Dear JL, I'm not sure how often you check the MB board; since returning to the States, I haven't been able to do more than glance through the topics from time to time (have to use a computer at the public library to access the internet). How are you doing?--I hope you are fully recovered. Thank you again for all your help and advice back in mid-summer. I won't go into (my usual) elaborate detail about my situation now. Suffice to say, I'm still in limbo, still in a form of Plan A. I have done a few phone sessions with Steve Harley, which have been helpful in sorting out feelings, events, decisions, etc. H and I were supposed to file the paper that set a date for the legal sep. and then H agreed to put it off...but the question comes up again at the end of the month, at the same time OW will be returning to town. I'm pretty certain how things are going to go from there on out..though Steve says not to act on what I think is inevitable at this point.<P>What I'd like to ask your help in now is, once again, the academic side of things. I'm finding it really is the most difficult part of this...I can stay in Plan A and H even responds and there seems to be hope, until the issue of fieldwork and publications must be discussed. I can't back down on certain issues, and since it is the core of our problem, as you helped me to realize, it always leads to difficulties. Do you remember that paper I mentioned, in which the OW shamelessly used all sorts of information that was spoon-fed to her by my H, uncited, including a good deal of unpublished data and references and original ideas that were mine as well as H's?? Well, I just saw her "updated" c.v. (for our project member list, on which H is maintaining her name) and she lists that paper as a forthcoming book, in a series published by our dept. at the university, even giving a projected publication date. H says she did that on her own, to make her c.v. look good, and that "had she asked him", he would've advised her to leave out a date and say "in preparation." I feel certain H has made sure her paper was accepted and given a pub. date...H even nominated her paper for a university-wide "prize", which she won...memo to H from the committee said, "congratulations!" This is obviously the difference between the H/OW relationship and the H/octavia relationship: if I get a pat on the head or recognition, H gets jealous. If OW does well, H gets a "congratulations" and can take "credit" for her accomplishment since she, more than just in theory, owes all she knows in the field to him.<P>OK, so I already know I can't compete with that, nor do I want to. BUT--now that OW may actually get a book-length publication out of this piece of plagiarism, how long do I remain silent?? She would have to expand it considerably to make it a book, and I have no doubt more of the "padding" will come from the results of H's and my joint work. I feel absolutely sick about the fact that I just finished writing up the report for our last season and handed it over to H, who will probably make it all available to OW. Most of the report is my work...much of the fieldwork is my work...much of the interpretation of the results is mine...I know this sort of claim goes against your (very valid) rules about scholarship and credit, and I wouldn't be giving any of this another thought, were it not for the pattern that OW has established in taking all she can get from H (and from me via H) and using it to the hilt to boost her own "professional career."<P>What do you recommend doing now? Wait until the "book" comes out, if it ever does, and then do a review of it, pointing out all the instances of lifted passages and stolen ideas? Or should I go into a publishing flurry myself now and bang out a bunch of short "notes" in professional journals, just to get out some of my results and ideas under my own name before they appear elsewhere? Even if I do that, which wouldn't be a bad idea anyway, to get some material out there before the lengthy process of final reports is completed, only H would be able to set the record straight about what she stole (or graciously accepted) directly from him. Another problem is H has used things we wrote jointly in a chapter for a book which is about to come out; if I want to use elsewhere the portions I wrote that are going to appear in print under his name, I will end up looking like I'm plagiarizing his work, rather than reclaiming my own composition.<P>This all sounds so petty as I reread what I've typed, but I think you understand my concern here. This OW could really use the unfair advantage she has to rise in the field..she has already received three "awards" due to my H (very directly due to him, one of them required no report or written results, just a nomination and then a statement from my H that she achieved her stated objectives...she bragged about not having to do or show anything to receive that $5000...). If I weren't so directly involved, I might shrug it off and say, what goes around comes around, she'll be found out eventually. But the fact of the matter is, she could very well continue to get awards, grants, and then positions, based on very unethical behaviour. If the M problems between H and me weren't an issue, if I were just an outside person witnessing this, who came to you in your capacity as professor, and told you about this, what would you advise me to do?<P>Thank you again for your wisdom and help..I'll check in when I can manage it. All best wishes, octavia

Octavia,<P>I am on travel, but decided to check in tonight. You ask some very complex questions. First, I would see if a copy of the report you wrote on the latest field trip could be handed to a project sponsor as a "draft" of the work to be finally written up.<P>Next, I would publish as much as you can. Do it in small papers that are easily reviewed but make sure they get out and the project is prominately mentioned. I would also write some papers using the information that is in the forthcoming book, with appropriate attribution to H's work. The book may be out before the papers go through referee process.<P>Finally, any new ideas you have should be staked out in print, or in seminars within the University or as presentations to other Universities. Perhaps you should seek to give a few seminars for your dissertation advisors institution.<P>Finally, if this starts up again, then the issue of your H's obvious bias and flouting of Univ. rules should be discussed with him. I would point out to him that his obvious favoritism toward said student will be noted when the separation and possible divorce occur. It will make him look foolish and with luck it will ruin her career, such as it is.<P>So my recommendation is publish and present often, and do it now. I do believe a draft copy of your report to your sponsor is not only a 'polite" thing to do, but it is a prudent thing to do when staking out your territory. She wasn't on your project this summer, so it will be obvious that something is up.<P>Those are my hasty responses. I wish I could help you more.<P>God Bless,<P>JL

Can't you copyright your stuff before you hand it over? If nothing else, you could mail yourself a copy of your work by certified mail, requesting date delivered, and DO NOT open it after it is delivered back to you...just put it in a safe place. This would be evidence that YOU wrote it.

Dear JL, Thank you for your speedy response--I checked in earlier but had no time to respond. As always, your suggestions are sound and I will implement them insofar as I am able to. One thing that was occupying most of my attention and time was worrying about the legal separation--happily, as of today, H and I have extended the "reconciliation" status. We went to court to ask for this unusual extension (normally, a case on the dockets for so long would have to be either pursued or dropped at this point in time) and were granted the extension. I realize this does not mean everything is smooth sailing from here on out...but I am encouraged, and at the very least, it means that we don't have to define our personal and working relationship in legal terms just now (which I am certain would extinguish any chance of reconciliation) and that I can focus for a while on writing things up, which will be a good thing no matter what happens eventually. I am just about out of time on this library computer, so I'll have to resume next time, but I do thank you again. And thanks, Lady Clueless, for the mailing a document to myself concept--a good idea. No harm in keeping track of what I produce and when. Many thanks, octavia99