Moody vs York

[DrLouiseMoody]

Evening Right-Wing Funded Evangelical Bigots!

May I present the case of Moody vs. York.

twitter.com/drlouisejmoody/status/1178739616666533893

In brief, Stephanie Hayden and Adrian Harrop complained to York Philosophy dept about me back in August. The HoD claimed I was bound by social media policy. I wasn't. He knew this and IT WAS DOCUMENTED IN A MEETING IN JANUARY, but he still sent me SEVEN e-mails insisting I was. I was forced to seek representation. When I did that, the HoD removed Research Associate status from EVERYONE without giving a reason.

So:

(A) The HoD lied about me being bound by social media policy but decided to pressure me into sending near instant responses about the matter before I could meet my lawyer (I was on holiday).

(B) When it was pointed out by my lawyer that he had no case, everyone mysteriously lost their RA status.

I'm finally allowed to go public, and I wanted to anyway to get this out there before having to deal with the even bigger case.

Happy to answer any questions about what's happened!

So far, this has been at departmental level. I've gone public because: (a) I've been made aware of other individual(s) having similar issues with the HoD only to have encountered a byzantine complaints process that has been dismissive at every turn, and, (b) any response is almost certainly unlikely to be helpful and I really need to prioritize dealing with the bigger case.

One or two academic philosophers unfriended/soft-blocked me yesterday (I've an app that alerts me as I'm trying to keep track of all the bans) after, or so I thought, what was a friendly history. One I definitely know to have GC sympathies too. I call that a cowardly closing of ranks. It is their right, of course, but it's rather hurtful behaviour since it does not involve them in any way.

This week, I should be writing a short article for a magazine about it all, and after that, I'll put the whole saga up on my Medium account. I do not see why I should remain quiet after this treatment simply to preserve the reputation of the dept or university. The only reasonable solution that they could offer would be to at least reinstate the RA status of everyone else who have nothing to do with this, and to pay at least a proportion of my costs which wouldn't have been incurred if the HoD hadn't harassed and bullied me by e-mail. Since either of those things are most unlikely to happen, I will continue to speak out.

Loudly.

Well done Dr Moody

@MNHQ can you please tell me why one of Dr Moody's posts has been removed?

Or did somebody stamp their size 9s?

Given the rather unqualified relationship (it seems) between HRAs and the Department and University, is there any recourse at University level? Can you escalate it if you are unhappy with how it has been dealt with at departmental level - is there any process for this?

There's no process - there is one for staff and students, but I will simply complain to the registry and anyone else that I'm aware of who might actually have the ability to do something. As my Twitter thread makes clear, both me and my lawyer did our best to resolve this, but it was the HoD who kept escalating knowing all along that I was not bound by any policy, and when confronted with that, decided to punish everyone.

The loss of the RA title could be problematic for some. Academic jobs, especially in philosophy, are really, really scarce, and having that affiliation at least means those with publications won't automatically have their c.v's thrown on the reject pile. So, the HoD's unprofessional conduct may well harm the job prospects of some RA's if indeed they wish to continue in philosophy (I don't, and it's at least in part due to personalities like the HoD thinking their abilities extend beyond philosophizing).

I have been advised that I may well have a case under EA 2010, and indeed, I've a lawyer willing to take it on if that is what I decide to do. My own view though is that it's simply not worth it since York would almost certainly make RA's sign various policies now and it'd be time-limited. The time and expense required to bring that about just isn't worth the effort. I'd rather have it all out there so it's what prospective students see when they are considering philosophy at York.

It would seem that the institution is remiss then in having a set up where both they and the HRAs could be vulnerable.

Sorry to hear what you're going through, sounds dreadful.

Does anyone know what happened to that other academic who lost their position because if accusations of transphobia? He was male and I think from Newcastle with a lovely (Italian? ) sounding name. Sorry I can't remember more.

Wasn’t it a student position? I think he got it back didn’t he? I haven’t seen him on Twitter for a while.

Oh good I hope he did, thanks Penguin!

Angelo's? He's about to start a PhD at ... York (god help him).

York is indeed remiss. I was happy to make an apology (although it would have been a 'politician's' one along the lines of 'I'm sorry if McKinnon felt upset at my post ...' since I stand by it and only wish I'd said more - nevermind, I can on Spinster) and request that my KF account details be deleted. And there's another thing. The HoD may have been "concerned" about my posting on KF (he hadn't even heard of it until the complaint landed in his inbox) but when did it become his business to police where anyone posts?

It's great though. York can do NOTHING about my going public since it's all verifiably true.

Durham Students Union issued an apology to Angelos for his sacking which was done without due process... He was then earlier this year prevented from speaking at an event at Bristol Uni on free speech because of 'security concerns'.... He gave very good statements on the irony of this. Reasoned and intelligent guy.

Hang on a sec - people who are banned from MN are allowed to report posts?!

Hang on a sec - people who are banned from MN are allowed to report posts?!

Apparently so. Meanwhile, MRAs can mock rape survivors as they please hereabouts.

JFC, Hayden can you please take up some other hobby that bothering women? Knitting or budgie breeding perhaps?
Louise, I’m in awe of you in the face of such crap.

Slowasa those hobbies don’t let you pretend to be a hotshot lawyer despite being a laughable failing dropout who wouldn’t even be allowed to practise law due to criminal convictions.

Despite certain cyclists and lawyering people saying how naturally womanly they are, their behaviour clearly defines them as what they actually are.

Slowasa but wouldn't they need to know that make and female are not interchangeable

Male FFS autocorrect

Meanwhile, MRAs can mock rape survivors as they please hereabouts.

Whaaat?! MNHQ have always been so good about stamping that MRA shit out, especially on FWR!

Sorry, moderation has never been the same since lovely Olivia left. And Helen. They were fab - just showed those MRA fuckers the door.

Go Louise.

Whaaaaat??? When did Helen and Olivia leave??

MNHQ have always been so good about stamping that MRA shit out, especially on FWR!

Sorted now. After initial fob off.

Hullo bigots!

Just a quick update. I have now written a piece on this saga:

uncommongroundmedia.com/university-of-york-abolished-research-associate-position-to-silence-me/

We have a 'fred about that one here somewhere...