UVA Microaggression case

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I would never waste my time attending a conference on "microaggression." WTF is with our hard-earned tax dollars getting abused with microaggressing spenders acting like entitled douches who think nothing of spending $100,000 studying "microaggression."

Sometimes it is forced brainwashing, like during orientations etc.

Thank God I don't go to uni these days. It is a goddamn twilight zone of insanity.

Let me get this straight: you “don’t go to uni these days” however you have strong views about what happens at them... which are based on what, exactly? Your curated media that lies to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d bet serious money this student was a trump voter.

He’s just trying to cause trouble, and fishing for a settlement check, like some slip and fall con-man. Too bad someone on campus couldn’t arrange an accident that would incentivize him not to come around anymore.

Just stop.

It sounds like his questions were quite thoughtful and the speaker could not justify her position.
If that causes you to think he is a Trump supporter, well..........

Have you read the transcript. The presenter was awesome.

He wasn’t asking questions he was trying to “make a point” which is sophomoric. He was just annoyed that when he tried to “make a point” she simply answering his question. He just didn’t like the answer. When he couldn’t sway her opinion to admit her slide definition wasn’t precise and it should be he wanted to press on with more questions. But sorry, this is a panel ask your question and your follow up and sit down.

Learning how to shot down a know it all student seems like an important skill for a university professor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d bet serious money this student was a trump voter.

He’s just trying to cause trouble, and fishing for a settlement check, like some slip and fall con-man. Too bad someone on campus couldn’t arrange an accident that would incentivize him not to come around anymore.

Just stop.

It sounds like his questions were quite thoughtful and the speaker could not justify her position.
If that causes you to think he is a Trump supporter, well..........

Have you read the transcript. The presenter was awesome.

He wasn’t asking questions he was trying to “make a point” which is sophomoric. He was just annoyed that when he tried to “make a point” she simply answering his question. He just didn’t like the answer. When he couldn’t sway her opinion to admit her slide definition wasn’t precise and it should be he wanted to press on with more questions. But sorry, this is a panel ask your question and your follow up and sit down.

Learning how to shot down a know it all student seems like an important skill for a university professor

The kid sounds less like a know-it-all and more like a provocateur.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d bet serious money this student was a trump voter.

He’s just trying to cause trouble, and fishing for a settlement check, like some slip and fall con-man. Too bad someone on campus couldn’t arrange an accident that would incentivize him not to come around anymore.

Just stop.

It sounds like his questions were quite thoughtful and the speaker could not justify her position.
If that causes you to think he is a Trump supporter, well..........

Have you read the transcript. The presenter was awesome.

He wasn’t asking questions he was trying to “make a point” which is sophomoric. He was just annoyed that when he tried to “make a point” she simply answering his question. He just didn’t like the answer. When he couldn’t sway her opinion to admit her slide definition wasn’t precise and it should be he wanted to press on with more questions. But sorry, this is a panel ask your question and your follow up and sit down.

Learning how to shot down a know it all student seems like an important skill for a university professor

Poor little boo boo didn’t change the professors mind,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This should be a national news story. Absolutely despicable behavior by an institution my tax dollars help fund.

https://reason.com/2021/04/07/microaggressions-uva-student-kieran-bhattacharya-threat/

I find it far more likely that he’s the common denominator given that multiple people seemed to have a similar reaction to his behavior. Occam’s Razor and all that. But you’re right that it’s scandalous that some belligerent jerk would cause a waste of taxpayer dollars defending frivolous litigation.

That said, you haven’t explained, why, exactly, some dude’s axe grinding is a National news story? Can you explain your reasoning?

There is zero evidence that he was belligerent at any point. That's the point of the story; did you actually read it?

\

Agreed. And let’s say he WAS belligerent? At what point is an argument about a topic grounds for dismissal? I would hope if I was sick and in a hospital, that there would be differing points of views, as oftentimes, that’s where the best solutions happen

[Anonymous]

People seem to be forgetting that medical students and doctors are held to much higher standards. If there is any suggestion of untreated mental illness, substance abuse, defiant personality, belligerence, etc. then you are out.

[Anonymous]

This is not cut and dry. I have worked in Corp America for 25 yrs and understand the nuance of what happened very well. I have even been on each side of it myself. In my role as trainer, in leadership, and working with big egos, I understand the need to “keep things moving” and not want someone picking apart the detail. I understand the desire to have underlings “drink the coolade” and accept the concepts the institutional structure imposes. In corp with employment at will, if someone doesn’t fall in line, then efforts to get rid of the agitator may include gaslighting, but most certainly documentation. This process, once the “target” is identified, could take years.

UVA saw in this person someone they didn’t want to represent their “culture”. I don’t know anything about UVA, but I can assume that they are hierarchical, and perhaps even authoritarian in their structure. They expected him to “heel” upon command and show deference and respect to the decorated professors. His actions suggested someone not coachable and too independent for their culture. I suspect this had been building. UVA, not a corporation, did not understand the slow process of document, document, document and set in motion an inevitable outcome that has heads spinning because UVA is not employment at will, but instead tax-payer supported public institution.

He was correct in his question, but that’s not what is being challenged. It is how he didn’t heel, didn’t bow, and in their eyes, “disrespected” their institution, that is the key challenge.

[Anonymous]

Why is this in DC local politics??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This should be a national news story. Absolutely despicable behavior by an institution my tax dollars help fund.

https://reason.com/2021/04/07/microaggressions-uva-student-kieran-bhattacharya-threat/

I find it far more likely that he’s the common denominator given that multiple people seemed to have a similar reaction to his behavior. Occam’s Razor and all that. But you’re right that it’s scandalous that some belligerent jerk would cause a waste of taxpayer dollars defending frivolous litigation.

That said, you haven’t explained, why, exactly, some dude’s axe grinding is a National news story? Can you explain your reasoning?

DP. It’s not frivolous, by definition, if the district court is allowing it to proceed.

[Anonymous]

There's pretty much no precedent of a public university winning a lawsuit like this. You simply cannot constrain free speech to this degree in a public institution - courts have come down on the side of free speech over and over again. He will most likely win his lawsuit as he should

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I would never waste my time attending a conference on "microaggression." WTF is with our hard-earned tax dollars getting abused with microaggressing spenders acting like entitled douches who think nothing of spending $100,000 studying "microaggression."

I think this type of perspective has value for a medical professional who will treat people of all races and creeds. Take off your reactionary hat and think a little harder. Bedside manner still matters.

Totally agree with you. I have lots of physicians in my family. Not quibbling at all with the value in a stable, empathetic, knowledgeable, and respectful physician in the making.

What I'm saying is that the subject of microagression sounds like a whole lot of navel gazing. We are turning into a nation of snowflakes.

[Anonymous]

This is an interesting case - I am curious to see what happens. I am left leaning & believe microagressions exist. I also think the student asked reasonable questions which were answered professionally by the speaker. I guess what we have no evidence for are the subsequent interactions between the administration & student. The "professionalism" notecard about him seems wrong to me. However, that's part of life. Sometimes authority figures with more power make imperfect decisions. I am really curious (& we will likely never know) what went down behind closed doors for his 1:1 meetings with admin.

Really interesting case. The speaker 100% wasn't super concerned with "orthodoxy" like the folks getting worked up about free speech are doing. She took his Qs in stride. It was another UVA professor who wrote the complaint.

Everyone - you should 100% listen to the audio!

[Anonymous]

I went down the rabbit hole of Reddit and agree there is a lot more to this story. Also agree the guy is trying to court his case with the right wing media. The second article makes that quite obvious.

It certainly does not sound like he was thrown out solely for the initial questions or even the follow up discussion, but a pattern of behavior that generated complaints, including those from fellow students, and made a lot of people very uncomfortable. And it’s important to remember that he isn’t a college kid; he was a medical student. There are standards of professional conduct associated with that schooling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This should be a national news story. Absolutely despicable behavior by an institution my tax dollars help fund.

https://reason.com/2021/04/07/microaggressions-uva-student-kieran-bhattacharya-threat/

I find it far more likely that he’s the common denominator given that multiple people seemed to have a similar reaction to his behavior. Occam’s Razor and all that. But you’re right that it’s scandalous that some belligerent jerk would cause a waste of taxpayer dollars defending frivolous litigation.

That said, you haven’t explained, why, exactly, some dude’s axe grinding is a National news story? Can you explain your reasoning?

DP. It’s not frivolous, by definition, if the district court is allowing it to proceed.

District court threw out 80% of the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I would never waste my time attending a conference on "microaggression." WTF is with our hard-earned tax dollars getting abused with microaggressing spenders acting like entitled douches who think nothing of spending $100,000 studying "microaggression."

I think this type of perspective has value for a medical professional who will treat people of all races and creeds. Take off your reactionary hat and think a little harder. Bedside manner still matters.

Totally agree with you. I have lots of physicians in my family. Not quibbling at all with the value in a stable, empathetic, knowledgeable, and respectful physician in the making.

What I'm saying is that the subject of microagression sounds like a whole lot of navel gazing. We are turning into a nation of snowflakes.

Look, I am a white man. I am not threatened by discussions about microaggressions, nor am I dismissive of people who wish to share their experiences that by definition I have never experienced. I am not sure why you are so threatened or annoyed by this, but it suggests to me that you lack some basic empathy. Which is fine for you — anyone can be an ass. But I want my doctors to have empathy, even if some of that has to be coached because they are blind to their biases. I would much rather err on that side and tolerate some oversensitivity than sustain the current environment where people inadvertently offend. Complaining about “snowflakes” is just intellectual laziness masking a lack of empathy and critical thinking ability.