From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!ihps3!houxi!5941ux!machaids!as
Newsgroups: net.followup
Title: Re: Kickbacks and University Officials
Article-I.D.: machaids.136
Posted: Tue Oct 26 09:59:08 1982
Received: Wed Oct 27 12:11:49 1982
References: eagle.569 alice.1002

In a recent followup item, a former professor indicated that he/she had been
offered kickbacks on all items that could be assigned to be purchased by
students.  He/she said that, for textbooks, "it would be a bit hard to find
a professor that didn't accept a kickback."

I don't know where (or if) this person taught, but in my six years on the
faculty of two major universities, I was never once offered anything to get
my students to purchase any items.  I have been out of academia for three
I'm sure things haven't changed to the extent that person would
have us believe.

Textbook manufacturers do give free samples to university faculty, but these are
in an attempt to get them to examine the books for potential use, and are free
whether or not the books are assigned to any course.  "Kickbacks" implies
remuneration for assigning books or items for students to purchase, and would
be reprehensible on the part of any faculty member doing it.

I notice this person didn't sign the item; I wonder why.

				Abe Shliferstein (machaids!as)