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The
Christchurch Civic Creche Case |
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A letter attacking the
doctor of literature degree awarded to writer Lynley Hood has been dismissed
by the writer and Otago University. A letter to the editor
of the Otago Daily Times, written under a nom de plume, claimed the doctorate
was not "earned", and had caused "considerable debate" in
the university community. But Charles Tustin, the
university's director of research, higher degrees and scholarships, said the
procedure for awarding it was stringent. Dr Hood, who wrote A
City Possessed, about the Christchurch Civic Creche sex abuse case, said she
was "outraged" by the suggestion. Last week, Dr Hood
complained to Creative New Zealand about a CD-rom that incorrectly stated her
degree was honorary. The letter to the
editor responded to that complaint. The writer, who claimed to have graduated
with a doctorate, said Dr Hood was not required to submit her writing to
"the academic review of national and international experts in her
field". "Nor was she
required to 'defend' her thesis from the rigorous examination of those same
experts, to account for discrepancies or idiosyncratic interpretations, or to
justify her methodology. "Those of us who
do 'earn' their doctorates are required to do all of these things." Dr Tustin said there
were three types of degrees. There were honorary
degrees, which were not examined, and research-based degrees completed at a
university, usually done by younger students under supervision. The third type was a
"higher degree", which Dr Hood received. Higher degrees were
given in science, medicine, literature, music and law. They were awarded to
people who had "quite substantial careers", and made "quite a
contribution" in their field, Dr Tustin said. Applicants had to have
studied at the university or been a staff member. Their work was
submitted, and examined by three external examiners, at least one from
outside New Zealand. Another to earn the
sort of doctorate Dr Hood received was Dr Gareth Jones, who had made a
"tremendous contribution" to anatomy and structural biology. It was normal to call
yourself "doctor" with such a degree, Dr Tustin said. |
