Honorary degrees

[Axeman]

I know that the people awarded these phoney qualifications rarely ever trade on them, and that there are far more important things to get worked-up over, but the concept of bypassing all the hard work, trepidation and expense really gets to me when I read in the news that some actor has been awarded one just so that the university can attract some publicity and no-doubt a fat 'donation' from the recipient.

Honestly, it really does bring the gravitas of higher learning into disrepute when they dish-out like sweeties what should be the result of three to four years hard work to some grinning no-mark.

And what rubs even more salt into the wound is the so called 'reason' behind awarding the celebrity a degree. Nearly always it's because of services to the arts or in some cases business. How do they justify that? Because as far as I can see, the recipient couldn't give two flying f@cks about "services to the arts" because they're more motivated by the very handsome paychecks they will recieve for their efforts. Which, coincidentally, don't usually display much talent.

The whole thing just reeks of what I hate most. Insincerity.

Anyone you know of have one of these travesties? I bet someone in East Dulwich does!

[DJKillaQueen]

Ah but you are wrong in thinking that all honorary degrees are given to public figures that haven't worked for them.

Some honorary degrees are given to people who have worked in fields of research for example and 'have' therefore done the equivalent of years of self educating (esp those who push medicine or science forward).

I totally agree that some degrees are given to people in fields totally unrealted to their work and so can not possibly reflect an equivalent knowledge to those that study for four years. But similarly there are those that dedicate their lives to a field without a degree and in time become as knowledgeable, or even more so than those that have completed a four year degree.

[giggirl]

Richard Branson has an honorary degree from Loughborough University. He's a doctor of technology. I'm not completely sure of my facts here but it's my understanding that he had a poor academic record when he went into business for himself. The guy done good though. He's exactly the sort of person honorary degrees should go to.

[DJKillaQueen]

Augusto and Michaela Odone were both given honorary degrees for their work in developing treatment for myelin after their son was diagnosed with it with no available cure or treatment. It was later dramatised in the movie 'Lorenzo's Oil. A perfect example of two ordinary people, not famous or public figures, driven simply by the need to 'do' something....something which gave them as much knowledge as aonyone studying for a degree in that field.

[giggirl]

That's a perfect example DJKQ. Lorenzo's Oil was a heartbreaking and inspirational movie.

[waynetta]

I earned my degree from the school of hard knocks

and it ain't an honourary one