SMU blogger unmasked, unemployed

[Danny Noonan]

SMU blogger unmasked, unemployed

SMU official says contract not related to teacher's chronicles


01:43 AM CDT on Sunday, May 15, 2005


By COLLEEN McCAIN NELSON / The Dallas Morning News


When an anonymous professor launched a brutally candid Web site, some SMU students thought the resemblance to their school was striking – and offensive.

The "Phantom Professor" blog dished about epidemic eating disorders and wealthy students looking for a "Mrs." degree. The author dubbed girls in $500 sandals toting $1,500 handbags "the Ashleys" and called a handsome male colleague "Hot Pockets."

Now, after much speculation, Elaine Liner's identity has been confirmed. A local writer, she has done theater reviews for the Dallas Observer in recent months and has written articles for The Dallas Morning News in the past.

Southern Methodist University recently decided that it no longer needs Ms. Liner's services as an adjunct professor teaching classes on writing and ethics to communications students.

School officials won't discuss personnel matters. But Rita Kirk, chairwoman of the division of corporate communications and public affairs, said the decision not to renew Ms. Liner's contract was unrelated to her Web site. She said the university is working to add senior faculty and to rely less on adjunct professors.

Still, Dr. Kirk acknowledged that Ms. Liner's candor provoked ire from parents, left some students in tears and raised legal and ethical concerns.

"When students talk to professors, they tend to think that these conversations are held in confidence," Dr. Kirk said. "We were concerned about privacy issues."

The blog (short for Web log) details a list of "things students have said in my office during one-on-one conferences." Examples included, "The girls in my sorority house are all cokeheads," and "Is it date rape if you know the guy?"

Ms. Liner writes on her blog that all the stories are true, adding that, "names and identifying details have been changed. Even the Ashleys."


'Touching little stories'

She declined requests for an interview but told an online publication that she never intended to embarrass anyone.

"I thought I was just writing funny, odd, touching little stories about my experiences on a campus and in a classroom," she told Inside Higher Ed.

Ms. Liner wrote Thursday on her blog that the response she has received since going public has been "overwhelmingly positive."

The school's decision not to renew Ms. Liner's contract has sparked debate on other blogs, with several SMU students offering high praise for their professor.

"As a former student of the phantom professor, I have to say this entire incident is insane," one wrote recently on a Web site, calling Ms. Liner "one of the best I have encountered at SMU."

Other students were plainly unhappy. "You don't want a double agent as your professor," said graduating senior Clark Castle, editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Daily Campus.

"It's wildly exaggerated. I mean crazy," said 20-year-old senior Lauren Leahy. The blog emphasized stereotypes that were not representative of the entire student body, she said.

Initially, the Phantom Professor's identity and school were mysteries. But as details were added to the blog, students and colleagues began to connect the dots.

In March, Mr. Clark wrote an editorial in The Daily Campus headlined " 'Phantom Prof' out of line" and noted that details from the blog seemed "eerily similar to life on the Hilltop."

Ms. Liner told Inside Higher Ed that some might have mistakenly believed that they were being mocked on her blog.

"Some of the stories are so common among SMU kids – the rampant bulimia, the outrageous budgets for clothes and cars, the airheads, the illiterate jocks and the plagiarizers – that any number of students who knew me or didn't might identify with them," she said.


Praise and derision

On the blog, Ms. Liner offered effusive praise for some of her students but delivered biting commentary when discussing others. She derides "the Ashleys" with "their Prada handbags and their SUVs (brand new, all filled with high octane charged to daddy's plastic) and their size 0 derrieres kept warm with pastel Juicy Couture sweats that show just a hint of dorsal cleavage."

Dr. Kirk said that such characterizations created tension in the classroom.

"Students in her class came to me and said ... 'Am I being judged just because I have good shoes?' " Dr. Kirk said.

SMU doesn't have a policy addressing blogs, she said. This episode raised questions about whether clear guidelines need to be set on student-professor confidentiality.

"I have always been a strong free speech advocate," she said. "That doesn't mean there aren't consequences."

Staff writer Paula Lavigne contributed to this report.

E-mail [email protected]


FROM THE PHANTOM PROF

'... $60K A YEAR. WHO CAN LIVE ON THAT?'
A former adjunct professor's Web site, phantomprof.blogspot.com, offered commentary about stick-thin sorority girls and wealthy, unmotivated students at Southern Methodist University. On the "Phantom Professor," Elaine Liner revealed "things students have said in my office during one-on-one conferences." A sampling:

"The third time I got a DWI, I realized I had a drinking problem."

"The company offered me $30K – and with what my father gives me, that's only $60K a year. Who can live on that?"

"I'm not spoiled! I only drive the cars my dad gives me."

"I haven't been in your class for two weeks because my doctor diagnosed me with a disease ... (dramatic pause) ... acid reflux."

PHANTOM PROFESSOR OBSERVATIONS
Students and their meds: At this school, it seems like every other kid is on multiple medications. I've heard them compare their dosages for drugs treating ADD and ADHD, depression, eating disorders, ulcers, migraines. They aren't shy about sharing the medical info. They have to hide their Ritalin and Adderall, they complain, because people in the dorm steal the drugs and use them for study helpers or just recreation. "I took too much Ritalin," says one boy, popping his head in the door to tell me why he won't be in class.

Grading the teachers: Cute male professors are in scant supply at this place. The men at this campus tend to be middle-aged (or older), rumpled, bald or getting that way, unfit and uncaring about their appearance. The youngish ones are a really squirrelly bunch. They prefer khaki Dockers – a fashion faux pas no student would commit – and every nerd's fave accessory, the pocket protector.

Reaction of students to her blog: My favorite bit of feedback came from the student who accused me of "discrimination" against the wealthy. She didn't appreciate my attitude toward thin, beautiful young Ashleys. This writer equated it with racism.

Come to think of it, I guess the rich have been unfairly segregated by society. All their lives they've been forced to ride at the front of the bus. They live in gated communities designed to restrict their freedom of movement. Their clothes are tagged with identifying logos – little Polo players and crocodiles – that tell the rest of us who and what they are. Their children attend separate schools (and wear uniforms!). Where is Amnesty International? Why isn't the UN working to liberate these rich people and let them mix freely with the rest of us?

Here is a link to the blog and some examples:

http://phantomprof.blogspot.com/

Things students have said in my office:

"My greatest fear is dying alone and being eaten by my cats."

"My boyfriend said everyone is sexually flexible. I think he might be gay."

"I'm pregnant and I don't know what to do."

"The third time I got a DWI, I realized I had a drinking problem."

"Is it date rape if you know the guy?"

"The company offered me $30K -- and with what my father gives me that's only $60K a year. Who can live on that?"

"I'm not spoiled! I only drive the cars my dad gives me."

"Her prom dress cost five grand... and it's yellow."

"You know that guy in the class? Brad? He asked me to come over and study with him and when I got to his apartment, he was wearing a towel and said he just got out of the shower. Then he dropped the towel and asked me if I thought he had a big [deleted]."

"I'm doing the project with Michael so we met at his apartment. Um, he's a bit too affectionate. I mean, we were just supposed to be doing PowerPoints."

"My father's been missing for three days. He's probably dead by now."

"The girls in my sorority house are all cokeheads."

"I haven't been in your class for two weeks because my doctor diagnosed me with a disease... (dramatic pause)... acid reflux."

"Back in Louisiana, my dad is a plastic surgeon. He did (major pop star's) implants. He signs his name on them. So I guess my last name is walking around inside her chest right now."

[/url]

[Col. Nathan R. Jessep]

Elaine Liner, darling, how does it go:

...those who can 'do', those who can't _______????????

[bubba pony]

she's a good writer. I enjoyed her web site. I graduated 30+ years ago, not much has changed.

[abezontar]

little ironic that she is teaching a course on ethics

[MrMustang1965]

And what the he** does this have to do with football or athletics?

[Danny Noonan]

And what the he** does this have to do with football or athletics?

Same thing Burger Wars or threads about the Bush Library, or any number of other threads that aren't about sports. Surely you've posted one or two things that weren't 100% sports related.

[couch 'em]

little ironic that she is teaching a course on ethics

I laughed at that too, but just for the record, I find nothing unethical with what she did as long as the names were changed.

[Hilltopper]

.... Same thing Burger Wars or threads about the Bush Library ....

Blasphemy! Tailgating = burgers (and beverages, of course.) The library and this thread are needless. The Burger Wars thread is great.

[bubba pony]

o.k. this is what she looks like. this explains her jealousy

http://www.caller2.com/periodic/elaineindex.html

[jtstang]

And what the he** does this have to do with football or athletics?

Exactly as much as half the crap you post from your google alarm.

[Bergermeister]

We desperately need a thread on the Meadows Museum. It's closer to Mustang Football than the Bush, the Burger or the Blog.

[MrMustang1965]

And what the he** does this have to do with football or athletics?

Exactly as much as half the crap you post from your google alarm.

Touche.