#diplomas

Dear Missing Something Anon,

No, you aren't. You are correct. In all due form, her personal Instagram bio should have listed only her 2022 Human Animal Interaction MA from Stirling University. Not the current and still incomplete Counselling and Psychology MA from Whateverville University:

This makes her look like a fraud and is a big no-no in the academic community. You don't claim a diploma unless you have earned it already. And she hasn't. As I already explained, her recent secondary account announcement is not related to a work project. She needs that practicum to complete a diploma she already pretends to have. And she hasn't.

Rest assured, she won't go to jail for this. But this is such poor optics, it certainly does not help her become any more endearing to cynical people, like me.

On a side note, I am surprised the meticulously observing Observer Tumblr account seems to have completely zapped the practicum -very clear- reference in her announcement, that explains so many things. Bias? Negligence?

Group of students and two teachers pose on front steps of school; students hold diplomas tied with ribbons. Handwritten on photograph: "Washington School, June 1922." Handwritten on back: "1731 Beaubien St." Stamped on back: "Harvey C. Jackson, photographer, Cherry 6054 M., 2614 Beaubien St., Detroit, Mich."

Shruti Rajkumar at HuffPost:

Several universities across the country are withholding, or threatening to withhold, the diplomas of seniors who engaged in pro-Palestine demonstrations on their campuses amid a national student mobilization in recent months. After Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, the Israeli military launched a massive offensive in Gaza, which has so far has killed more than 35,000 and sparked a famine in the region. In response, students formed encampments and held demonstrations to demand that their colleges publicly denounce Israel’s attacks on Gaza as a genocide, increase transparency about their Israeli ties and divest from companies in business with Israel. Many pro-Palestine demonstrations have been peaceful. But hundreds of students at universities across the country have been arrested for their involvement, and some are facing hearings for alleged disciplinary violations. Now, multiple colleges are saying that diplomas will be held until these investigations are completed.

On Friday, administrators at the University of California, Los Angeles threatened to discipline and withhold the diplomas of at least 55 students who were involved in pro-Palestine demonstrations. In letters sent on Friday, administrators accused the students of violating the student code of conduct, alleging that they failed to respond to police’s orders to disperse at the May 2 encampment and engaged in “disorderly behavior,” “disturbing the peace” and “failure to comply,” according to the Guardian and UCLA’s student newspaper, The Daily Bruin. The letters say students must attend hearings to discuss the their protest involvement and will not be allowed to receive their degrees until they’ve done so, the Guardian reported. Students who don’t schedule their meeting or who miss it will not be able to register for classes next semester or, if they’re seniors, graduate.

[...] Several U.S. schools, including the ones that are holding student protesters diplomas, have statements on their websites expressing that free speech and expression is valued on their campuses, so long as it isn’t disruptive and doesn’t violate school policies.