Maggiem22's List: darkness

• • this is one example of the many inquiries about the book that critique Tierney. 
• The University takes allegations of impropriety seriously and we have begun an internal inquiry. In the short time we have been engaged in this review, we have already found materials directly contradicting a number of the claims cited in the e-mail message regarding Dr. Neel and Dr. Chagnon. If the e-mail message correctly characterizes what is in Darkness in El Dorado," there may be other erroneous information that inaccurately portrays the research.

• embers of the EAS hope that this public and scientific recognition of Chagnon’s work will mark the end of a controversy

• ing element in their ‘mission’ if anthropologists—all anthropologists—are to remain credible in the eyes of the public.” 

   

    Chagnon, now an adjunct research scientist at the University of Michigan, his alma mater, continues to adv

• “We no longer want anthropologists. You shouldn’t want to study over here. It’s all over now. Do not come. We want you to always stay where you are. We do not want to work in your land.” Alfredo wears a plaid shirt for his interview. A member of the Yanomamö tribe, Alfredo came to know Western anthropologists during their expeditions to the Amazon rainforest beginning in the 1960s, in particular his home, Mahekoto-teri. How he and other Yanomami came to feel so wary of the visitors is one focus for Secrets of the Tribe.

• the charge that Chagnon had his students dress up in padded suits to be attacked by Chagnon's "attack dogs," and that he took his dogs into bars in State College, Pennsylvania, where he would have them "corner big, 200-pound-plus weightlifter types.
• I never felt pressured by Chagnon to do anything against my will, ever. Chagnon was a supportive mentor. He and his wife were always friendly to his graduate students and made us feel welcomed. As to any alleged dog attacks, I recall attending one gathering at Chagnon's house where he and his wife invited the graduate students to come to eat. When I arrived, there was some excited discussion about the dog show and how cool it was. Apparently someone - perhaps Chagnon, or perhaps a guest, I can't recall -- had dogs put on a guard dog demonstration.

• we can now confirm our original finding that there is no basis to the allegation that Dr. James Neel's research may have caused or intentionally intensified a measles epidemic among the Yanomami
• We are satisfied that there is now scholarly consensus that the measles epidemics had independent causes that were unrelated to Dr. Neel's research among the Yanomami.
• We also consider that there is now significant scholarly agreement that while Patrick Tierney's book has serious limitations, its examination of the work of researchers in the Amazon raises fundamental, general questions about the ethics, methods and effects of scientific research that require scholarly attention.
• Given these considerations, the University of Michigan, as a major university with global responsibilities, can best respond to the issues raised by Tierney's book by promoting their discussion through regular academic channels.

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