tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post3379508649976197184..comments2024-03-27T13:28:18.163-04:00Comments on Balter's Blog: The victims of Peruvian archaeologist Luis Jaime Castillo Butters speak out [Updated August 9: Correcting a lie]Michael Balterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08311614050647338141noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-17425755713829788092020-08-31T13:02:01.578-04:002020-08-31T13:02:01.578-04:00As moderator of this blog, I have a strong bias ag...As moderator of this blog, I have a strong bias against censoring comments here, including if I disagree with them. Exceptions, which are rare, including personal attacks on me or others that are not based on evidence or serious criticism. Sometimes comments walk a fine line but I reserve the right of course to make the decisions as this is my blog.<br /><br />I received just such a comment today, in Spanish, which I have decided not to post, even though I agree with the gist of it. The comment named a number of colleagues and supporters of Luis Jaime Castillo Butters, men and women, who claim to be victims either of Castillo or my reporting. The comment concluded: "ELLAS NO SON VÍCTIMAS, SON VICTIMARIAS."<br /><br />In some cases I agreed with this characterization, based on my reporting and the often blatant lies that have been told on social media by Castillo's defenders, some of whom do indeed pretend to be victims when they are not. In other cases, I did not know enough to be sure about it. I do not (and cannot on Blogger) edit comments, and so I choose not to publish this particular one.<br /><br />If anyone wants to contact me privately about such matters and such individuals, please feel free to do so and we can take it from there. Michael Balterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08311614050647338141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-73580196090155365612020-08-20T18:30:13.045-04:002020-08-20T18:30:13.045-04:00The only comment I would make on the remarks by th...The only comment I would make on the remarks by the commenter above is that the narrative that has been spun about my reporting on the student in question is not accurate, and the issue has been used by defenders of LJC to try to discredit my reporting. Since the original post was published, the student involved has also blatantly lied about the communication I (did not) have with her. But that is all I intend to say about it.Michael Balterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08311614050647338141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-57609032514326483032020-08-20T18:15:18.802-04:002020-08-20T18:15:18.802-04:00I appreciate the effort to out abusers, and the al...I appreciate the effort to out abusers, and the allegations against LJC are horrifying (though, unfortunately, not unfamiliar to anyone working in archaeology). I do want to emphasize the need to focus on the abuser and the survivors of his harassment. I’ve been following this story for a while and am frankly alarmed about the turn in conversation that has led to speculations about the credibility and relationships of LJC’s former students/associates though. <br /><br />This is one of the ways my own abuser kept me from saying anything for as long as he did: by implying that if anyone found out what had happened between us, I would be discredited in academia and my career/reputation would be over. This is unfortunately a pernicious attitude in our culture, and <b>to suggest that someone’s position and/or career is due to their sexual assault is itself an abusive act</b>. It gives abusers another tool to control their victims. If we truly want to support survivors, we need to thoroughly dismantle this attitude and stop blaming them for things that were done to them and were out of their control. We (survivors) hold ourselves back enough as we recover from abuse, we really don’t need other people doing it for us.<br /><br />The last thing I would like to say is concerning the email exchange shared above, and the nature of your (Balter’s) reporting on this student in the original article. To make public accusations about a sexual relationship (one that, given the power dynamic described, would most certainly be non-consensual, if it even existed) without this person’s consent because they would not provide information for your article is absolutely inexcusable. If you are truly seeking to give a voice to victims and pursue justice, there is no need to involve someone--a student, importantly--who asked not to be a part of this article. Their pain is not yours to air unless they’ve explicitly asked you to do so. I really respect the strides you’ve made in the past to give survivors a means to tell their stories, but the line between allyship and exploitation largely rests on the collaboration with and cooperation of those you are purporting to support. This section of the story made me uneasy to read because it felt uncomfortably set in the “exploitation” camp.<br /><br />I hope to see justice for LJC’s accusers. I know there are too many of him in archaeology, and they are so, so hard to hold accountable with the way academia is structured. I just ask that we don’t punish other potential victims of his as we deal with the damage he’s already caused.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-26286640502047159942020-08-05T00:37:16.464-04:002020-08-05T00:37:16.464-04:00Archaeologists of the closest circle of Castillo h...Archaeologists of the closest circle of Castillo have benefited systematically from the opportunities created for them as a result of his power structure. One example is the Boletin de Arqueologia PUCP. When Castillo assumed as director he created the Executive Director position exclusively for one of his closest students in 2014. At that time, she wasn’t yet a Phd, had had no previous editorial experience and was not even a professor at PUCP. Yet she was granted the direction of the most prestigious archaeology journal in Peru. There were several professors who were Phds at PUCP, yet none of them were considered for this position. These are facts that can be checked by anyone with an internet browser. Years earlier, Castillo gave her the direction of the archaeological project on the site within PUCP’s campus, she wasn’t even a PUCP alumna. Were there no PUCP archaeologists to take that position? She was part of the SJM project for several years, now is a tenured professor at PUCP.<br />One thing is advisors doing their best to get their students jobs, another is to build careers thanks to the systematic abuse of power of their godfather. These women and men knew and benefited from that power structure. This is not what academia should be about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-9945785466844531392020-08-05T00:35:32.558-04:002020-08-05T00:35:32.558-04:00Archaeologists of the closest circle of Castillo h...Archaeologists of the closest circle of Castillo have benefited systematically from the opportunities created for them as a result of his power structure. One example is the Boletin de Arqueologia PUCP. When Castillo assumed as director he created the Executive Director position exclusively for one of his closest students in 2014. At that time, she wasn’t yet a Phd, had had no previous editorial experience and was not even a professor at PUCP. Yet she was granted the direction of the most prestigious archaeology journal in Peru. There were several professors who were Phds at PUCP, yet none of them were considered for this position. These are facts that can be checked by anyone with an internet browser. Years earlier, Castillo gave her the direction of the archaeological project on the site within PUCP’s campus, she wasn’t even a PUCP alumna. Were there no PUCP archaeologists to take that position? She was part of the SJM project for several years, now is a tenured professor at PUCP.<br />One thing is advisors doing their best to get their students jobs, another is to build careers thanks to the systematic abuse of power of their godfather. These women and men knew and benefited from that power structure. This is not what academia should be about.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-49713925570331154162020-08-03T20:11:29.166-04:002020-08-03T20:11:29.166-04:00In response to July 25, 4:28 PM.
I was ...In response to July 25, 4:28 PM. <br /><br />I was on the graduate admissions committee for the Anthropology Dept. at UCLA in the early 2000s. ONe of Castillos students was given an outstanding recommendation letter by him and after admission to the graduate program, Castillo said we never should have admitted them and that they were not good students and were going to succeed. They didn't, after being given a fabulous scholarship deal. Rumor has it their father is one of the wealthiest of Peruvians and consistently donated $10,000 per year to LJCs field school. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-82293043719974833272020-07-30T20:14:13.656-04:002020-07-30T20:14:13.656-04:001: Is the comment above seriously complaining abou...1: Is the comment above seriously complaining about "bad classes" on a post about sexual harassment and abuse of power? <br /><br />2: One thing is going after someone accused of abuse of power and sexual harassment, but going after women related to him without actual proof is simple unacceptable. If that's the case, que should question every single person that has been recommended by him.<br /><br />3: Is Catolica actually doing something about this issue? Based on the previous post, there are already more than enough witnesses and testimonies to close and investigation and find him guilty. Have they already contacted Balter?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-35403220200604119042020-07-30T00:00:49.464-04:002020-07-30T00:00:49.464-04:00Más allá de investigar las denuncias de acoso sexu...Más allá de investigar las denuncias de acoso sexual contra Luis Jaime Castillo, la PUCP también debería investigar cómo es la calidad del servicio que brindan sus profesores. Luis Jaime Castillo como profesor podía ser cuidadoso en Letras, pero en Facultad de Arqueología había cursos en los que faltaba a clases (muchas veces sin recuperarlas), y no seguía el sílabo. En sus cursos sólo hablaba de los moche (lo cual no estaba mal hasta cierto punto, ya que era su especialidad). No obstante, los mismos temas se repetían en los diferentes cursos que dictaba, e incluso se repetían dentro de un mismo curso. Si un curso abarcaba el periodo Intermedio Temprano, todo el curso se restringía a la cultura moche, y cuando ya no tenía nada más que decir de ellos, repetía las mismas diapositivas y el mismo discurso. Si uno hablaba con él sobre la recuperación de clases o sobre los temas que no se tocó y que estaban en el sílabo, siempre ponía cara de fastidio. <br />Aunque quien se gana la corona en desidia es Jahl Dulanto. En sus clases sólo contaba chismes sobre los amoríos y las peleas de la gente de arqueología, apenas cumplía con un 25% del sílabo (le pongo 25% porque soy buena gente) y para evitarse problemas con la calificación, ponía la misma nota a todo el salón. Igualmente, Enrique López Hurtado, terrible profesor, faltaba a clases sin avisar más que escolar en pera. Y para llevarse bien con todos los alumnos (y para que ellos no se quejen), siempre los halagaba exageradamente por cosas insignificantes.<br />Los únicos buenos profesores que se pueden rescatar en Arqueología PUCP: K. Makowski, P. Kaulicke, I. Santillana, R. Vega Centeno, H. Ikehara, S. Barraza.<br />Es de suponer que este problema no sólo se restringe a la especialidad de Arqueología, sino probablemente se extienda a otras, especialmente a aquellas más pequeñas. La PUCP delega el manejo de la especialidad a sus profesores confiando en su capacidad y en su buena naturaleza. No obstante, cuando el dueño de casa no está, las ratas hacen fiesta. La PUCP debería supervisar mejor el servicio de sus profesores. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-70912238655597401322020-07-26T18:29:09.766-04:002020-07-26T18:29:09.766-04:00I have the impression that the anonymous comments ...I have the impression that the anonymous comments questioning the comments against LJC's lover are from herself. On the other hand, think that La Catolica will not do anything to judge and punish the sexual offender LJC, because no professor of Archeology has spoken, only the students. It is clear the power that she continues to exercise through her contacts, revenges and other attitudes typical of a type with a sick personality. Hopefully they update the case with hard evidence so that La Catolica and her colleagues can rule.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-20270222893147950932020-07-25T16:28:07.627-04:002020-07-25T16:28:07.627-04:00It's sad that due to LJC's actions, all of...It's sad that due to LJC's actions, all of his former students will now come under suspicion, whether deservedly or not. This will also be true for his current and future students. That LJ was able to get subpar students into top places abroad was the general impression before Mr. Balter's reports, and now it's no longer an open secret. Unfortunately, even the students and former students who are hard working and intelligent will unfairly have this supicion cast on them due to LJ's actions unfairly benefiting others. Does the PUCP really want him to represent their students given the sometimes unfair collateral damage?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-57975846692427023522020-07-25T14:58:35.868-04:002020-07-25T14:58:35.868-04:00https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1015181651...https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151816519376902&set=a.122819786901&type=3&theaterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-13784036568773050052020-07-24T06:44:18.934-04:002020-07-24T06:44:18.934-04:00Why even bother to use the initials here, with suc...Why even bother to use the initials here, with such clearly identifying details? Many many grad students, Peruvian and American, have received both a grant and a doctorate but this post makes it sound like ACM is guilty of something nefarious.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-39360426881244706252020-07-23T13:34:32.586-04:002020-07-23T13:34:32.586-04:00I agree with the previous commenter's post reg...I agree with the previous commenter's post regarding belittling women as deplorable. It's really upsetting to see the previous post verging on conspiracy theory, creating "facts" and "connections" through sheer willpower (doctorates are awarded through writing a dissertation after extensive research, one person is not in charge of SAA and NatGeo, recusing is standard when advisees applications are evaluated). Moreover, using the name of victims and survivors to attack bystanders is particularly shocking. People are not guilty or the crimes of their advisors. This whole debate just takes away from the important issue and plays into petty personal agendas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-15041258326754376202020-07-23T12:15:45.443-04:002020-07-23T12:15:45.443-04:00LJC is a member of the SAA Board of Directors, exp...LJC is a member of the SAA Board of Directors, explorer and advisor to National Geographic and was in charge of Academic Exchange and Scholarships by the Peruvian Government. The mentioned lover ACM, was awarded a scholarship by SAA to travel to the meetings that this institution does, got a scholarship from National Geographic, and before that she was awarded a doctorate for studies at the University of Maine. Coincidence, coincidence or the successor of Julio C. Tello has been born. They should review the dates of the previous events and everything would fit into the activities during the San Jose de Moro project, where the predator LJC chose its prey, unfortunately for him, there are honest women who have dignity and denounce.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-71528730704551608152020-07-22T11:14:10.623-04:002020-07-22T11:14:10.623-04:00I am glad you do not censor comments but the repea...I am glad you do not censor comments but the repeated belittling of the achievements of women who happen to have an association with Castillo is deplorable. The assumption that their successes are the result of this “relationship” rather than their own merits is another form of sexism and harassment. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-73709325486718491922020-07-21T19:48:31.680-04:002020-07-21T19:48:31.680-04:00Some useful context for people less familiar with ...Some useful context for people less familiar with Latin America archaeology: there are deep inter-university rivalries in Peru. Catholica, which is private, relatively wealthy, and has a clear pipeline to the Peruvian government is widely detested by those in the public unis.<br /><br />Their long-standing grievances are actually understandable. But they're mobilizing the LJC scandal to try to topple the power structure, and demolish anyone associated with Catholica - to clear up those positions for their own set of archaeologists. The comments section of this blog is a very small vanguard of a larger push in Spanish-language social media and press.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-45086711759293452652020-07-21T18:12:17.653-04:002020-07-21T18:12:17.653-04:00Thanks to the last commenter. Yes, it is true, the...Thanks to the last commenter. Yes, it is true, the stories I publish never rely on rumors or second hand information, only direct witnesses or documents. That’s pretty standard in reputable journalism. I have not intervened in this discussion, because I generally do not try to censor comments on this blog post although I reserve the right to do so. I am glad that these posts serve as a forum for colleagues to discuss the issues involved.Michael Balterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08311614050647338141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-17965100115788918122020-07-21T17:30:23.724-04:002020-07-21T17:30:23.724-04:00I am familiar with the allegations about LJC. Ever...I am familiar with the allegations about LJC. Everything that Balter has published rings true, but not all of the comments, specifically the one by Anonymous July 21, 2020 at 12:01 PM, which rings false. If this is a troll trying to bait Balter into publishing something that is false, I don't think it will work because from what I can tell, Balter corroborates his evidence with first hand accounts from real people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-83108363179858768502020-07-21T16:07:00.175-04:002020-07-21T16:07:00.175-04:00To the commenter above, please check your sources....To the commenter above, please check your sources. ACM has a doctorate (not only studies), has brought in prestigious international grants and publications. Calling her "his lover" without any backup is insulting and continued violence against women. The context of the shift in management for the journal is well-known by many scholars but not worth getting into here. Sad to see how a woman that built a career for years is now insulted without prove instead of focusing on the person under investigation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-89068073098780773652020-07-21T12:01:12.352-04:002020-07-21T12:01:12.352-04:00There is a comment that is correct with the detail...There is a comment that is correct with the detail of the financing of archeology projects in Peru. Simply Castillo has blackmailed La Catolica (a university that has come less in recent years in Archeology) and what interests La Catolica is contacts and money so as not to continue falling into the background. The magazine that Castillo manages and has delegated to his lover ACM, inexperienced and only with doctoral studies (it is false that has an impeccable CV), very well managed by Castillo, has brought down the prestige of this magazine, because it addresses issues of history, linguistics and archeology, which the current publisher does not have the knowledge and experience necessary for this management. Therefore what predominates in this case of sexual abuse, is also manipulation well managed by Castillo, and the thunderous silence of La Catolica. The future is that Castillo will continue with her abuse, revenge and blackmail. Hopefully can change this whole system, it is corrupt and destroys many people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-41694642089621238572020-07-21T10:14:28.491-04:002020-07-21T10:14:28.491-04:00I don’t know Castillo or anything about his behavi...I don’t know Castillo or anything about his behavior but I’m not sure why it is necessary to constantly denigrate the work of his female students rather than judging that work on its own merits. Also I think all of us who are recent graduates wish our advisers would promote us and help us find jobs. In fact the failure to do so is one of the biggest complaints of grad students. lets keep the focus where it belongs Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-14404369103338039922020-07-20T23:06:56.053-04:002020-07-20T23:06:56.053-04:00I feel it is important to clarify that Catolica do...I feel it is important to clarify that Catolica does not have a US-based "tenure-track" system for hiring faculty. Typically, a person will start off their teaching career as an adjunct paid per teaching hour, with a zero-hour contract that is renewed every semester. The university regularly offers spots either for more permanent positions based on dedication (part time/full time) and/or seniority, and then a different open competition for "tenure" (becoming an "ordinary" member of faculty, with the most important consequence being the right to vote for, and be a member, of department councils and is considered the "official" start of an academic career within the university. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-89228093383196412152020-07-20T17:26:49.970-04:002020-07-20T17:26:49.970-04:00Considering how easy it is to "uncover" ...Considering how easy it is to "uncover" the identities of the two archaeologists in the comment above, the comment above seems not only inaccurate but gender-based. From the PUCP profiles, only one of the positions was tenured track, and both colleagues have impeccable academic records that would warrant positions in any institution.<br />Let's refocus the conversation and anger on the importance of investigating very serious allegations rather than erasing the merits, work, and histories of colleagues that (to best of my knowledge) have not been accused of any misconduct.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-3422245403669468832020-07-20T16:03:35.501-04:002020-07-20T16:03:35.501-04:00(To the comment above) It is not only misleading, ...(To the comment above) It is not only misleading, but a complete disrespect to both archaeologists you mention to reduce their whole career to a matter of Castillo providing "human resources". Though I agree with this journalist's investigation and the issues he's raising, this comment is just erasing everything the two archaeologists have achieved by their own effort. It is very simple to do a quick search to know their identities, and to see that they both hace accomplished enough to earn a tenure in any university. Not everyone associated with Castillo is guilty of his actions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-44844409745200609282020-07-20T13:12:10.232-04:002020-07-20T13:12:10.232-04:00Castillo used the cover of a serious and respected...Castillo used the cover of a serious and respected university professor to commit a series of vicious acts against students and professional archaeologists alike. As deplorable as these acts might be, it is equally concerning the way that the institution that Castillo works for (here simply called “La Catolica”) allowed him to act freely. I would like to use this post to discuss two means through which La Catolica allowed Castillo reach a disturbing level of power splendor. These means, which seem to have gone unnoticed to most observers, refer to the way in which Castillo took control of the archaeology program, and how he used the archaeology journal published by that university to serve his sectarian interests.<br />Evidence for my first case comes an article published by two American scholars in Latin American Antiquity (Volume 25, Number 2). In this article, published I 2014, the authors present the results of an excavation conducted seven years earlier at a site located on the south coast of Peru. I do not want to discuss the scientific content of the article. It is a sentence included in the acknowledgment section what should concern us. Here, both authors thank “Luis Jaime Castillo of Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru (PUCP) in Lima for introducing us to project co-directors A.C.M. and F.F.P. […]” (full names provided in the original text). It is curious that the authors do not thank the co-directors themselves, but Castillo in his role of “provider of human resources”. Perhaps La Catolica should be thankful to Castillo, too, given that A.C.M. and F.F.P. (both well known in Peruvian archaeology for being members of the most exclusive inner circle of Castillo) were later granted tenure track teaching positions in the Archaeology Program of that university. These are the only two teaching positions that have been opened in the Archaeology Program the last 10 years. What are the odds of something like this happening, had the application requirements for these positions been arranged to meet the high educational standards of a (seemingly) prestigious university? In light of this evidence, I think that the list of Castillo´s victims should be expanded to include all current archaeology students of La Catolica, who pay high tuition fees in the expectation of getting a good education. Instead of getting what they deserve, they end up entangled in the web of Castillo´s manipulative plots.<br />My second case refers to the only archaeology journal published by La Catolica, called Boletin de Arqueología PUCP. This journal was founded in 1997 by a Faculty member who never got along with Castillo. Even though this professor managed to raise this journal to a high level of international recognition, in the year 2012 La Catolica authorities decided to take editing responsibilities away from him. In a mysterious turn of events, Castillo was appointed as new director. Ever since, this publication has lost its scientific focus, for it has been commonly used by Castillo to serve his sectarian interests. Wide access has been granted to Castillo´s students and followers, while those holding different opinions have been censured. If one looks at the issues published after 2012, for instance, it will not be difficult to find several articles written by A.C.M. and F.F.P.<br />In the past few days, we have learned some of the ways through which La Catolica´s authorities seem to have ignored, or even covered up, Castillo´s actions. We have learned that the San Jose de Moro project was ran without any supervision, and that lawyers hired by the university have sent threatening letters to potential victims. Here, I have presented two additional cases that demonstrate that La Catolica has allowed Castillo´s abusive conducts to grow unchecked. If someone is going to lead an impartial investigation on Castillo´s actions, perhaps it is not a La Catolica commission the best candidate for reaching an objective verdict.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com