If you hit the lottery, would you still finish your degree?

That doesn't seem like it would qualify as hazing, which is purposeful harassment or ridicule. If committee members are engaging in that sort of thing against a candidate, there are some serious issues with that school.

 

Purposeful harassment or ridicule is practically an olympic sport in some higher education circles! :laughing:

 

Yes, on an undergraduate level, but I have a hard time imagining a group of PhD's doing that sort of thing to a candidate who they are serving as committee members.

 

I'm not talking about fraternities and the like.

Some academics are great. Some are weird. Some are sadistic. The last two groups give you the trouble.

 

Plus, once you have your PhD, there are not many more mountains to climb academically. Research and publication, sure, but I can't imagine enduring the pain for a second doctorate.

 

I personally think that this disfunction is something that a good organizational consultant could straighten out. Remember, they are educators, not managers........

 

Organizational consultants? Psh. Tenured professors don't answer to consultants.