Michael Bellesiles Resigns from Emory Faculty

Emory University ^ | 25 OCT 2002 | Robert A. Paul, Interim Dean of Emory College

[WBeckham]

"Although we would not normally release any of the materials connected with a case involving the investigation of faculty misconduct in research, in light of the intense scholarly interest in the matter I have decided, with the assent of Professor Bellesiles as well as of the members of the Investigative Committee, to make public the report of the Investigative Committee appointed by me to evaluate the allegations made against Professor Bellesiles (none of the supporting documents, however, are being made public). The text of the report is now available online at www.emory.edu/central/NEWS/"

[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.

[winstonchurchill]

Well, they come pretty close. "Yet the best that can be said of his work with the probate and militia records is that he is guilty of unprofessional and misleading work.... On Question 4, dealing with the construction of the vital Table One, we find evidence of falsification. And on Question 5, which raises the standard of professional historical scholarship, we find that Professor Bellesiles falls short on all three counts.."

I think that is pretty damning from the 'collegial' atmosphere of liberal academia. They got dead him to rights. That is why he resigned. Good work by his fellow liberals.

[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.

[RossA]

Even better, his liberal colleagues spent many man-years ripping his work to shreds. Just think what mischief they could have achieved if not on outing him!

[Optimist]

the actual link:

the report

one point of the report is that his data could not be duplicated since his references were vague and only generally referred to "locations" (my word) of raw data rather than specific sources

[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.

[LS]

As a history professor at the U. of Dayton, I think this is remarkable. Generally, there are few things that a University won't tolerate from libs, except sexual harassment and accusations of racism. So this is surprising, and it means that the evidence wa so cotton-pickin' overwhelming that this guy could not have stayed.

Now the bad news? He'll be offered an endowed chair in some Ivy League school for his "boldness of approach."

[jackbill]

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.

Fine. But did the NEH demand their money back???

[marktwain]

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 question now is which liberal school or foundation will give a job to Bellesiles, to show that no effort for liberal propaganda will go unrewarded.

Be this as it may, this has been a crutial win for freedom and truth in America. The liberal elite liars in academia have had a shock. They do not absolutely control the gates of information to the public, as they once did through the OldDomiantLiberalMedia. The OldDominantLiberalMedia spent a great deal of its accumulated credibility propping up the corrupt Clintons. Now the chickens are coming home to roost. I see a dawing of prosperity and freedom in this country, despite, or perhaps in part because of, the war on terror.

[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.......

[Mr. Lucky]

I gotta wonder what the Bancroft prize idiots are going to do.

Continue buggering each other, I suppose.

[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.

[CurlyDave]

I gotta wonder what the Bancroft Prize idiots are gonna do...

This was my thought also.

Resignation was a victory for the truth. On the other hand the war is not over until the enemy has surrendered or been "defeated in detail".

Does anyone have a link to the, once-"prestigous" Bancroft prize committee? A good Freeping and they might do something.

If anyone does write, remember these are scholars, even if they are liberals. Spell-check your message, be sure to spell Bellesiles correctly, and don't flame. Just point out that their prize has lost a great deal of luster if they allow him to keep it for fraudulent work.

[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! ;^)

[winstonchurchill]

He'll be offered an endowed chair in some Ivy League school for his "boldness of approach."

I thought he would have a better chance of a big book advance from Hillary's publisher for his next book "How I Falsified My Last Book for Fun and Profit -- and Ideology".

[jackliberty]

I realize this is a personal problem but I've been waiting a long time for this report. All I'm getting is "Plug-in did not initialize properly."

Does anyone know where the report can be found in html format or where I can download whatever is necessary to obtain PDF files?

Great news like this should be preserved forever.