henchminion ([info]henchminion) wrote,
@ 2008-03-25 15:36:00
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Entry tags:teaching

A small ethical dilemma
Holy %3@&! I just checked my mailbox at the history department, and one of my students has given me two tickets to a hockey game. They're worth $146 apiece. If I was still working for politicians, I would have to report a gift of that size to the Integrity Commissioner's office and get their permission to accept it. However, I don't think the University of Toronto has anything resembling an Integrity Commissioner or a policy on bribery.

The most expensive gift I've accepted from a student in the past was a box of chocolates. As I recall, that experience ended with me being twice as careful to give her paper a strictly justifiable grade, and her making a tearful complaint to the course professor because she got a B when she was expecting an A. So this could easily go sour.

What do you guys think? Should I accept the tickets? If I decline them, how do I do it graciously?


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[info]curgoth
2008-03-25 07:58 pm UTC (link)
Even if there's no ethics commisioner type thing, you should at least have an HR department who should know what the policy is on this sort of thing. I'd give them back saying that while you appreciate the offer, it's ethically dodgey to take them, even if there was no ill intent. Not accusing the student of trying to influence you, but saying that someone who doesn't know that could misinterpret the situation.

While the tickets are expensive, I'm willing to bet the student got them for free through someone else's comped tickets at work or similar, so it's unlikely that the student spent his/her own cash on them.

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[info]gleodream
2008-03-25 09:53 pm UTC (link)
I think I second [info]curgoth's suggestion: don't let it sound like an imputation, but if it were me, I'd feel better not accepting the tickets, regardless of the student's intentions.

Ugh, I hate this kind of situation. Good luck to you.

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[info]kalivor
2008-03-25 10:17 pm UTC (link)
First off, I'd be amazed if U of T did not have a policy on gifts.

However, if you cannot locate such a policy, I would suggest that you decline the tickets, given that you're clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

Declining it shouldn't be too difficult -- just say how much you appreciate the gesture, and that you wish that you were in a position to accept the tickets, but you aren't. Ask if they'd like the tickets back, or if you should donate them to a charity.

Also, offering to take them out for a beer will doubtlessly go over well.

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[info]night__watch
2008-03-25 11:05 pm UTC (link)
Heh, I just had a student offer to give me some pirated software. I were tempted (Civ4 expansions).

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O.T.
[info]blueshaded_lady
2008-03-25 11:32 pm UTC (link)
re: Civ 4 expansions

I just got a new laptop last month that finally allowed me to play them (I had purchased them many months ago), and it's certainly worth the outlay.
Many a night I've come face to face with 3 a.m. squinting up from the middle of a scenario.

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Re: O.T.
[info]night__watch
2008-03-26 10:02 pm UTC (link)
booo! Don't tell me these things! Civ has consumed far more hours of sleep than any pasttime has a right to (well, any *solitary* pasttime, anyway).

Damn you Sid Meier, and the colony ship you rode in on!

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