[WBeckham]

Another gun-grab lie goes down in flames... The entire report is available in PDF format at http://www.emory.edu/central/NEWS/Releases/Final_Report.pdf

[FateAmenableToChange]

To summarize, the report never really comes out and says Bellesiles intentionally manufactured data, there are so many problems with his methods (described as sloppy) and with his presentation of the data (he selectively left out the key years 1774-1776 and 1861 from his table showing alleged gun ownership rates) that he lacked the integrity necessary for a scholar. He also allegedly distorted and apparently purposefully ignored work by another scholar that contradicted his key findings. I actually understand his reasons for leaving those particular years out of his data set, but the rest of the report is pretty damning.

Bellesiles could have put together some really interesting studies if he had behaved objectively and professionally. His failure of ethics, and his desire to write a political hit piece, rather than a work of historical scholarship, likely has proven to be his downfall.

[Drango]

More from
http://www.emorywheel.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/10/25/3db9bc0a08df2
I gotta wonder what the Bancroft Prize idiots are gonna do...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Bellesiles resigns as fraud investigation ends
External panel asserts guilt in July; main report released today

By Michael de la Merced
Senior Editor

October 25, 2002

Professor of History Michael Bellesiles announced his resignation from the University Friday, bringing an eight-month investigation into his research to an end.

Bellesiles was under fire by fellow academics for alleged fraud in research conducted for his 2000 book Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture.

Bellesiles wrote in a statement Friday he could not continue his teaching commitments given the controversy surrounding him and his book.

"I will continue to research and report on the probate materials while also working on my next book, but cannot continue to teach in what I feel is a hostile environment," Bellesiles wrote.

In a University statement, Interim Dean of the College Robert Paul said he accepted Bellesiles' resignation, effective Dec. 31. The announcement was released along with the long-awaited results of an Investigative Committee's inquiry into allegations of scholarly fraud against Bellesiles.

The Committee, headed by Stanley Katz, a professor of public and international affairs at Princeton University (N.J.), concluded that Bellesiles was guilty of both substandard research methodology and of willfully misrepresenting specific evidence in Arming America.

The scope of the Committee was limited to five questions that revolved around probate records in Vermont, Rhode Island and San Francisco, as well as one particular table of data. Finally, the Committee was asked if Bellesiles committed "other serious deviations "from accepted practices in carrying out or reporting results from research.'"

Bellesiles disputed the Committee's findings in his statement, claiming he has followed all pertinent scholarly guidelines and corrected all errors of fact known to him.

"I have never fabricated evidence of any kind nor knowingly evaded my responsibilities as a scholar," he wrote.

The Committee published its findings July 10, but the University withheld the report pending an appeal Bellesiles filed in September.

The University took the unusual step of releasing the results of the Committee's report, an action Paul said was necessitated by the "intense scholarly interest" in the matter. Not released, however, were the supporting documents in the case.

Paul said in the University's statement the Committee's report was "authoritative" and upheld stringent scholarly requirements in conducting such academic investigations. The case, Paul said, was concluded.

Arming America, which addresses the history of gun culture in America, posited that guns were not nearly as prevalent throughout American history than previously thought. Praised for its innovative use of probate materials as evidence, the book was awarded Columbia University's (N.Y.) Bancroft Prize.

Shortly after its release, several researchers, including law professor James Lindgren of Northwestern University (Ill.), alleged Bellesiles falsified evidence to support his thesis. The allegations eventually forced Emory's hand into conducting both an internal inquiry and the appointing of the external Investigative Committee.

Bellesiles, who was suspended with pay this semester, worked all last academic year on a second book on gun culture at the Newberry Library in Chicago. The Newberry funded that research using a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. After Emory began its investigation into Bellesiles' work, the NEH demanded that its name be removed from Bellesiles' research.

The Committee's report can be seen at: http://www.emory.edu/central/NEWS/index.shtml.

[copycat]

You betrayed your entire life, which, as a professor, should have been the pursuit of real knowledge. You used your position in academia to plant a lie and fabricate evidence in furtherance of your own political agenda. The discovery of your treachery reveals to all who would consider it, the fact that those who wish to nullify the Second Amerndment and disarm the populace, must resort to lies and fabrications, misinterpret court decisions, and insert commas where there were none in order to support their position. Arrevederci, Monsieur Bellesiles.

[SW6906]

Schadenfreud n.
(shâ den frood)
Experiencing or gaining joy from another person’s pain, misfortune or discomfort.

Yep. Describes me right now to a T.......

[SW6906]

Schadenfreud n.
(shâ den frood)
Experiencing or gaining joy from another person’s pain, misfortune or discomfort.

Yep. Describes me right now to a T.......

[SW6906]

Schadenfreud n.
(shâ den frood)
Experiencing or gaining joy from another person’s pain, misfortune or discomfort.

Yep. Describes me right now to a T.......

[Pharmboy]

His fraud, fabrication and lies were even too much for his liberal colleagues; and this is a group that is hard to shame.

[Pharmboy]

His fraud, fabrication and lies were even too much for his liberal colleagues; and this is a group that is hard to shame.

[Vigilant1]

Who says there's no justice? Bellesiles has spent years 'researching' and writing his new book. Now, he may as well throw his notes & manuscript in the trash, because nobody will touch it with a ten-foot pole. Bellesiles will also find it impossible to get a new acedemic job, as academic fraud is the kiss of death to the career of any prof or researcher.

I guess ex-Professor Bellesiles can go study himself now, because he's HISTORY! ;^)

[The Person]

A long review relied on by the committee:

http://instapundit.com/lawrev/Lindgren.pdf

A summary of the Emory report:

http://hnn.us/articles/1069.html

[Drango]

Interesting...no mention of this story at the NY Times, Washington Post, AP, CNN, Yahoo News, etc...It came out around noon east coast time Friday...Google news has one story.

I guess what they say about late Friday news is true...

[M Kehoe]

Cool. Molon Labe bump.

5.56mm

[Petronski]

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure to announce that Michael Bellesiles has been awarded this weeks Beckel Prize for Excellence in Providing the FreeRepublic Community with the Total Schadenfreude Experience.

Bellesiles' lies about colonial gun ownership have merited a 'severence' of his relationship with Emory University.

The prize is named for Bob Beckel, Democratic Stalwart, Mondale '84 Campaign Chair, and would-be 2000 Electoral College tamperer, who tickled our fancy with his combination divorce/alcoholism/prostitution/blackmail jag, a history-making Schadenfreudische Superfecta!

[chuknospam]

Someone needs to email Amazon.com and see to it that the book is reclassified as "Fiction". Just another attempted take over by the Marxists. BTW his book has been quoted by a Justice in at least one court decision, US v. Emerson 5th cir. I believe.

[FreedomPoster]

WOO-HOO! I've been following this story since the beginning, and am very glad to see this outcome. I missed a chance to FReep this jerk when he was going to speak at the Atlanta Historical Society about two years ago. Glad to see that Emory has finally, grudgingly, done the right thing. A full-up "you're fired" would have been preferable, but his resignation amounts to the same thing to anyone paying attention.

[FreedomPoster]

Here's the article in the hometown paper on this story:

Scolded author quits Emory (Michael Bellesiles)  

[RainDog]

By claiming few early americans were firearm owners, Bellesiles' "scholarly" mission, no doubt, was to survive peer review (whatever it is worth these days), publish, and thereby provide a theoretical basis for other antis to springboard from.

Trouble is, Bellesiles was sniffed out as the fraud he is-- his documentation lost in a flood? Pitiful.