12.26.2006

Give me tenure..or give me death!

So says MIT stem cell biologist James L. Sherley. Professor Sherley has reportedly threatened to "die defiantly" outside the provost's office if the allegedly racist decision to not put him forward for tenure is not overturned.

Well, now that changes everything. Wouldn't you want to promote someone who threatens to commit suicide when they don't get what they want?

If Sherley gets tenure because he threatened to starve himself to death, do the overlooked Asian, Hispanic, Arab and Anglo profs then get to claim MIT has an unfair bias toward "deathism?"

If he doesn't get tenure, there is an upside for colleagues: it could reduce the pool of candidates and increase everyone's chances.

[Via History News Network.] Posted by Picasa