response from Associate Dean of Duke Graduate School, July 31, 2006

July 31, 2006
Ms. Zihui Tang

Dear Ms. Tang:

This letter is in response to our meeting on July 24, 2006, during which you described to me
your situation in the PhD program of the Department of History. As you may recall, I asked you
explicitly what outcome you were seeking in your appeal to me. You responded by requesting
three things: 1) an MA from Duke University, 2) reinstatement in the PhD program in the
Department of History, and 3) redress for what you perceive to be the misconduct of a professor in the Department of History. Let me address each of those requests separately.

In order to receive an MA in History, your department requires an exam conducted by a
committee based on a reading list plus submitted papers or a thesis. I understand that you have submitted to your committee a draft of a Master’s-length thesis. Your committee chair has
informed you that the text you submitted to him is not an acceptable piece of research in the
opinion of the committee members. Therefore, you have not completed all the requirements for
an MA degree in History, and Duke University cannot honor your request that you be granted a Master’s degree in History.

I have spoken with the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of History, Professor
John Thompson, about your work in the PhD program in History. He has indicated to me that in the reasoned judgment of the faculty of the department, you will not be a successful PhD
candidate. This judgment is based on an overall evaluation of your research and writing
potential during your academic career here at Duke. I must rely on the expert opinion of the
specialists in your field at Duke, and I cannot therefore unilaterally overturn the professional
decision of the faculty in the department. I will not intervene and impose your reinstatement in
the program, because this would create an unworkable situation in which you would be trying to complete a PhD in a program in which you have no support from potential mentors.

You also indicated that you wished redress for what you judged to be harassing and/or
discriminatory behavior on the part of a faculty member in the Department of History. Let me
state clearly that Duke University takes such allegations very seriously and has developed a set
of guidelines and procedures that allow an individual to seek mediation when the potential for a
complaint arises. I therefore invite you to make an appointment in order to have a formal
conversation either with Dr. Ben Reese (919-684-8222) or with Ms. Cynthia Clinton (919-668-
6214) in the Office of Institutional Equity, during which you will be afforded an opportunity to
set forth your position. A decision can then be made about whether or not mediation is
appropriate in this case.

I trust this letter addresses the specific requests that arose during our conversation, and I wish
you the best of luck as you pursue your professional career outside of Duke University.

Sincerely,
David Bell
Professor and Associate Dean
cc: Dr. Jo Rae Wright, Dean of the Graduate School
Dr. Jackie Looney, Associate Dean of the Graduate School
Dr. Ben Reese, Vice President, Office of Institutional Equity
Dr. Judith Ruderman, Vice Provost for Academic and Administrative Services
Dr. John Thompson, Director of Graduate Studies, Department of History