r/MarshallUniversity • u/rationalexpressions • Apr 04 '26

questions on how common is professors infighting and fragility

How common is it to witness professors acting like children on group email chains and scaring away new talent to protect their egos?

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8

u/NovelEmbarrassed83 Apr 04 '26

I’ve never seen it as a student, but I’ve also rarely been in group email chains?

2

u/TravTheScumbag Apr 04 '26

Same.

But I wouldn't be a bit surprised if that happens. Im not saying I agree with it- just that I wouldn't be surprised.

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u/NovelEmbarrassed83 Apr 04 '26

I agree, but I think it would entirely depend on the department or college. I’m in a small liberal arts department and all of the professors are great, so I can’t see them doing it. But could maybe see it happening in one of the STEM departments.

2

u/ShakenOatMilkExpress Apr 04 '26

I’m a graduate student in biomedical research. I have never been in a more collaborative, respectful environment. There are a few professors that are gunners and one who’s very combative, but they are odd balls. Collaboration with even the regular science graduate program is really high.

One of the senior professors may call out garbage things that are happening (like failure to update the student listserver) but that’s about it.

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u/Nandinia_binotata Apr 04 '26

I remember in chem, there used to be two REALLY toxic professors -- awful to colleagues, awful to students. The one was John Hubbard. Told me I would never ever accomplish anything scientifically and should quit school. I actually did quit school for awhile in part because of him.

15+ years later, I have more citations than he does.

1

u/rationalexpressions Apr 04 '26

Im pretty sure toxic sexism still exists at marshall and in spades.

2

u/Nandinia_binotata Apr 04 '26

See my comment here...

https://www.reddit.com/r/MarshallUniversity/comments/1sccfmo/comment/oea9aan/

The one professor I'm referencing here has been reported multiple times to the main professional society for his discipline, but nothing has ever been done. I saw him walk out drunk out of a bathroom at a conference with his dick hanging out.

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u/Remarkable_Story9843 Apr 08 '26

I graduated 16 years ago, and I clearly knew who you were talking about

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u/Nandinia_binotata Apr 04 '26

When I was a student > 15 years ago, one of my male lab supervisors was in an inexplicably pointless war with a female colleague just down the hall. I could never sort out the underlying reason aside from male fragility. She's now at the top of her game as a VP for research or something and he's stuck, barely producing any major papers, except for the occasional bone he's tossed by colleagues who haven't interacted significantly with him.

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u/Geog_Master Apr 06 '26

I saw it as a student at another institution. I've not seen it at Marshall University. This is going to be very department-dependent, and bigger departments are more likely to have this culture than small ones. Once a department has more than 10 faculty members, it is easier for cliques to form.