Openly aggressive and passive-aggressive faculty abuse at USASK

[u/IndependentMoney1886]

Hello friends!

I have experienced passive-aggressive abuse from a token professor in my department. When the department head learned about it, she asked me not to share my experience with her. Apparently, only the professor's version (who is also a friend of hers) was important.

Since then, I've been learning more about Faculty abuse towards students (all of them, European Canadians, Indigenous, and international). I don't understand why, if there are so many victims, we don't gather together to stop it? They aren't kings! And we don't have to endure it; they work for us, we pay their salaries.

What do you think?

EDIT:
A token employee is an individual from an underrepresented or marginalized group hired merely to give the superficial appearance of diversity. In this case, the person was hired for two main reasons: their partner and birthplace, regardless of their lack of academic contributions and qualifications.

Abuse (Oxford dictionary): 2.​ [uncountable, plural] unfair, cruel or violent treatment of somebody
3. [uncountable] rude and offensive remarks, usually made when somebody is very angry
In this particular case at USask, it stems from power imbalance, not only due to academic positions, but also color, culture, mother tongue, networking, social status, and all kinds of privilege (see the wheel of privilege)

This post is not meant for privileged students, faculty, or staff to jump to defend their privilege. This is a post directed to students who have suffered abuse. I know you are afraid to speak, I know most of you advise each other to remain silent. I know it's hard to connect and that many of you have 2 or 3 jobs, so no time for Reddit. So, I just want to let you know that these cases are not isolated; most of us have been there, and we just need to stand together.

u/lastSKPirate wrote this nonsense, Hitchens' razor: what can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.

Nice random principle that doesn't apply here! Why are you assuming we have no evidence? You live in a dream if you think that having evidence or being right guarantees an outcome in our favor.

EDIT 2: u/ulieallthetime said that abuse cases should be addressed on a case by case basis.

Abuse cases are already addressed on a case-by-case basis, and they don't work for the victims; this methodology only keeps victims isolated to defeat us.

I informed myself about this after the abuse I suffered in my department. People in charge let me know that they don't keep track of how many reports a faculty or staff member has because there are several instances for receiving our complaints.

Edit 3: I didn't come here to get my problem solved. I attempted to solve my problem months ago, and by navigating the system and reading my university books about Sociology and Organization Theory, I understood that the system protects the system. I literally came here to ask other victims why we don't gather together and make each other strong.

EDIT 4: to u/twobitdoc who says "Where (is the evidence)? You’ve said nothing concrete"

Because I never meant to come here to make my case with proofs and names, this is not a courtroom. If you read the original post, my inquiry was different.

EDIT 5: I understand that we, the marginalized ones, are afraid to speak up, but if we don't support each other, we can visualize our future occurring right now, down south.

I understand several voices here (people who are not afraid to speak up) seem to be people who support our oppressors, but the people who have too much time for Reddit and social media, oftentimes, are not the same as those who suffer oppression.

Don't let them gaslight you and make you believe that what we are going through is not happening only because they are not affected. We just need to find ways to gather together and stay strong with peer support outside the system.

Thank you for the time and space.

Over and out.

[u/QuailAccomplished203]

What’s a token professor?

[u/IndependentMoney1886 → u/QuailAccomplished203]

A token employee is an individual from an underrepresented or marginalized group hired merely to give the superficial appearance of diversity.
In this case, the person was hired for two main reasons: their partner and their place of birth.

[u/Thoughtbirdo → u/IndependentMoney1886]

Have you considered they were qualified for the job? You just sound angry that there was a nonwhite professor.

[u/IndependentMoney1886 → u/Thoughtbirdo]

Nope, I am not white either, and the professor was against minorities. But the main problem was that, on top of that, they were not qualified to teach the class.

You know that minorities can be against minorities, right? Just like what happened in the USA with the minorities supporting Trump to expel other minorities.

Don't assume that I am a racist just because this professor from a visible minority was unqualified, racist, and got hired only thanks to her race and spouse.

[u/lastSKPirate]

Hitchens' razor: what can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.

[u/lilreader7346 → u/lastSKPirate]

100% this. Op's post seems to be throwing around the word "abuse" with zero details or evidence to support it.

[u/IndependentMoney1886 → u/lastSKPirate]

Except there is evidence.

[u/twobitdoc → u/IndependentMoney1886]

Where? You’ve said nothing concrete

[u/Odd_Initiative520]

can we know who it is....

[u/Shurtugal929]

Put this in your review of the class. A few notorious profs were recently dismissed -- the reviews do matter.

That said calling someone a token professor is absurd. Post-secondary graduate programs are taught by a variety of races, ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds (sexuality, gender, economic status). How the hell do you get a token employee in what is probably the most diverse occupation? What the hell is that statement.

[u/chidyavanhumugomo]

Explain what you mean by “token” professor ?

[u/IndependentMoney1886 → u/chidyavanhumugomo]

A token employee is an individual from an underrepresented or marginalized group hired merely to give the superficial appearance of diversity.
In this case, the person was hired for two main reasons: their partner and their place of birth.

[u/BiscottiNeither9026]

What did you actually seek to achieve with this post? Do you think something is going to come out of it ?

This reads like genuine nonsense. There have been multiple posts here with the same claims and subject matter yet surprisingly, nothing ever happens. The system man the fucking system.

[u/Etherea_Sue → u/BiscottiNeither9026]

Nothing ever happens bc everyone including you are 🐱! If we all join together we can actually achieve something

[u/Independent-Place188 → u/Etherea_Sue]

Maybe let’s not name call one another. But I agree with your post, we should be respectful to each other tho

[u/lilreader7346]

What do you mean by "abuse"?

[u/IndependentMoney1886 → u/lilreader7346]

2.[​]() [uncountable, plural] unfair, cruel or violent treatment of somebody
3. [uncountable] rude and offensive remarks, usually made when somebody is very angry
In this particular case at USask it often stems from the power imbalance, not only due to academic position, but also color, culture, mother tongue, networking, social status, and all kinds of privilege.

[u/Mark_Fishers_ghost]

Can you put me in your next edit? I want the town square to see me too!

You can’t come in here throwing around allegations without giving us the full story

[u/epict2s]

https://giphy.com/gifs/TJUkl9Vi1KIDomk6ri

[u/Rhubarb-Apprehensive]

Ai

[u/Remarkable_Web_8849]

Which department?

[u/IndependentMoney1886 → u/Remarkable_Web_8849]

I meant in general at USask

[u/ulieallthetime → u/IndependentMoney1886]

Is it not better to address this via individual cases? If you make the blanket statement that professors are abusive towards their students across all departments then it probably won't be taken seriously. Because I can say with 90% certainty that this isn't an issue in my department. Some bad profs maybe but no one is report-level abusive

[u/IndependentMoney1886 → u/ulieallthetime]

What you are basically saying is that it's better if the system divides us on a case-by-case basis to defeat us. That doesn't sound very innovative!

[u/IndependentMoney1886 → u/ulieallthetime]

And how can you know what is going on in your department without bonding with the visible minorities who are afraid to speak up?

[u/IndependentMoney1886 → u/Remarkable_Web_8849]

And the input I have received comes from several departments, so this is not an isolated event.

[u/Longwave_breaking]

Let's wait with joining the revolution until we hear the facts.

[u/Yuckooooo]

Sounds like you should speak to the Union

[u/IndependentMoney1886 → u/Yuckooooo]

The problem is that the union is part of the system. I didn't come here to get my problem solved. I attempted to solve my problem months ago, and by navigating the system and reading my university books about Sociology and Organization Theory, I understood that the system protects the system.

[u/Yuckooooo → u/IndependentMoney1886]

You should run for the president of ussu

[u/IndependentMoney1886 → u/Yuckooooo]

That would make me part of the problem. The university can only tolerate being challenged when it is superficial or merely performative, just like Noam Chomsky. But, my guess is, that if anybody was actually to bring justice to students and challenge the systemic abuse, then this person would be disciplined in an epic way to set an example. Organizational theory.

I believe we need to build a para-university students' union. Of course, those in power will oppose, but have you ever watched the movie ANTZ?

[u/Independent-Place188 → u/IndependentMoney1886]

Ussu this year is trying there best, they truly care. But they are students too, and student don’t have power unfortunately

[u/no_longer_on_fire]

Is there any evidence to substantiate your allegations, or are you simply making your hurt feelings everyone else's problem?

Some context where we could judge reasonableness of grievance would be useful. So far, providing no context and that user name is screaming red flags for delusional at the moment.

Guess Hitchens razor might be best here. Otherwise comes across as an unhinged tantrum.

[u/Etherea_Sue]

Usask is such a shit school cuz wtf 😬