This morning's thread: Chad contends with public damage done by a colleague. A.K.A. I swear, we DO know how to do (and teach) mathematics and statistics at @WilliamsCollege. A.K.A. I cannot believe this is my work life. Keep reading...

As some of you know, a colleague of mine performed some incorrect statistical analysis that claims to show voter fraud in PA. This work was used in legal proceedings in an attempt to prevent certification of the PA election results.

By now, the work has been thoroughly debunked. The colleague has made a sort-of-apology that, at the very end, was actually not an apology at all.

Those in the dark about this story can catch up by reading this hot-of-the-presses article from our campus newspaper. https://williamsrecord.com/2020/11/professor-of-mathematics-steven-miller-issues-legal-statement-suggesting-ballot-irregularities-in-pa-conclusions-repudiated-by-statisticians-and-political-scientists/

Because I work in the same department as the individual discussed above, I need to address the harm done by my colleague's actions.

(1) I believe his scientific misconduct undermines democracy, and I am Not At All OK With It.

(2) I am grateful to another departmental colleague, Dick De Veaux, who is Vice President of the American Statistical Association, for using his expertise and his platform to point out the errors in our colleague's work and to denounce it.

(3) I am dismayed that ANOTHER colleague in my department has written the following about the author of the original faulty analysis, thereby re-muddying the waters:

"This is well within his area of expertise, and he exercised due diligence in his analysis, including pointing out potential issues with the data. That this is controversial is a symptom of our highly politicized climate.”

The faulty work is well OUTSIDE his area of expertise. He is trained as a number theorist. He has no advanced training in statistics nor in social sciences, which explains the gross misapplication of statistics. I am horrified that he teaches data science on behalf of Williams.

(4) On that note, let me assure Williams students and alums that this sort of gross scientific misconduct is not the norm in my department. We offer a high quality, rigorous education and I am especially proud of my eight faculty colleagues who are trained statisticians.

They are skilled, insightful, and ethical. Their research is of the highest quality and they provide invaluable training to students who flock to them from across the college in order to learn statistics.

(5) Finally, I must end on a more somber note. I am deeply, deeply disappointed in @WilliamsCollege's refusal to address this mess head on. It is a dark day when the institution cannot just stand up and say something morally and ethically meaningful, such as:

"While we staunchly defend the academic freedom of our faculty, that does not mean we must support incorrect work. We denounce Prof. X's sworn affidavit, which does not live up to the standards of the college."

"Furthermore, we regret the harm caused to democracy by the use of that work in public discourse and in legal proceedings. We will redouble our efforts to ensure the highest standards of research, teaching, professional conduct, and ethical practice in all corners of campus."

Instead, what we have from the institution is: silence.