Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 03:54:17 -0500
From: tombrown@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Thomas F Brown)
Subject: Re:  irony of job market discussion
To: socgrad@csf.colorado.edu
Message-id: <199712010854.DAA20360@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu>
>Disclaimer: I do think the job situation for PhDs sucks, and I think
>most faculty are acting immorally to 1) encourage people to study
>for PhDs without telling them the reality of the job situation, 2) taking
>on so many new PhD students,

This criticism assumes that the only reason for doing a phd is
to find an academic job. Personal interest or non-academic jobs
are also reasonable goals. Why should faculty discourage others
from doing what they themselves have already done? Why should
faculty waste their time explaining the job market to applicants?
Anyone can easily get that story on their own. Professors aren't
paid to be career counselors for prospective applicants.

>3) not working *with* grad students
>on issues of TA/RA rights, university hiring, etc.

These are issues of a political or procedural nature.
I don't see anything immoral about lacking interest
in them, or about taking a position contrary to
other folks' positions. I think it's dangerous to
confuse politics with morality.