psycho boss/professor - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

fearofmear · 02-11-2004, 08:00 PM

So I am a graduate student in college. I TA for an Organic Chemistry lab. I did a good job last semester TAing for a professor who was relatively easy to work with. This semester my boss is a total psycho and to top things off, he is also a professor for one of my classes. The best word to describe this guy is bipolar. He micromanages the lab to every last detail, which is fine by me. Anyway, there was a procedure in the lab that the students didn't have time to do or else they would have never finished the lab. I told them to take a shortcut that works better. He freaked out when he heard of this and chewed me out for it and threatened to have me fired. That was a little extreme , but that is fine; he is psycho and I have come to expect petty bullshit from him like that . I was guilty of something that I shouldn't have done and deserved the criticism I received. What he has been doing behind my back is what pisses me off. He has told the people who run the stockroom that I am "a dumb motherfucker". He has started to criticize me in front of the other graduate students in my own class. Word gets around the chemistry department. And I am not alone in being the recipient of this very unprofessional behavior. I am getting it worse because I won't rollover and take his bullshit. Anyway, I would really not like to take this to the Dean of Students or whatever. I'd talk to someone in his research group about how to better deal with him but he has no group. Which is absolutely unheard of for a fully tenured professor. Anyone have any tips for dealing with psycho bosses?

Bob Biter · 02-11-2004, 09:35 PM

I always find that discreetly placing open containers of mayonnaise in household ventilation systems works like a charm.

Seriously though, how bad is "the word" getting around the chemistry department? If he tells people you're a "dumb motherfucker", do they realise that he's just a frustrated, pedantic shitsack and ignore him, or do they take his word for it and start treating you badly because of his influence? If it's the former, don't sweat it... people can see through his bullshit and it'll blow over. However, if it's the latter, don't just let it spread. Make your side known. I'm not talking just behind his back, because that would make you just like him, but if he drills you in front of other students, you have the right to calmly state your points as a retort. Then, if he blows up, people will see that it's him that's the "dumb motherfucker". A good answer when you're too tired or couldn't be bothered to give a shit is the classic "Big Lebowski" quote: "Well, you know, that's just like ahhh... you're opinion, man." Big conversation ender in any book.

If all of this fails, then I suppose you really should take this to the Dean. Do not suffer an asshole to live.

raeanna74 · 02-12-2004, 05:59 AM

I had a professor in college who seemed to enjoy causing the students grief. I watched her tear down several female students in front of the class until they burst into tears. I watched as a roommate of mine who was doing the best she could on a project and called with a question burst into tears as this teacher ripped into with all she had for simply asking a question. Btw her question was completely legit in my opinion as well as our other 2 roommates. After she ripped into me in front of a class of 3rd grades that I was practice teaching I decided it was time to do something. Perhaps I should have done something earlier but I really didn't realize how bad it was until she tore into me. I did speak to her later after her attack on me and told her how it had been upsetting and not constructive. She got defensive and refused to listen. So I went to the dean with a calm, researched report. Before I went I talked to a few of the students who had suffered under her fury and asked if they would be willing to speak to the dean if he so wished. They were and I told the dean their names as other "references" to confirm the story with. These students weren't close friends of mine and some were actually only aquaintances that I rarely spoke with except in class so it wasn't a case of me getting my buddies together to gang up on the teacher. The dean spoke with her about her behavior and she made a general apology in class to the students. Later she spoke to me and told me how she had not realized how critical she had become. She also mentioned how she wished she's listened when I'd confronted her and she promised that she wasn't going to attack students anymore. BTW I did not go to the dean until AFTER my class was finished for the semester so that there would be no chance of any repercusions and no personal interest in my part in having the teacher canned.

Since then the teacher has kept in contact with me and her family and ours have been friendly. She seems to have mellowed out a lot. She took a short sabatical for a while when her daughter was struggling health wise and it seems to have helped. Keep in mind you need to speak specifically about your professors/bosses behavior to him in a public place so that you have a witness or two should he blow up about it. Do it respectfully and in a "constructive" way. Then if he refuses to listen or change go over his head. There's nothing wrong with tattling if you've attempted to address the issue yourself first.

I hope this wasn't too long and that it made sense. You situation sounded so familiar though. Good luck.

ratbastid · 02-12-2004, 07:53 AM

You think it's a surprise that he doesn't have a research group? Somebody knows this guys tendencies and is protecting the world from him.

I recommend you go to the department chair about it. The Dean of Students is a last-resort place to complain to; start with this prof's immediate supervisor, so it doesn't look like you're going over anybody's head.

tec-9-7 · 02-12-2004, 08:20 AM

I'd speak to your major professor first, the Departmental Graduate Student Coordinator second, then the Dept. Chair before taking it outside the department.

Corneo · 02-12-2004, 03:49 PM

You can always let the moron spread the word. Just impress other professors and people will soon realize who is the dumb motherfucker.

I knew a professor here at my college that could barely speak French. Every time I went to him for help, he mumbled and complained how I was a dumb. I wasn't dumb at all, I switched out of his class and into a class where the professor spoke fluent English. I aced the midterm of that one.

02-11-2004, 08:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
fearofmear Insane Location: Florida	psycho boss/professor So I am a graduate student in college. I TA for an Organic Chemistry lab. I did a good job last semester TAing for a professor who was relatively easy to work with. This semester my boss is a total psycho and to top things off, he is also a professor for one of my classes. The best word to describe this guy is bipolar. He micromanages the lab to every last detail, which is fine by me. Anyway, there was a procedure in the lab that the students didn't have time to do or else they would have never finished the lab. I told them to take a shortcut that works better. He freaked out when he heard of this and chewed me out for it and threatened to have me fired. That was a little extreme , but that is fine; he is psycho and I have come to expect petty bullshit from him like that . I was guilty of something that I shouldn't have done and deserved the criticism I received. What he has been doing behind my back is what pisses me off. He has told the people who run the stockroom that I am "a dumb motherfucker". He has started to criticize me in front of the other graduate students in my own class. Word gets around the chemistry department. And I am not alone in being the recipient of this very unprofessional behavior. I am getting it worse because I won't rollover and take his bullshit. Anyway, I would really not like to take this to the Dean of Students or whatever. I'd talk to someone in his research group about how to better deal with him but he has no group. Which is absolutely unheard of for a fully tenured professor. Anyone have any tips for dealing with psycho bosses?

02-11-2004, 09:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bob Biter Non-smokers die everyday Location: Montreal	I always find that discreetly placing open containers of mayonnaise in household ventilation systems works like a charm. Seriously though, how bad is "the word" getting around the chemistry department? If he tells people you're a "dumb motherfucker", do they realise that he's just a frustrated, pedantic shitsack and ignore him, or do they take his word for it and start treating you badly because of his influence? If it's the former, don't sweat it... people can see through his bullshit and it'll blow over. However, if it's the latter, don't just let it spread. Make your side known. I'm not talking just behind his back, because that would make you just like him, but if he drills you in front of other students, you have the right to calmly state your points as a retort. Then, if he blows up, people will see that it's him that's the "dumb motherfucker". A good answer when you're too tired or couldn't be bothered to give a shit is the classic "Big Lebowski" quote: "Well, you know, that's just like ahhh... you're opinion, man." Big conversation ender in any book. If all of this fails, then I suppose you really should take this to the Dean. Do not suffer an asshole to live. __________________ A plan is just a list of things that don't happen.

02-12-2004, 05:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	I had a professor in college who seemed to enjoy causing the students grief. I watched her tear down several female students in front of the class until they burst into tears. I watched as a roommate of mine who was doing the best she could on a project and called with a question burst into tears as this teacher ripped into with all she had for simply asking a question. Btw her question was completely legit in my opinion as well as our other 2 roommates. After she ripped into me in front of a class of 3rd grades that I was practice teaching I decided it was time to do something. Perhaps I should have done something earlier but I really didn't realize how bad it was until she tore into me. I did speak to her later after her attack on me and told her how it had been upsetting and not constructive. She got defensive and refused to listen. So I went to the dean with a calm, researched report. Before I went I talked to a few of the students who had suffered under her fury and asked if they would be willing to speak to the dean if he so wished. They were and I told the dean their names as other "references" to confirm the story with. These students weren't close friends of mine and some were actually only aquaintances that I rarely spoke with except in class so it wasn't a case of me getting my buddies together to gang up on the teacher. The dean spoke with her about her behavior and she made a general apology in class to the students. Later she spoke to me and told me how she had not realized how critical she had become. She also mentioned how she wished she's listened when I'd confronted her and she promised that she wasn't going to attack students anymore. BTW I did not go to the dean until AFTER my class was finished for the semester so that there would be no chance of any repercusions and no personal interest in my part in having the teacher canned. Since then the teacher has kept in contact with me and her family and ours have been friendly. She seems to have mellowed out a lot. She took a short sabatical for a while when her daughter was struggling health wise and it seems to have helped. Keep in mind you need to speak specifically about your professors/bosses behavior to him in a public place so that you have a witness or two should he blow up about it. Do it respectfully and in a "constructive" way. Then if he refuses to listen or change go over his head. There's nothing wrong with tattling if you've attempted to address the issue yourself first. I hope this wasn't too long and that it made sense. You situation sounded so familiar though. Good luck. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

02-12-2004, 07:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	You think it's a surprise that he doesn't have a research group? Somebody knows this guys tendencies and is protecting the world from him. I recommend you go to the department chair about it. The Dean of Students is a last-resort place to complain to; start with this prof's immediate supervisor, so it doesn't look like you're going over anybody's head.

02-12-2004, 08:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
tec-9-7 Insane Location: Rainy Washington	I'd speak to your major professor first, the Departmental Graduate Student Coordinator second, then the Dept. Chair before taking it outside the department.

02-12-2004, 03:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
Corneo Insane	You can always let the moron spread the word. Just impress other professors and people will soon realize who is the dumb motherfucker. I knew a professor here at my college that could barely speak French. Every time I went to him for help, he mumbled and complained how I was a dumb. I wasn't dumb at all, I switched out of his class and into a class where the professor spoke fluent English. I aced the midterm of that one.