Popular Harvard Psychology Professor Resigns

"I have also been offered some exciting opportunities in the private sector,” Hauser wrote in a resignation letter dated July 7. Does that mean he was employed by a government agency? Or that Harvard University is a government agency?
indipete and 3 more liked this.

Edward Allen Penis [Moderator] in reply to menckenlite
Oh lord, you're a moron if you cannot distinguish academia from the private sector.
8 people liked this.


[Replying to Comment]
You argue with morons? Harvard University academics may be in a self deluded atmosphere above ordinary humans, but legally it is a private not for profit corporation with for profit divisions. Why do elitists use personal attacks when they are confronted with unpleasant facts? Being in Cambridge Massachusetts, one may understand why Harvard academics believe they are a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Controlling as they do the Executive, the Judiciary, much of the Legislature, in additon to the local city goverment of lap dogs Harvard academics see themselves as master public officials keeping clear of the dreaded private sector. With a President who shares that view of the world private becomes public and upside down is right side up. Welcome to the Harvard in Wonderland world of words mean what I want them to mean.
indipete and 3 more liked this.

Edward Allen Penis [Moderator] 12 hours ago in reply to menckenlite
After reading your blog, I've concluded that I do, indeed, argue with morons. Congratulations.

indipete [Moderator] 17 hours ago in reply to Edward Allen Penis
So what are you saying? That "academia" is in the public sector? Or that it constitutes a sector in and of itself?



realsleep Replying to menckenlite

Sorry, but --- Marc Hauser's research was funded in large part by the federal government. Many of his graduate students and postdocs were likewise paid 100% of their salary by the government.
So, in a very real sense, he worked for the government. And this is why even a private university is not quite the same as a private company. There are faculty at Harvard Medical School who draw a majority of their pay from government grants.

menckenlite Replying to realsleep

Harvard get millions in research money from taxpayers. One year it was $460 million from the NSF alone. Obtaining research grant money is big business. Rainmakers are rewarded and given wide latitude within their institutions. Researchers do not become employees of the taxpayer when using their money. Contrary to the high standards of most graduate student researchers some researchers believe they are above the laws and that the benefits of their research outweighs any harm to individuals (the defense used by the Nazi doctors at the Nuremberg trials). Harvard has three IRBs and sends one letter of assurance to the NIH each year promising to obey all US research laws (Title 45 CFR 46) for all their research. US officials whose mission is to ensure compliance take Harvard at its word in their letter. They demand evidence of wrongdoing from the human subjects harmed. When it comes to Harvard and their researchers there is no compelling reason to comply with the laws. There are no consequences. Under law Harvard would lose all of its taxpayer research grants from one violation of the laws.

[From article]
"I have also been offered some exciting opportunities in the private sector,” Hauser wrote in a resignation letter dated July 7.


http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/7/19/marc-hauser-resigns-psychology-harvard/

Embattled Professor Marc Hauser Will Resign from Harvard
Controversial professor came under fire for allegedly faking data
By Gautam S. Kumar and Julia L Ryan,
Harvard CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
Published: Tuesday, July 19, 2011