Re: Letters of Recommendation - Problems

[Joel Rauber <Joel_Rauber@SDSTATE.EDU>]

> My father was a lawyer, and I asked him about refusing to write a
> letter.  He said that the worst he could imagine happening is that the
> student would go to court and get an order requiring me to write the
> letter.  In which case I could write "Pursuing to the order
> of the court
> of ... I am writing you a letter of recommendation for ...."  If the
> recipient has any sense at all he doesn't bother to read the letter.
>
> In fact, at Delaware we are required to refuse a letter if it will not
> be favorable.  I have on one occasion had a student with an abysmal
> record (who I thought might have some talent actually) who needed a
> letter for me to have any chance to get into a program.  I
> told him that
> what I could write would be very risky for him, gave him the
> letter, and
> told him to mail it if he wished.  There is not much danger there.

The obvious question of what would happen if the court ordered you to write
a letter and it would have to be unfavorable; would you be in violation of
your conditions of employment?  I am assuming that it is a condition of
employment that you not write unfavorable letters of recommendation.  I'm
also assuming that it is a condition of employment that you do not lie on
letters written on "company" stationary; and that you behave in an ethical
manner.

Personally, I'd question a school policy that requires you to only write
letters if they would be favorable; of course, this may be a way save time
on your workload . . .  hmmmm

Joel Rauber