(modified 2/19) Dear J.L., Hi, this is octavia99 under a new moniker (I'll still go by octavia in the posts, just needed to reduce possibility of being recognized in the topic lists). You have been kind enough to offer me a great deal of help and advice in the past, and I would like to ask for your insights once again.<p>It's been about six months or so since I last posted and much has happened in the interim, mostly positive. After several more "postponements", WH and I have officially dropped the legal separation. Thanks to a number of useful sessions with Steve, I have managed to do a reasonably consistent Plan A; moreover, my WH has also had two phone sessions with Steve and has another set for this week. We are treating each other much better overall and are starting to regain intimacy. But we still have a long road ahead of us, and both of us are still suffering from doubts and uncertainty. The OW issue is not yet resolved...I can go into more details on that later. What I'd like to ask your help on here is, as always, the academic side of things.<p>You may remember that in my last post, I expressed concern and dismay over the OW's access to and use of as-yet-unpublished information from our joint project, in particular a "senior thesis" she wrote which incorporated and often failed to cite or acknowledge not only H's unpublished ideas, but some of my own as well--I can't remember if I already knew at the time of my last post that she was working this paper into a book. I have seen drafts of the book-to-be and would like your advice on how to proceed.<p>Ostensibly, the main focus of the book is the interpretation of a particular text. Although I know she got a lot of help from my H (H had once used the same text as a "practice" test for me before my exams long ago, so I know how much work he had already put into its translation..), he insists the translation and text commentary are largely her own work. H does concede, however, that all the interpretation is based on what she learned in class and in (many) consultations with H. The problem is, though she has looked up a number of things herself, the whole underlying concept, and everything that is a "new insight" in "her" book is taken wholesale from H's and my joint work of the past ten years. Much more of what she's presenting as her own ideas came from H than from me (via H), but there are parts that are a direct result of my own insights and line of research.<p>I am feeling very discouraged and more than a little angry about this. The good news is that H and I have discussed this and he has told me that if I would like to go over the manuscript and point out to him any and all instances where she should cite our (joint and individual)work, he will make sure that she does so. Does that sound reasonable to you? Even if she were to cite our project, I'm not sure I would feel OK about this--to me, this is very different from the "healthy" sort of sharing of ideas and discussions of evidence that we have done with our colleagues, which is an essential part of academic life--that sort of thing moves everyone's research forward and is how advances are made in the field. In such instances, no colleague would presume to write a book based on the unpublished work of another scholar, at least while that scholar is still among the living! Unfortunately, it takes much longer to publish the data which backs up conclusions than it does to use the conclusions as if they were accepted fact or her own insights, as OW is doing.<p>One problem is, H feels that whatever OW produces will reflect on him, positively or negatively. So if he doesn't help her to the best of his ability, he will be blamed for any errors. Conversely, whatever credit she gets for the work he believes will ultimately be attributed to him as well, as he is her professor. How correct is that? In any event, I believe his responsibilities as professor/advisor do not require him to handover, before they have been published under our names, ideas, conclusions and data that have taken not only him, but both of us, over a decade of hard work and thought to compile and analyze. I wish he would discuss with me what portions of our project we BOTH would feel comfortable assigning as research topics to his students--I discuss with him the same issues regarding the work consultants are doing for us. I have been and will be the primary person dealing with the outside specialists and H has insisted than none of them even think about preparing for publication anything concerning the project's data without first obtaining his approval ("his", not "ours").

Now that OW has applied some of our findings and ideas to a specific topic, and done it (I hate to admit it) well, to what extent do I have a right to be upset? I recognize many, many references and ideas that came from H and some from myself; no new concept or thesis presented is her own; yet it is she who has written up this thing. Is she aware of the plagiarized portions, or is she naive or inexperienced enough to believe that anything that comes out of a professor's mouth in a classroom (or reading class) is in the public domain and can be presented by any writer? I just don't feel capable of objectivity in this situation. If she weren't the OW, would I feel differently? The problem is, if she weren't the OW, I KNOW H would never have given so generously of our data (e.g., H alienated a friend and colleague by reading him the riot act after he used an explanation and reference of H's in an article w/out citing H.)<p>I guess it bothers me that she's smart enough to have produced something good without the unfair advantage, and yet she feels no guilt about presenting H's work, and our joint work, as if it were her own. Because she's such a "model student" (and because she has indeed done follow up work in the library and expended some effort writing things up), no one will ever question her work, now or in the future. She will never be called to task for the academic dishonesty, nor for her favored status with my H...I have forgiven my H for a lot of his actions, but I just don't have it in me to forgive her for any part of it.<p>As for my own work, I managed to send off a paper that presented some of my own ideas and made clear in what specific areas of research I'm currently working---though I wish I had had more time to refine it. As it was, I had to take time from the fieldwork and administration tasks, and those demands continue unabated. I do realize that the best medicine for all that ails me is producing my own work, and I hope I can continue to bring things to fruition. It may eventually make all the concerns about OW's tooting her own horn moot.<p>I'm afraid this post isn't as cogent as I had hoped--I have few opportunities to get on the internet these days, though I hope that will change in a couple of weeks, when I hope to post more regularly, perhaps even offer some encouragement to others (though I don't yet know how my own story will resolve itself). I will try to write more the next opportunity I get. In the mean time, thank you for any advice you might offer. Yours, octavia<p>[ February 19, 2002: Message edited by: eight99 ]<p>[ February 19, 2002: Message edited by: eight99 ]</p>

up

Octavia,<p>This is a very complicated situation. In my field it is common for a student to publish a paper, rarely a book. In such papers, what is considered common courtesy is that professors name is on the paper. In fact, it is often not a courtesy but a requirement.<p>One logical solution is that you and your H's name be on these publications. At the least an extensive set of references to lecture notes, discussions, and comments be made. Certainly any other papers, such as you have in preparation should be referenced.<p>Frankly, the funding authority should be referenced as should the major players in a 10 year effort which she clearly did not participate in.<p>Your H is treading on very thin ice her, and the young lady is very likely going to end her career sooner than she thinks. I doubt if your H and you will be her last victims and once word gets out, she will not have much support in the community. Plagarism is much more than frowned on in my community, it usually ends all funding. I suspect that may be true in yours.<p>So, solution! I don't know. For sure you need to publish more or your own work. Two, your H needs to decide who's career he is going to support, yours or hers. I don't think much of his logic about publication. He controls this situation pure and simple and it isn't just a matter of whether it is good work or bad work. The question is should it be published with deficient references and attributions.<p>I am glad to hear that you two are working on things. I am sorry to hear that they have become so complicated. Has your H figured out how to get her out of his career yet? It will cost him if he doesn't. I know professors think they are immune to the realities of life, but all he has is his reputation and if it is tarnished life gets rough.<p>Good to see you back again.<p>God Bless,<p>JL

Dear JL, Thanks so much for responding. I only have a minute to write now and will try to get on line again in the next couple of days (am traveling back overseas soon, hectic time and ltd. internet access now). It is indeed a complicated situation, and my H is having a hard time bearing up under the pressure. He really wants me to help him, yet he is still having difficulty opening up enough to allow me to do so in a meaningful way. I know it is up to me to help him feel safe talking about everything; it's tough, because my patience is wearing thin. I made the assumption that once we started sharing warm feelings for each other again, he would start to communicate more easily. Have to readjust my expectations...<p>The OW's planting herself indefinitely in his (and thus our) life is not easy to deal with. I sometimes feel I lose either way...even if H and I rebuild our M, will that give the OW "license" to utilize more of our material with impunity and demand favors and assistance from my H in his professional capacity forever, as "compensation" for having been on the receiving end of what turned out to be empty promises?? RE: the credit in the book, your mention of funding agencies made me realize that, indeed, she is required by the stipulations of our grant to cite the grant in the publication...my H is P.I., but I am listed as co-director of the project and joint holder of the concession in the agency's list of grants, which is posted on-line. So in a round-about way, the fact of the data for "her thesis" arising from someone else's work will be made plain...to those readers who are thoughtful and observant. At least my H did agree to accept my input on where and how our jt. work should be cited by her. It's still not adequate consolation though. More on this later...<p>Remember your suggestion way back when the first time I posted, re: a sabbatical? H is looking into it for the next academic year. If it works out, and he and I are overseas together, and OW is stuck taking classes with other professors, at least for most of the academic year, we just may at last have the opportunity we need to spend time together and away from the spectre of the OW. But before that happens, there is the summer season, which is still up in the air. H is joining me in May...I imagine OW has her heart set on coming out then, too, just like the nightmare summer of 2000. How my H handles this "no-win" situation will likely determine whether or not our M is going to be able to survive. Have to run now, thanks again, will write more ASAP, Yours, octavia