======= Date Modified 23 Nov 2011 06:56:54 =======

Just get back from legal office in my university, got some info they're now establishing ombudsman in the university. The person that incharge on ombudsman is not in. Question : Can I trust them 100%?? Since they're still under university and could I tell them everything?? Including my supervisor used to lock students inside a room?? They might want to know why I'm so scared meeting him.

Now I need some ideas what should I wrote in my referal letter, the Dean are willing to sign it. I think most of the potential supervisor will asked me why did I quit in my university (my university is one of the top research universities in my country). Any suggestion? Should I said because of lack of supervisor that expertise in the field that I'm interested in??


PS: This is just referal letter, I'm not quitting yet. After I have a secured study spot then I will make withdrawal letter. I've manage to published 3 journals that have ISI index. Should I mention this or not? I'm afraid they will tried to refer back to my lecturer since his name also on that paper.

======= Date Modified 22 Nov 2011 14:48:15 =======

To be honest, I even met our university counselor to ask advice on this matter. Do you know what he said?? You can't complaint, or try to change supervisor. He even ask me to meet psychologist to check my stress level/state of mind and he said I should be patience with my supervisor more (i.e just admit it's all my fault ---> I've tried it but still failed!).

Thank you for the suggestion/advice that you guys give me. I don't know this makes it worse or not, my university is not in Europe. It's in Asia. To be frank our education level/system doesn't have that kind of community that will protect postgraduate students. Sadly in my university, they only will consider complaints from foreigner students compare to the local students (because foreigners pay their fees much more than us). They only will hear you thru if you bring this matter to the newspaper, take it legal or bring your parents along and lodge a complaint. This few weeks I felt been treated like a "ball" passing to there and there.

The Dean ask me to meet another lecturer, ask them if they would take me and I need to start from scratch. Then he asked me to meet my lecturer again, he (the Dean) asked me to beg for his mercy and forgiveness. I've done all of this, in the end --> no solution. Even I've received a call from my supervisor, threaten me either finding new supervisor or left university.


My solution at the moment, I need to have a plan B. I've got nothing to lose anymore. I've tried to apply to a new university. Like I've said one of the potential supervisor know my supervisor. I've also discussed with my Dean, if they want me to left the university at least they should provide me at least with a referal letter and state the problem I'm leaving is not lies in me because I know they doesn't want their reputation become bad and I don't want they tarnished my reputation. I've manage to help my previous supervisor publish some papers and even guide his co-supervison and final year students. I really hope I can make through this 'nightmare'.

To Linda, why my university doesn't want to make a big deal of it? It's beacause of ranking. They afraid it will affect their status as research university in my country as well as their world ranking as a good institution.

PS: My senior said to me don't tell anyone if I've met her.This is because my supervisor already give strict warning to those people who back-up me or contacting me. He even threaten to expel the students that tried to give information to administration.

Maybe I didn't explained it clearly, even if I move to another university, I still need to start from very begining (i.e doing Master), my supervisor didn't allowed me to use the data and project and bring it to another place. So now, either way, I need to start over. Since in my current university, the new sem are approaching, I need to write a withdrawal letter if not, I need to pay the fees. The only good side is, my Dean are willing to be a referee for me.

======= Date Modified 21 Nov 2011 03:35:55 =======
HI,

After trying all the solutions that I can think of, I still failed to negotatiate with my supervisor.
To summarize up, here's what happened for the past few weeks/month:

1. My supervisor refused to see me even when the Dean asked him to do it. He still refused.
2. The school can't take any action against him bcause they said I'm the 1st one to complaint and this kind of thing never happened before.
3.They gave me 2 options : 1) change supervisor but you need to start over again and end-up with Msc. only (and all your hard work for 2 yrs not counted) 2) continue at another university


what do you guys think? if I choose no. 2, what should I wrote in the withdrawal letter? They're trying to make me wrote something I withdraw bcause of the stress and not well. I've met 2 potential supervisor in another university. One of them know my supervisor. Should I be honest with them?

I only can access the first journal. Send me a PM.I need your email add.

======= Date Modified 27 Oct 2011 16:36:52 =======

My Dean asked me to meet my supervisor again and solve it and my Dean actually blame me for not reporting about it when it happened to me for the first time. I know it's my fault too, but I really thought things already sort out after that but obviously not. I've also asked my Dean to set up a meeting so my supervisor and I can sort these things out because I want to know the reason too and ask him (the Dean) to be a witness so no one can tell twist the word that came out from that discussion and my Dean agreed.

Just now I've got a call from my lecturer, guess what? He's screaming non stop, one of his favourite word he keeps repeating, "How dare?? How could you do that to me??!!You know a lot of my secret. You know I have no friends at school!!". I keep quiet until he said "What? Are you lost for words now?? Scared now?". I said to him, "No, I'm still here. I just want to solve the problem". Then he answered "No. no.. You're trying to humiliate me!! I've word for you, stop your study quietly or try to find a new supervisor, if you can find ONE and if you think you can survive here and one more thing, all the data you have collected are belong to me. I do not allow you to use it" and he hang up the phone.


Complicated isn't it? Tomorrow I'm thinking of bringing some unprofessional email he send to me last year and this year. Regarding this matter, he already fights with the Dean too. He said "If the Dean really loves you, why don't he take you??". Obviously he can't because I'm a PhD conversion student, if I change my supervisor, I need to start from scratch back and end up with MSc. only.

Frankly speaking, every year there will be a new victim that will be chased out from his room. So this year it's my turn. I don't know if I should fight or just take it because obviously he will do that again to me and to anyone. What makes me upset so much is he did that everytime I need to do my sampling!! I've waited for it for 1 year, why should he picked that time, last year too.

From my labmate info, they said someone spread some bad words about me again (same thing like last year!), even when they tried to back me up, my lecturer keep saying he doesn't believe them. He believe the "source" more. Even I want to explain myself, he chased me out. Last time I even asked my supervisor to bring the person he believed that been bullied/used by me. So I can hear from that person mouth himself is it true I did that to him and my supervisor refused!!(Please remind that I talk to him thru the door as he chased me out n I have no way to talk to him but talk to the door ..LOL!!). I've asked the person already, the person said he doesn't know who start the rumors since he also shocked when my supervisor telling him that. He even denied it to my supervisor but supervisor think that he's trying to cover me up *SIGH*

======= Date Modified 26 Oct 2011 16:20:25 =======

I will try to meet the dean. Hopefully it will be okay.I've already told my second supervisor.She doesn't seem that shocked because my supervisor fight a lot with another lecturer and he doesn't have any friends in that school.What shocked my 2nd supervisor the most is he did that to the students too.

======= Date Modified 26 Oct 2011 15:04:48 =======

Actually he pushed me out (physically) of the room when I was asking for his forgiveness..n he locked his door..So, I have to talk thru the door..about the post doc he didn't kick him physically what I mean he "kick" him or throw him as his post doc as he didn't like ppl have different opinions from him. I'm so scared of him..in great stress last year for a long time.. n this thing happening again..

What I'm really afraid that he will do something unpredictable..Last time he locked one group of student inside a room and left just like that

Have you tried to discuss this with your supervisor? Your situation is currently like me, a PhD student w/o Msc. That's the cons from jumping straight away to PhD. Discuss first and know what you want. That's the most important thing. Downgrading will takes time, first discuss with your supervisor, if she/he agrees then meet deputy dean (academics) of your school and of course you need to inform post gradute studies too.

======= Date Modified 26 Oct 2011 05:53:46 =======
======= Date Modified 26 Oct 2011 05:36:19 =======
I'm currently in my 2 year doing phd. To make it short suddenly out of blue, my supervisor refused to see me and he even chased me out from his room after I've tried to apologize and ask him for forgiveness. To make it worse my sample is seasonal dependent, I need to wait for one year for it. This is not the first time he did this to me, last year he did that to me too. He even threaten to throw me out as student, just because I've helped his co-supervision student from a lecturer that he hate. He accused me as "back-stabber" and many more. The problem is I didn't help those student w/o his permission. Before he went for sabbatical, he asked me to help them when he's not around. Just because of my senior being questioned and advised by this lecturer. He felt really angry with that lecturer.

This time I think I can't take it anymore. I've tried to meet him twice and both of the times he chased me out. Even when I sent him an email to book appointment he accused me being rude! Actually, I didn't dare to talk to him face to face, as he chased me out for the first time, that's why I've sent him an email request for a meeting. There are problem in the project, I've tried to solve it out but failed! I need his opinion on this but he refused to see me.

Now I didn't know what to do, last year I barely managed to get any data because of that fight between the lecturer (and he drag me on it too) and this year this kind of thing happen. I'm already worn out, if I bring this matter up to the dean for sure my supervisor accused me being an "attention seeker" and trying to tarnish his reputation. Actually I'm not his first student to encounter this, he even kick a post doc before just because the post doc have different views from him and few of my senior have been through same kind situation too. But they just keep it mum and just quit from continuing under him.

Should I fight or retreat? :-(