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Original poster

Spotted by students on a night out- worried

72 replies

PopAndLock · 16/04/2018 09:04

I've name-changed because this might be outing.

Saturday night I went on a big night out with friends. We were all dressed up in skimpy skirts, hot pants, tops etc.

There wasn't any particularly terrible behaviour (no fights) but we were being noisy in the kebab shop, dancing on the podium, dirty dancing with random guys, posing for stupid pictures etc.

I'm an academic and a group of my students saw me- they were in the same club as me.

I waved but we didn't speak all night. I only spotted them towards the end of the night so no idea how long they were in there.

Now I'm worried that they might say something to my Head of Department. They might have taken pictures. Can I get into trouble for this?

Our policy just says something along the lines of not doing anything to bring the University into disrepute and act appropriately when in public representing the University.

Or am I worrying over nothing?

OP posts:

CuboidalSlipshoddy · 16/04/2018 09:55

Well if they call you in for any disciplinary action you could always

tell them to fuck off and see you at the employment tribunal for constructive dismissal, which will also include a (on the assumption you are female) large dose of "unlimited damaged because of sex discrimination" because it's almost entirely certain that such cases will disproportionately be brought against women. The idea that you are "representing your employer" whilst off duty, off the premises and not wearing uniform is preposterous, and unless your behaviour could be shown to actively demonstrate your incapacity to practice your profession and that "actively demonstrate" usually involves an actual conviction for an actual crime, it's none of their business.

University HR departments are terrified of ETs. They are able to operate in the way they do because "has PhD and a job as an academic" is pretty much the definition of "law-abiding rule-follower who has an over-developed respect for authority, not matter the basis for that authority's claims of authority". I had an (unrelated) argument with my university's HR department a few years ago, and it was clear that being older, uglier and more experienced in the ways of the employment world having spent most of my career in industry rather spiked their guns, shot their fox and mixed their metaphors. I have done HR-related shit, like sacking people for cause, making people redundant and getting involved in big nasty H&S disputes, all things the typical PhD-PostDoc-Lectureship route doesn't involve, and therefore was more willing to asset my rights.

WatcherintheRye · 16/04/2018 09:55

I think if it was a big night out it's likely the students were drunk enough to not remember seeing you...

Original poster

PopAndLock · 16/04/2018 10:03

Thanks everyone, you're making me feel much better. This was all started when I mentioned to a friend (who'd been on the night out) that I'd seen/been seen by some of my students. I didn't really think much of it but she gasped and told me it could mean trouble etc. She's worked in HR before so I just believed her idiot

@CuboidalSlipshoddy Your post made me . My sister is currently ranting at me on FB about the implicit sexism in this.

She's imploring me, if this ever comes to anything, to take down every male member of staff who has ever been to, and shouted loudly at, a football match. I do agree with her.

OP posts:

CuboidalSlipshoddy · 16/04/2018 10:10

She's imploring me, if this ever comes to anything, to take down every male member of staff who has ever been to, and shouted loudly at, a football match.

If universities sacked everyone who had done something that could be considered immoral by pearl-clutchers, there would be no material for David Lodge's novels there would be hardly a humanities department left operational.

brogueish · 16/04/2018 10:17

Don't be ridiculous! You were an adult on a night out. You didn't break any laws or behave inappropriately for an adult on a night out. I don't understand what you think might happen? Your HoD tells you not to go out ever again?!

dangermouseisace · 16/04/2018 10:22

When I was a student we saw academics out. We were most often out all night due to taking stimulants, and so were the academics. We even had a tutor back at ours for cups of tea afterwards.

There would have been no way we would have even considered reporting them- everyone is entitled to let their hair down! And what would be the point...students would lose out due to lack of teaching staff!

TheShaniaTwainExperience · 16/04/2018 10:30

I really can’t see the issue tbh op. I always remember when I turned 18 while still at school, me and some mates went into the pub at the top of my road for a drink. There was a table of teachers in there and rather than brag and get excited at school, we were embarrassed that they would have seen us in there drinking! And this was only 6 years ago.

I don’t think you have anything to worry about. You enjoyed yourself on a night out... I think that’s probably allowed! (Although I’m judging you for eating a kebab- I always go for a pizza afterwards! )

DairyisClosed · 16/04/2018 10:35

It would never have occurred to me to report a tutor/lecturer for that. Of course I would have been quite surprised and I may have secretly judged but that us fairly common behaviour. Unless you are working at oxbridge I wouldn't see anything exceptional in it.

lottiegarbanzo · 16/04/2018 10:37

The students will either think you're funny (cos so old ) or cool.

Cuboidal and your sister make a very good point. Can you imagine men in the same situation - drunk, silly, dancing; no fighting or propositioning - having a thing to worry about?

SoupyNorman · 16/04/2018 10:39

Unless you are working at oxbridge I wouldn't see anything exceptional in it.

Why would working at Oxbridge make a difference?

NWQM · 16/04/2018 10:42

If and I hope its a big if remember that a) you were on a private night out and presumably in a non-uni venue, b) you acknowledged briefly your students to not be rude but you didn't go over and socialise, buy them drinks, flirt etc and c) you are - as most people seeing work colleagues, friends of friends etc are a tiny bit embarrassed. You are responding very normally but try to worry. It's very likely that you have just potentially become a tad more interesting to your students. If you get a full house at your lecture just capitalise on it by being amazing.

SomeKnobend · 16/04/2018 10:46

Women are allowed to go out, drink, dance, wave and wear clubbing outfits. It would be outrageously misogynistic if your work tried to discipline you for any of that.

CuboidalSlipshoddy · 16/04/2018 10:51

Unless you are working at oxbridge I wouldn't see anything exceptional in it.

Huh? Huh? Explain it to me: why would getting pissed on a night out be different if you were working at Oxford compared to, say, Warwick (or, indeed, anywhere else)? Assume I have a reasonably detailed knowledge of the conditions for academics and students at both Oxford and a range of places that aren't Oxford.

Carboholic · 16/04/2018 10:51

I think if anything the students are likely to think better of you. 29 is like super old for them so they will now thing you're a "legend" for still having a life at this geriatric age. I'm sure you'll be fine.

Bluntness100 · 16/04/2018 10:52

I think it depends if there are other performance related issues.

If you were filmed drunk, in hot pants, on a podium, and the video is sent round the uni, I think it will cause embarassement more than anything else, rather than a disciplinary.

DairyisClosed · 16/04/2018 10:55

Oxbridge is a bit different to other places for both academics and students alike. OP stated that she was wearing scimpy dresses (obviously she may mean by her own standards but I an assuming she meant general clubbing attire), one is expected to do these things with a little bit more taste in Cambridge or Oxford

CuboidalSlipshoddy · 16/04/2018 10:55

I think it depends if there are other performance related issues.

Yeah. Because if you've got a member of staff with whom you have (let us assume legitimate) performance concerns, summoning them in to say "and another thing, on Saturday night you were out with your mates, what about that? Eh? Eh? Eh?" isn't a fast track to a constructive dismissal case on the grounds of bullying and harassment at all.

It's also a good way to make sure that any process you were conducting to deal with the performance concerns would be rendered problematic, because you would open up the accusation that your performance concerns were being advanced in bad faith when actually you were wanting to play the moral police.

CuboidalSlipshoddy · 16/04/2018 10:56

one is expected to do these things with a little bit more taste in Cambridge or Oxford

Did I miss a meeting and wake up in a Kingsley Amis novel?

Original poster

PopAndLock · 16/04/2018 11:01

No other performance-related issues (though I don't see they'd be relevant anyway).

I don't work at Oxbridge but my university is very old, very prestigious, very Oxbridge-esque. Again, not that it makes any difference.

OP posts:

UnimaginativeUsername · 16/04/2018 11:02

The oxbridge academics I know are just as likely to be found dancing badly in a club as any other academic.

Don’t worry about it OP. Honestly, the students were probably really pleased that you were out on the lash. My lecturers went out on the lash with the undergrads fairly regularly and we never thought it reflected badly on them.

Some colleagues and I were in the pub and quite merry when one of our UGs came over. She was also drunk and tried to ask us for dissertation advice!

Bluntness100 · 16/04/2018 11:03

Cubo I'm really not sure what's wrong with uou, but I suggest you read the thread again. You do not need to attack other posters. She is not concerned becayse she "went out " she's concerned due to what she was wearing and what she was doing whilst out and if it could be considered bringing the university into disrepute.

If there are other issues at play, then yes, this could also be used if there is a video circulating of her pissed on a podium in hot-pants, "half naked drunk lecturer on podium, see how x university lecturers show their students how to go wild" and could potentially be used to state she has indeed bought the uni into disrepute.

Original poster

PopAndLock · 16/04/2018 11:05

@UnimaginativeUsername

The oxbridge academics I know are just as likely to be found dancing badly in a club as any other academic

Did you mean to be so rude? I'll have you know my dancing is top-notch thank you very much

OP posts:

UnimaginativeUsername · 16/04/2018 11:06

Is it Durham OP? I’ve been out to a nightclub in Durham with a bunch of academics and have memories of lots of academics (from Durham and elsewhere) dancing on a podium. And also if eminent professors looking hilarious sitting on leopard print, stiletto-shaped stools.

In fact, I’ve had lots of undignified drunken nights out with Durham academics in many cities.

UnimaginativeUsername · 16/04/2018 11:06

Did you mean to be so rude? I'll have you know my dancing is top-notch thank you very much

I’m sure your dancing was incredible. The students were probably in awe!

SoupyNorman · 16/04/2018 11:09

one is expected to do these things with a little bit more taste in Cambridge or Oxford

Bless.

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