obvious.

Date: Aug 23, 2004

Another good argument for the use of "Professor" in all cases.

Date: Aug 23, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: LVN
"Another good argument for the use of "Professor" in all cases."

Yes, yes, yes, LVN - except in some of the 4th tier schools who glory in using the term "Dr."

Date: Aug 23, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Swan Song
"Sounds like a discrepancy to me. Men and women both work for and earn similar degrees with similar titles, but the men are called by the title they earned (such as "Dr.") but women are called by other titles ("Ms.", "Miss", " Mrs.") rather than the title they too earned ("Dr."). The connotations are obvious. "

Many years ago my Organic Chemistry Professor at the University of Kansas advised the class that she'd worked much harder to achieve her "Mrs." status than her Ph.D., which she'd earned at a little known public institution called Cal Tech. She said she much preferred to be addressed as Mrs. Allen, and might not even answer to Dr. or Professor. Her comment drew a big laugh from the class, but we later learned she was dead serious. And, I should add that she was one of the best real teachers I've ever been exposed to.

AE

Date: Aug 23, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Austin Eagle
" Many years ago my Organic Chemistry Professor at the University of Kansas advised the class that she'd worked much harder to achieve her "Mrs." status than her Ph.D., which she'd earned at a little known public institution called Cal Tech. She said she much preferred to be addressed as Mrs. Allen, and might not even answer to Dr. or Professor.

Cal Tech = lst tier+++

Kansas is no slouch either.

Date: Aug 23, 2004

I just like to be called "Hey, Dude" especially at USM

like...

"Hey, dude...give me sumpin to write on."

"Hey, dude...do I gotta show up?"

"Hey, dude...when's Shelby gonna can your butt?"

"Hey, dude...why'd you come here, professor dude?"

"Hey, dude...when you leavin us?"

"Hey, dude...I'm takin my girlfriend to Barnhill's tonight, it's our anniversery."

Date: Aug 23, 2004

and then there's always, "hey dude, where's my prof?"

Seriously, choice is one thing and what apparently happened at the orientation is another. If someone wants to be titled Mrs., or Professor, or Master, or whatever, that's that person's perogative. Some women still prefer "Mrs. Thaddeus Whately," or whatever the husband's name is. That's their choice and I have no quarrel with that, although I never wanted to be titled in that manner. But where folks are equally qualified for a particular title (and one that is, after all, the POINT of the event), and where preference is not known, they should of course be addressed in equivalent terms.

Doggone it, no quarter!
Anne Wallace

Date: Aug 23, 2004

Doggone it, Anne, you are right. It's about consistency. It's not about flaunting your prejudices in front of people and thinking that you are exempt from public censure. Or that public reaction is irrelevant.

Date: Aug 23, 2004

Amen, Dr. Wallace. I was ready to post the same message.

Date: Aug 23, 2004

I heard that the error may have been made by one or more of the deans. It was reported that the dean of CoST asked the new faculty to introduce themselves, so he didn't call out their names. I don't know which deans made the blunders.