Among the readers' comments about the above resignation, are the following:
- Anon 14 January, 2009
Goodbye and good riddance! I hope this will mean the university be a safer, less stressful and pleasant place to work.
- unfortunately must remain nameless 14 January, 2009
The culture of Leeds Met IS still rife with bullying mainly because Simon Lee has failed to manage his managers (aka his pitbulls), most of whom are sub-standard middle managers with little or no academic background, little knowledge or interest in academic endeavour, and chips on their shoulders about anyone who is involved in the process of scholarly activity. Hopefully, these are the people who will quickly follow suit, following Simon Lee from Leeds Met in case anyone finds out that their inflated salaries do not match their mediocre skills. Simon Lee is not a bad person but he has installed bad people who have made the culture of the place genuinely unhappy and stressful for many members of staff, and then he has been unwilling or unable to remove or discipline the bullies. I feel cautious about him leaving because I do wonder if anyone will want to take on this mess (finances as well as staff relations) and what calibre of person would accept such a post. However, maybe this means we will no longer have to suffer the affront of daily reflections (in which we often learn what he told us a year ago, or hear about his children's privileged educations) and meaningless insane slogans such as 'rubbing shoulders with champions', which can only be a good thing. I hope we can get back to concentrating on teaching, learning and research rather than 'partnering' sport teams. I, for one, will be relieved not to have sport continuously thrust in my face. In fact, maybe staff development can even be meaningful instead of tea parties, sports people as keynotes, and etiquette lessons. (If only his departure could stop the terrible name change!)
- Thank God it is over 14 January, 2009
Many of these posts appear to miss the point. Whether you like the VC's approach or not, or whether you like him as a person or not should not deflect from the fact that he has clearly done a very poor job. There is simply no evidence to support the fact that anything been done has actually enhanced the University in anyway whatsoever. There is plenty of evidence that supports the opposite of course. I work with many staff and students and the fact is that today is seen as a very good day. His tenure as VC has quite simply been a disaster for anyone involved with the University. I only hope that when the truth underneath the spin is revealed there will be something worth saving. Saying you have been a success does not make it so!
9 comments:
... and saying there is no workplace bullying does not make it so...
The truth is bitter and lies are sweet...
But the truth is better for you....
David Lucas, 2008
Aphra Behn
Perhaps other VCs at top-ranked-for-bullying institutions will now take the hint and follow Simon Lee's lead.
And perhaps the next one to go will be the Feminist Bully Girl at that well known Midlands based University, who has allegedly made her Finance Director disappear after he uncovered a few of her financial shortcomings.
... and maybe the next person to go will be the top person at my uni... who XXXXXXX XXXXXXX and who has been supported by XXX XXXXXXX MXX XXXXX AXD SXXXXX XXXXXX...
... and maybe eventually they will all start to go and will be replaced by people with integrity.
...then universities can get back to doing their work properly...
Aphra Behn
I see the page has been taken down leeds met threatening the times now?
At Simon Lee's previous university his successor has been much worse, so use any influence you have to be involved with the new appointment. I think that the good managers must get taken by private business and large public organisations (Heaven help us) as we all seem to end up with people who are not just bad at management but have serious additional problems. The typical candidate seems to have had no real managerial experience and at least one clinical personality disorder!
Remember that when Lee goes in the summer he will leave behind the team which has engaged in a sustained campaign of management by fear. They remain well paid and untouched by the misery they have caused. Their lives have not been destroyed. Their self confidence unaffected. Their victims forgotton by them. Justice may be a long time coming.
Tommorrow there will be an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Governors. Perhap we will get the truth and Simon Lee will be exposed publically for the psychopath he is. More likely we will witness a fudge. The management team that supported Simon Lee will remain in place and will carrry on as before.
Simon Lee is most certainly a psychopathic bully. I have been told that his time at Liverpool Hope College was characterised by psychopathic efforts to bend all staff to his whims. He breeds a culture of fear where all but the bravest and most principled keep their heads down in fear of the consequences. At middle-management he appoints slavish apparatchiks who will do his bidding. Thanks goodness Leeds Met have sacked him.
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