tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post5666662662733846651..comments2024-03-27T13:28:18.163-04:00Comments on Balter's Blog: Field school directors ask why umbrella archaeology group has failed to respond to serious allegations related to sexual assault, coverups, bullying and retaliatory firings [Updated June 9: How grad students were pressured into excavating at IFR field schools.]Michael Balterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08311614050647338141noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-8248443903788492592020-09-17T21:33:15.133-04:002020-09-17T21:33:15.133-04:00I think the investor is no longer the chair, but i...I think the investor is no longer the chair, but it doesn't really matter. According to the IFR public tax records, he continues to receive an annual 'paycheck' in the form of 7.5% interest rate on his $100,000+ initial investment. So that's a paying board seat in a non-profit institute that makes its revenue from student fees. Doesn't sound very ethical to me. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-11944260609645297302020-09-13T12:58:40.531-04:002020-09-13T12:58:40.531-04:00The silence of the board, and its control and inde...The silence of the board, and its control and indebtedness to the Chair, whose investment is economic (a money-making endeavor) - are not unrelated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-65518108511988173932020-08-07T13:40:15.163-04:002020-08-07T13:40:15.163-04:00In Boytner’s email cited above (update May 11), he...In Boytner’s email cited above (update May 11), he states:<br />“[Balter] discussed a 2009 Title IX investigation against me while I was at UCLA. Due to legal restriction, I am unable to discuss the details. I wish I would have been released from this obligation, but such a release was not granted… [Balter] wrote that I was accused of serious violations and sexual assault and harassment. He also wrote that none was substantiated, and that UCLA investigation found I did not violate university policy. Again, I wish I could comment beyond this, but I cannot. All I can say is that UCLA investigation was as thorough and conducted by a professional.”<br /><br />In fact, the 2009 UCLA investigation did find that he violated university policy. He was found accountable for inappropriate conduct involving a female student who participated in his UCLA overseas program, and which violated the University of California Faculty Code of Conduct Policy (APM 015). <br />https://web.archive.org/web/20100607174453/http://www.ucop.edu/acadadv/acadpers/apm/apm-015.pdf<br /><br />Specifically, Boytner has been found to have violated two regulations within ‘Types of unacceptable conduct’ (Part II, Section A, page 6): <br /><br />“6. Entering into a romantic or sexual relationship with any student for whom a faculty member has, or should reasonably expect to have in the future (*1), academic responsibility (instructional, evaluative, or supervisory). / (*1) A faculty member should reasonably expect to have in the future academic responsibility (instructional, evaluative, or supervisory) for (1) students whose academic program will require them to enroll in a course taught by the faculty member, (2) students known to the faculty member to have an interest in an academic area within the faculty member’s academic expertise, or (3) any student for whom a faculty member must have academic responsibility (instructional, evaluative, or supervisory) in the pursuit of a degree.<br /><br />7. Exercising academic responsibility (instructional, evaluative, or supervisory) for any student with whom a faculty member has a romantic or sexual relationship.”<br /><br />As further stated in APM 015:<br />“The integrity of the faculty-student relationship is the foundation of the University’s<br />educational mission. This relationship vests considerable trust in the faculty member,<br />who, in turn, bears authority and accountability as mentor, educator, and evaluator. <br />The unequal institutional power inherent in this relationship heightens the vulnerability<br />of the student and the potential for coercion. The pedagogical relationship between<br />faculty member and student must be protected from influences or activities that can<br />interfere with learning consistent with the goals and ideals of the University. <br />Whenever a faculty member is responsible for academic supervision of a student, a<br />personal relationship between them of a romantic or sexual nature, even if consensual,<br />is inappropriate. Any such relationship jeopardizes the integrity of the educational<br />process.<br />…<br /> “Conduct which departs from these precepts is viewed by faculty as unacceptable<br />because it is inconsistent with the mission of the University. The articulation of types of<br />unacceptable faculty conduct is appropriate both to verify that a consensus about minimally<br />acceptable standards in fact does exist and to give fair notice to all that departures from these<br />minimal standards may give rise to disciplinary proceedings”.<br />…<br /><br />The disciplinary sanctions imposed on Boytner were his removal from the overseas program under his directorship, and barring further contact with undergraduate students without a third party present. <br />A few months later Boytner was terminated from his position at UCLA. <br />Since the inappropriate conduct Boytner was found accountable for was not consensual, the student sued Boytner and UCLA in Civil Court for battery, sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. The case was settled with both UCLA and Boytner paying for the student’s damages. <br /><br />Supporting documents to the above can be found in UCLA’s staff records and online.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-61373848579234255572020-08-07T13:01:04.424-04:002020-08-07T13:01:04.424-04:00In 2009 Dr. Boytner was found accountable for inap...In 2009 Dr. Boytner was found accountable for inappropriate conduct involving a female student who participated in his UCLA overseas program, and which violated the University of California Faculty Code of Conduct Policy (APM 015). <br />https://web.archive.org/web/20100607174453/http://www.ucop.edu/acadadv/acadpers/apm/apm-015.pdf<br /><br />Specifically, Boytner has been found to have violated two regulations within ‘Types of unacceptable conduct’ (Part II, Section A, page 6): <br /><br />“6. Entering into a romantic or sexual relationship with any student for whom a faculty member has, or should reasonably expect to have in the future (*1), academic responsibility (instructional, evaluative, or supervisory). / (*1) A faculty member should reasonably expect to have in the future academic responsibility (instructional, evaluative, or supervisory) for (1) students whose academic program will require them to enroll in a course taught by the faculty member, (2) students known to the faculty member to have an interest in an academic area within the faculty member’s academic expertise, or (3) any student for whom a faculty member must have academic responsibility (instructional, evaluative, or supervisory) in the pursuit of a degree.<br /><br />7. Exercising academic responsibility (instructional, evaluative, or supervisory) for any student with whom a faculty member has a romantic or sexual relationship.”<br /><br />As further stated in APM 015:<br />“The integrity of the faculty-student relationship is the foundation of the University’s educational mission. This relationship vests considerable trust in the faculty member,who, in turn, bears authority and accountability as mentor, educator, and evaluator. The unequal institutional power inherent in this relationship heightens the vulnerability of the student and the potential for coercion. The pedagogical relationship between faculty member and student must be protected from influences or activities that can interfere with learning consistent with the goals and ideals of the University. Whenever a faculty member is responsible for academic supervision of a student, a personal relationship between them of a romantic or sexual nature, even if consensual,is inappropriate. Any such relationship jeopardizes the integrity of the educational<br />process.<br />…<br /> “Part II of this Code elaborates standards of professional conduct, derived from general professional consensus about the existence of certain precepts as basic to acceptable faculty behavior. Conduct which departs from these precepts is viewed by faculty as unacceptable because it is inconsistent with the mission of the University. The articulation of types of unacceptable faculty conduct is appropriate both to verify that a consensus about minimally acceptable standards in fact does exist and to give fair notice to all that departures from these minimal standards may give rise to disciplinary proceedings”.<br />…<br /><br />The disciplinary sanctions imposed on Boytner were his removal from the overseas program under his directorship, and barring further contact with undergraduate students without a third party present. <br />A few months later Boytner was terminated from his position at UCLA. <br />Since the inappropriate conduct Boytner was found accountable for was not consensual, the student sued Boytner and UCLA in Civil Court for battery, sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. The case was settled with both UCLA and Boytner paying for the student’s damages. <br /><br />Supporting documents to the above can be found in UCLA’s staff records and public legal records online.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-91689438723071042772020-06-11T22:34:15.054-04:002020-06-11T22:34:15.054-04:00This is really good news, and validation for all y...This is really good news, and validation for all your reporting! Proof that these weasels can't hide their wrongdoing forever. Will wait for your report, but is there a recording available somewhere? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-44602882537612895812020-06-11T21:08:39.290-04:002020-06-11T21:08:39.290-04:00At a Zoom Town Hall hosted by the Cotsen Institute...At a Zoom Town Hall hosted by the Cotsen Institute today, Wendrich finally admitted that Ran Boytner is no longer IFR exec dir, nor will he have any role in the organization. I will have a full report on the meeting in a new blog post tomorrow. Eye opening to say the least.Michael Balterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08311614050647338141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-72112707352622280292020-06-11T05:24:03.104-04:002020-06-11T05:24:03.104-04:00To the above Anonymous and others: soon after toda...To the above Anonymous and others: soon after today’s comments were posted, the address on the IFR website and facebook was changed to> 1855 Industrial St. Unit 106, Los Angeles, CA 90021. Try that.<br />Oh, and hi there IFR! Thanks for following Balter’s blog and reacting so rapidly. You still have to fix the Google Map portion on the “contact us” page. Please feel free to chime in if you read anything else in here that you think is inaccurate or false. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-651375082823674942020-06-10T21:43:06.071-04:002020-06-10T21:43:06.071-04:00Crooks!
Turns out even the name of the institute ...Crooks! <br />Turns out even the name of the institute is stolen from another non-profit:<br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institution_for_Field_Research_Expeditions<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-82477477033210432872020-06-10T16:19:49.804-04:002020-06-10T16:19:49.804-04:00This post was accidentally deleted. by an anonymou...This post was accidentally deleted. by an anonymous poster <br /><br />Confirmed:<br />https://42floors.com/us/ca/los-angeles/2999-overland-ave <br />The address on the IFR website, 2999 Overland Ave Unit 103, is listed as vacant and available for rent since May 28, 2020. <br />Unfortunately, I do not know where they moved to. Have you tried calling or emailing them? https://ifrglobal.org/contact/ <br />Michael Balterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08311614050647338141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-78158997929008501602020-06-10T14:41:17.279-04:002020-06-10T14:41:17.279-04:00Attention everyone: I went to drop off something a...Attention everyone: I went to drop off something at the address listed on their wwebiste and Facebook page. But the door was locked and the next door office said that they cleared out. It looks completely empty from the windows outside. I took photos. The address on the website is <br />Institute for Field Research<br />2999 Overland Ave. #103<br />Los Angeles, CA 90064<br />I really don’t trust them one bit, so if anyone has any information where they moved to please post it here. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-54806071899966915312020-06-10T00:14:54.563-04:002020-06-10T00:14:54.563-04:00What is stated in the above comment and the June 9...What is stated in the above comment and the June 9 update is absolutely true. Back in 2009, many faculty and staff at the Cotsen heard about Boytner’s harassment of the USC student in his Peru field school. There was a lot of murky cover-up on why he was fired in November 2010, but the timing of it was right after the student sued Boytner and UCLA for damages in the Superior Court of California (and this can be easily proven with UCLA records.) <br />Willeke Wendrich joined the Cotsen that same year and was already teaching at NELC for some years, so I also find it extremely hard to believe she also didn’t know. In all those years or when she took over the directorship of the Cotsen in 2016, Chip must have told her that he prohibited Boytner from engaging with undergraduate students without a third party present due to this inappropriate behavior. Instead, both of them helped Boytner build the IFR and were then given seats on the board. <br />If Wendrich does not have a good explanation on her involvement in these events, she may as well offer her resignation. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-14838266386177537312020-06-09T18:23:48.099-04:002020-06-09T18:23:48.099-04:00I know! And the irony is that just last week he wa...I know! And the irony is that just last week he was awarded UCLA’s Chancellor’s Award for Community-Engaged Scholars. I guess Block is not informed yet of what’s going on right under his nose.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-3328359542304246452020-06-09T16:21:22.408-04:002020-06-09T16:21:22.408-04:00Just another incompetent and self-serving board, p...Just another incompetent and self-serving board, plenty of those in academia these days. Frustrated to see De León still there. I used to think of him renouncing the SAA as a courageous, stick it to the man, kind of move. Now I realize it was just cowardly, washing his hands of responsibility. I’m actually relieved that I won’t have to face him at the next SAA. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-79119107101598988812020-06-09T13:45:38.594-04:002020-06-09T13:45:38.594-04:00Re this last comment, please see the June 9 update...Re this last comment, please see the June 9 update above, just posted, on the same topic.Michael Balterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08311614050647338141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-62236365936538555282020-06-09T13:42:47.723-04:002020-06-09T13:42:47.723-04:00Regarding the most recent update:
You also have ...Regarding the most recent update: <br /><br />You also have to ask why the faculty at the Cotsen have been consistently taking on new graduate students, especially in oversaturate fields such as Egyptology and Classics, when there are simply no tenure track jobs available. I remember one year when about 6 students received their PhDs. I'm not sure how many of them actually got jobs. Yet every year, more students join the program. Willeke Wendrich herself has her attention divided because of her involvement in a number of projects such as the digital humanities project, the IFR, Ethiopia and Egypt. How does one justify taking on this many students and being able to properly mentor and prepare students to compete in a field where it's statistically harder to get a job than Hollywood. <br /><br />The answer may lie in the fact that these students are simply a source for funding. The Cotsen gets funding for taking on these students and then these students are used to run field projects for the IFR which in turn receives funding from undergraduates who one day hope to get into grad school. These undergrads are told that they only way their application for an archaeology program will be taken seriously is if they show they've been to a field school. It's a MASSIVE pyramid scheme (no pun intended). Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-58627359728395919582020-06-09T03:58:24.478-04:002020-06-09T03:58:24.478-04:00From the recent update on https://ifrglobal.org/, ...From the recent update on https://ifrglobal.org/, the IFR Board of Governors writes: <br />“Our concern for the safety of students, staff, and the communities in which we work guides everything we do.”<br /><br />Here is what we’ve learned in the last three months about the IFR Board: <br />1) They let Ran Boytner, an archaeologist charged with inappropriate behaviour with a student at a UCLA field school and was likely fired for it, to create and direct a global field school organization and have continued access to students. Many of these board members were studying and working together with Boytner at UCLA before and during those events. <br />2) They let Boytner bully, harass, and retaliate against IFR staff members, even when they knew about his past misconduct. One employee reported of sexual harassment and was fired. Employees complained to the board on several occasions, but they ignored them. <br />3) Some of the board members also knew about Boytner’s discriminatory vetting of African students, and yet did nothing. Who knows how many deserving students were denied the opportunity of a field school or scholarship, simply because they were Nigerian or were suspected as hackers?<br />4) Even after the multiple allegations against Boytner became public, they let him keep his position as Executive Director. They later gave him a position in the IFR Board of Governors. <br />5) They let UCSB professor Danielle Kurin sit on the IFR Board and on the Sexual Harassment Committee, while she was charged with Title IX violations on retaliating against students who complained about sexual harassment by her husband. Some of the board members clearly knew about it, but kept lying to others in and outside the organization.<br />6) They then let Kurin direct several field schools with the IFR, and sent students to work with her sexual predator husband. This resulted in more students getting sexually harassed and assaulted. These students report lasting trauma. <br />7) The Board’s cover-up of these allegations damaged the reputation of other IFR field school directors, by ignoring their requests for clarification and denying them statements they can present to their respective administration, colleagues, and students.<br />8) They made false promises to students, namely assuring them that field schools will be offered in 2021 before even discussing it with the field school directors. <br />9) They ignored and side-lined students and parents who were asking for their tuition refund, long after they cancelled the programs. <br />10) Despite numerous demands from concerned students, parents, faculty, field school directors, administrators, and community members to conduct an investigation, the IFR Board still keeps silent and refuses to take a public stance on any of these allegations. <br /><br />Instead, they just write “Our concern for the safety of students, staff, and the communities in which we work guides everything we do.” <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-11336318865922981112020-06-08T14:51:35.085-04:002020-06-08T14:51:35.085-04:00It’s almost like these guys are given a pamphlet f...It’s almost like these guys are given a pamphlet from their universities on how to lie to the public:<br />URTON: “In response to the allegations in the affidavit, Urton wrote last month that he had never violated FAS policies on sexual harassment and that, due to confidentiality rules, he could issue nothing but a blanket denial of allegations against him.”<br />BOYTNER: “[Balter] wrote that I was accused of serious violations and sexual assault and harassment. He also wrote that none was substantiated, and that UCLA investigation found I did not violate university policy. Again, I wish I could comment beyond this, but I cannot.”<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-90427845326930105232020-06-07T19:15:20.648-04:002020-06-07T19:15:20.648-04:00Michael- your tweet today brought me back here. I...Michael- your tweet today brought me back here. I saw the blog a while ago but only now realizing the extent of these comments. Everyone I talk to, or rather Zoom with, pretty much agrees that Boytner’s comebacks read like the rants of a lunatic. My favorite line so far: “The only thing Balter craves is attention. I think it is best to give him none”. Unfortunately for him, he brought all this attention onto himself by writing this self-incriminating email. At this point, the only statement that wasn’t completely debunked is: “I am a bad person”. <br />Thanks for bringing these important concerns to the attention of the archaeological community. I’m sure that this “Boytner-Gate” will be a major conversation topic at the next SAA’s. I hope you can attend. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-5194019888419635292020-06-07T16:58:38.743-04:002020-06-07T16:58:38.743-04:00Is it verified that Boytnber is out? His affiliati...Is it verified that Boytnber is out? His affiliation is still Institute of Field Research on Academia.edu and LinkedInAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-22691588405840537982020-06-07T12:34:46.649-04:002020-06-07T12:34:46.649-04:00Heard it too from Willeke that Ran Boytner is defi...Heard it too from Willeke that Ran Boytner is definitely not coming back, and that this decision has nothing to do with the pandemic. Now what?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-40988733793172400152020-06-07T07:07:58.543-04:002020-06-07T07:07:58.543-04:00This is absolutely insane if true: sources report ...This is absolutely insane if true: sources report that when Kurin was still on the board, she was appointed as a member of the *IFR Sexual Harassment Committee*, AFTER she was found guilty of retaliating against students who complained about her predator husband. WTF IFR?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-16515489149597631462020-06-07T01:31:07.314-04:002020-06-07T01:31:07.314-04:00There are former and new(?) staff members listed o...There are former and new(?) staff members listed on the IFR website, but Ran Boytner is nowhere to be seen. Was he not “rehired”?<br />https://ifrglobal.org/about/staff/<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-78953024562046253672020-06-06T00:03:24.645-04:002020-06-06T00:03:24.645-04:00IFR, you can see how it’s done here:
https://anthr...IFR, you can see how it’s done here:<br />https://anthropology.fas.harvard.edu/<br />Simply cut and paste this text into your home page, and don’t forget to replace “department/university” with “IFR” and “Harvard Crimson” with “Balter’s Blog.” It’s really not that difficult!<br /><br />“A series of recent articles in the Harvard Crimson reported serious allegations of sexual harassment and abuse by several faculty members affiliated with this department. The behavior described in the allegations is abhorrent. The fact that it has not been adequately addressed at a departmental level until now points to serious failings in departmental structure, communication, and climate, in the wholly inadequate response to sexual violence across the university, and in the way the administration communicates with departments. The articles also drew attention to long-standing problems of discrimination and inequality in the department that require urgent attention, problems that contribute to a climate in which abusive behaviors can thrive. We as a faculty feel deeply the harm that has been caused and are committed to doing everything we can to repair that harm to the extent possible, and to ensure that it does not happen again. We stand by all those who have been affected by this and are humbled and inspired by their courage in speaking out.<br /> <br />Our immediate focus is on what we can do internally to rebuild trust and empower the most vulnerable members of our community. We have convened a standing committee to investigate existing departmental structures and propose recommendations for dismantling those that have contributed to an environment in which abuses continue to manifest and go undetected. We understand that this is only a first step on a long path, and we are committed to doing what it takes to repair our relationships and foster a more supportive, safe, and equitable department culture.” <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-63567213801842052482020-06-05T22:16:53.856-04:002020-06-05T22:16:53.856-04:00And IFR is still trying to rewrite history. The ca...And IFR is still trying to rewrite history. The cancellation of the field schools was not made on “April 2020” as they vaguely write and date the previous update. The cancellation was announced exactly on March 25, two days after Michael Balter published his accusations against IFR director Ran Boytner and others in the board. <br />Placing events in their correct chronological context should be important for archaeologists. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3423725371920868922.post-67974672880941937642020-06-05T19:01:22.878-04:002020-06-05T19:01:22.878-04:00So after all was said and done, still no statement...So after all was said and done, still no statement about the allegations. Who these people think they are? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com