A strongly worded letter #
I had an absolute blast with this tape, not only because of the content, but because of the detective work finding who this person was.
In this sixteen and a half minute clip, a woman dictates a letter to what’s presumably an administrative assistant. This strongly worded letter is calling out the university over denying a promotion of a fellow professor that she feels deserves the promotion.
I was able to find the following information about her after piecing together clues she leaves in the dictation.
Dr. Sharon Bannister
Full Professor of European History for 30 years
University of Findlay
Died in 2004 at the age of 60.
The way she edits her thoughts while dictating is quite something. What a great listen.
“I believe that the role of the division chair, in such manners as promotions and tenure, is being eroded. I have been told that new faculty in the international center have been told by a colleague, ‘You don’t have to please Jean. Please the members of faculty affairs.’ Something is wrong when such an analysis is being made.”
“Consider for example that, no no just forget that. I’ll finish that one later. New paragraph.”
“… and also to look, oh geez, forget that. In our area, in our areas, make it plural.”
– Dr. Sharon Bannister. circa 1991
The tape ends with reminders to her administrative assistant. Sharon also presumably liked grandfather clocks.
dr-sharon-bannister-to-the-faculty-affairs-committee.mp3
Enjoy.