The Crypt of Academe

About the Book

Herewith are presented twenty highly personal tales from the darkest depths of the Crypt of Academe, told by an old soldier no longer in the line of fire. The topics include evaluation of students and faculty, how faculty claw their way up the ranks, who wins the awards and why and how decisions get made, or more often don’t.

Each tale is recounted in about three pages in a straight forward manner without gilt or favor to anyone. I have tried to be frank in my writing and may offend a few but you can’t please everyone all the time and others at no time. But I hope to bring a smile to the lips of some and a pause for thought about the real life and meaning of our Crypts, a.k.a. universities. If you don’t like the writing of each tale you may enjoy the accompanying illustrative cartoons.

Despite what might be interpreted as the odd harsh word or phrase I would defend the unparalleled importance of all Crypts to the fabric of our life. At their best they contribute beyond measure to our intellectual, social, emotional, democratic and economic life. And any institution of such importance deserves periodic scrutiny from a variety of angles, including the tongue in cheek.

About the Author

The author has spent nearly all of his working life as a citizen of a variety of Crypts, first as an undergraduate at the University of Saskatchewan where he graduated with a B. Comm. with Honors. After a year of recuperation at the Psychological Research Institute in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan he enjoyed almost two years in successful pursuit of an MBA at the University of Washington. His final stop in the preparatory phase of his academic life was at Cornell University where he picked up his Ph D union card. For the next twenty-six years he passed his time in the School of Business at the University of Alberta. He somehow managed to experience the pain and joy of moving up the ranks to finally obtain the coveted title of Professor. He was also fortunate enough to enjoy an international life through a variety of programs and sabbaticals. His stops along the way included Nairobi, Paris, London, Edinburgh and China. He did take time to contribute to the internal life of his faculty through service on too many committees and too much bureaucracy such as director of the doctoral program and a final seven years as Associate Dean. That truly was the end. He now enjoys a rewarding life, thanks to his time spent within the Crypt, observing the passing parade called life.