[2015] OPEN UNIVERSITY

0326 OUBS 2 - Roland Kaye

Having resolved my problems with David Asch – by my complaint to the VC - the Deanship became vacant.  The new problem was that nobody wanted to run for it.  We were academics and our prime focus was on research and teaching in our own area. Moreover, David Asch had made the Deanship so political that we all recognised that we would immediately come under attack -- and the job would be a real pain. 

The even worse problem was that Roland Kaye, unlike the rest of us, was very keen to get the job.  He had always sought power, and accordingly I had clashed with him on many occasions. Being a forgiving and forgetting person, however, I didn't register that this was potentially a major problem for me and the rest of the school.  Even so, I thought he was very much less than ideal for the job -- not least he had never succeeded with anything he touched within the Business School -- so I desperately looked around for alternatives. 

Another academic, who was almost as ambitious Roland, stepped forward.  But it was obvious from beginning that she was a non-runner and would have been almost as bad in the job.  With increasing desperation, I approached all the academics, including the best qualified professors, to see who would stand; and nobody would.  I tried my best persuasive powers, but all to no avail whatsoever.

Eventually, I begged the one person in the school who was as loyal to it as myself, Sheila Cameron, to stand.  And eventually, albeit very grudgingly, she did stand.  The problem was that she clearly wasn't very enthusiastic and didn't throw herself into task -- and I didn't blame her for that. 

Roland, on the other hand, conducted an almost presidential campaign. By that stage a number of other members had been added to the School Board.  Not least of these was a large contingent of sales staff and, not knowing any of the contenders, they were an impressed when Roland spoke to each individually.  He really cared!  The fact was that matter of a few weeks later they were all made redundant, but that didn't affect the election, since by then they'd voted and Roland was Dean.

We were not exactly wiped out of sight, and Roland didn't get a significant majority, but we didn't cover ourselves in glory. So there we were, almost by default, with Roland as the new Dean.

To my surprise he started quite well. His problem had always been that he jumped in feet first, but now he seemed to be taking things very carefully and -- more important – he delegated.  This was unusual, since David Asch had long since ceased to delegate.  Forgetting everything in the past, I warmed to Roland and rushed to help him. I should have known better. It was the honeymoon period, and Roland made the best possible use of this.

However, when it came to promotions, or even additional increments on salary, it made no difference.  I hadn't had one in a few years, so I applied; hopeful that, having helped Roland considerably during the year, I might at last get one. I got nowhere.  Foolishly, I looked at the membership of the panel which awarded these and realised that David Asch had insinuated himself onto this.  I convinced myself that he had stopped me. Accordingly, I handed over to Roland my confidential dossier that I had prepared for the Vice-Chancellor.

It was yet another massive mistake. I had forgotten just how important in the earlier politicking had been Roland, and how I had extensively documented this in the early reports in the dossier -- which I hadn't read for years. The contents were as critical of him as of David Asch.  This was a disaster from my point of view, for within a matter of days Roland was trying to get rid of me; on the grounds of my (mental) health. Over the next year he worked on me, not least failing to support the massive increasing workload that landed on me. Finally, after all the politicking, the end run is illustrated in the legal case which is included elsewhere. To put it briefly, he forced me into a nervous breakdown.

The worst thing is that he got away with it. Indeed, later, as the legal case was heard, the tribunal thought it was all my fault -- and, by caving into bullying over so many years, perhaps it was.

[back]     [home]

hits