I Gots My Honours Project

Thursday, October 6, 2005 11:28 PM

For background, see previous blogs.

So, I had politics used against me; I used politics against them

Basically, what I did was force a situation in which they couldn't say no.

What I did was talk to the U that I'm a visiting student at and see if someone there would be willing to supervise me. Someone was and all became arranged.

Now, when asking for a letter of permission to do it at my current U, my home U has two implications if they say no.

1) No, that U is not good enough for us.
Well chair, what do you want me to tell them when I go back since all is arranged?

2) No, you have to do it here and we won't let you.
Why? I have already gotten my two required supervisors. Are you saying that I can't do it just because it's me?

In either case, can we say political fallout?


So, I see the chair and explain that the courses are equivalent. Show him my current U's calender and explain what I've arranged.

He said that he'd have to talk to the honours committee before he could render a decision.

Why? I say. All a letter of permission is is to see if the courses are indeed equivalent. As I have explained they are. The honours committee has nothing to do with it anymore.

Pause. Let me photo-copy that page from the calender.

It took some time for that photo-copy to be made. I gather that he did more than just photo-copy that page.

When he came back in, he just said, sure that'll be fine, I'll sign it.

He also stated that he liked (can't think of the exact word he used) my motivation/perseverance in getting the honours project. That it would serve me well in grad studies should I end up there.

Then we talked a little bit which of course quickly ended up being about the failings of the current structure of the honours project. I mentioned some alternatives that they might think about implementing that I found at my current U.

He photo-copied those pages as well and off I went.


One thing struck me though. While we were talking he mentioned a few things that hinted that he didn't want to deny me a project in the first place. That the decision was indeed a political one and not based on my merits as a student.

I imagine that he felt, as figure head of the department, that he had to defend the committees decision regardless of how he felt on the matter.

I think I've made an enemy in that department.


At any rate, I got my honours project, and a topic. Now comes the work... lots and lots of work.

Happy happy

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