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The Christchurch
Civic Creche Case |
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Dunedin author Lynley Hood
is standing by her controversial call to have 2000 CD Roms containing
incorrect biographical information destroyed, but rejects claims she
threatened legal action. Dr Hood last week wrote
to Government department Creative New Zealand asking that the CDs, which
incorrectly state her doctorate from the University of Otago is honorary, be
destroyed and new versions be made and distributed. Her request has drawn
criticism from fellow authors, who the Sunday Star Times quoted accusing Dr
Hood of vanity and paranoia. However, Dr Hood, who
wrote A City Possessed about the
Christchurch Civic Creche sex abuse case, yesterday said the incorrect
information could seriously damage her reputation. The CDs would be used
to promote New Zealand literature internationally, specifically at the London
Book Fair later this month. "Those CDs are
going to be around for a long time and not only does the mistake take away my
qualification, it's made it into a liability," Dr Hood said. "If you've got an
honorary doctorate and use the title, you're a joke. I can't afford for that
to happen," she said. In the letter to
Creative New Zealand, Dr Hood said she believed the mistake was deliberate,
as she had pointed out in writing on two occasions that the doctorate was
examined, not honorary. "Indeed, I am
bound to conclude the error was deliberate, and that it was made by someone
who clearly understands the difference between an earned degree and an
honorary degree, and who must therefore be fully aware that misrepresenting
an earned doctorate as an honorary doctorate to an international audience
will seriously damage the honour and reputation of the degree holder. "As you are well
aware, anyone with an honorary doctorate who uses the title Dr, and who fails
to add (Hon) to the letters after his or her name, is deservedly regarded as
a pretentious ignoramus. Consequently, by portraying my degree as an honorary
one in a government- sponsored publication, CreativeNZ has not only failed to
acknowledge my proper scholarly status, it has turned legitimate use of my
hard-earned doctorate into an object of contempt," the letter said. Dr Hood was unperturbed
by the backlash from her literary colleagues. "Well, the people
the paper spoke to were children's authors and poets." While Creative New
Zealand initially suggested inserting a correction card in every CD case, Dr
Hood said she told them it would be "just as easy" to reburn and
distribute the discs. She was baffled about
the references to legal action. "That is totally incorrect.
I have never made any threats. Legal action has never been discussed." Dr Hood's letter
concludes by saying a copy of it will be forwarded to her lawyer. Despite the mistake, Dr
Hood said she was pleased to be included in the CD. "I was surprised
to be asked, but I bet I won't be asked again." |
