http://www.register-mail.com/stories/042406/LOC_B9J6O93V.GID.shtml
Monday, April 24, 2006
GALESBURG - Knox College has announced the names of the 2006 honorary degree recipients.
Stephen Colbert, star of "The Colbert Report"; Shirley E. Barnes, former U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar; and Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, will all received the award at Knox's 2006 commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. June 3.
- Wales will receive the honorary doctor of laws degree.
On 4/24/06, Mathias Schindler mathias.schindler@gmail.com wrote:
http://www.register-mail.com/stories/042406/LOC_B9J6O93V.GID.shtml
Monday, April 24, 2006
GALESBURG - Knox College has announced the names of the 2006 honorary degree recipients.
Stephen Colbert, star of "The Colbert Report"; Shirley E. Barnes, former U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar; and Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, will all received the award at Knox's 2006 commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. June 3.
- Wales will receive the honorary doctor of laws degree.
Stephen Colbert? Jimbo's in ecxellent company.
I never quite understood the whole honorary degree thing; you get a totally unrelated degree for doing something. Nevertheless, congratulations to Jimbo.
On 4/24/06, Mathias Schindler mathias.schindler@gmail.com wrote:
http://www.register-mail.com/stories/042406/LOC_B9J6O93V.GID.shtml
Monday, April 24, 2006
GALESBURG - Knox College has announced the names of the 2006 honorary degree recipients.
Stephen Colbert, star of "The Colbert Report"; Shirley E. Barnes, former U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar; and Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, will all received the award at Knox's 2006 commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. June 3.
- Wales will receive the honorary doctor of laws degree.
http://www.knox.edu/x12198.xml _______________________________________________ WikiEN-l mailing list WikiEN-l@Wikipedia.org To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l
-- ~Ilya N. http://ilya.nepfamily.com (My website; DarkLordFoxx Media) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Ilyanep (on Wikipedia) http://www.wheresgeorge.com - Track your money's travels.
On 4/24/06, Ilya N. ilyanep@gmail.com wrote:
I never quite understood the whole honorary degree thing; you get a totally unrelated degree for doing something. Nevertheless, congratulations to Jimbo.
Doctor of laws even. I knew I was wasting my time in university. I just should have started a wiki instead. :)
But yes, congratulations!
Garion
On 4/24/06, Mathias Schindler mathias.schindler@gmail.com wrote:
http://www.register-mail.com/stories/042406/LOC_B9J6O93V.GID.shtml
....
- Wales will receive the honorary doctor of laws degree.
This, of course, raises the question of how exactly one must address Jimbo now; "Dr. God-king"? "the good God-king Dr. Wales"? "revered founder and God-king of Wikipedia, and doctor of laws Mr. Wales?"
~maru the mind boggles!
On 4/25/06, maru dubshinki marudubshinki@gmail.com wrote:
This, of course, raises the question of how exactly one must address Jimbo now; "Dr. God-king"? "the good God-king Dr. Wales"? "revered founder and God-king of Wikipedia, and doctor of laws Mr. Wales?"
Unfortunately, a person is not entitled to be called "doctor" if they only have an honourary degree. So just "God-king" for now.
-- Stephen Bain stephen.bain@gmail.com
Stephen Bain stephen.bain@gmail.com: On 4/25/06, maru dubshinki marudubshinki@gmail.com wrote:
This, of course, raises the question of how exactly one must address Jimbo now; "Dr. God-king"? "the good God-king Dr. Wales"? "revered founder and God-king of Wikipedia, and doctor of laws Mr. Wales?"
Unfortunately, a person is not entitled to be called "doctor" if they only have an honourary degree. So just "God-king" for now.
That's not how [[Honorary degree]] has it (although that article makes a little too much use of the prescriptive "may" and "should" for my liking). Maybe Dr Wales should use whatever style the Wikipedia article dictates at any given moment ...
-- Matt [[User:Matt Crypto]]
P.S. Hearty congratulations to Jimbo, of course!
On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 17:34:55 +1000, you wrote:
Unfortunately, a person is not entitled to be called "doctor" if they only have an honourary degree. So just "God-king" for now.
Hey, if Kent Hovind can call himself "Doctor" then Jimbo can! Guy (JzG)
On 4/25/06, Guy Chapman aka JzG guy.chapman@spamcop.net wrote:
On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 17:34:55 +1000, you wrote:
Unfortunately, a person is not entitled to be called "doctor" if they only have an honourary degree. So just "God-king" for now.
Hey, if Kent Hovind can call himself "Doctor" then Jimbo can! Guy (JzG)
Hmmm...does an honourary degree from an accredited university trump a "real" degree from a diploma mill?
I think I have to vote "yes"
Ian
Mathias Schindler wrote:
http://www.register-mail.com/stories/042406/LOC_B9J6O93V.GID.shtml
Monday, April 24, 2006
GALESBURG - Knox College has announced the names of the 2006 honorary degree recipients.
Stephen Colbert, star of "The Colbert Report"; Shirley E. Barnes, former U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar; and Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, will all received the award at Knox's 2006 commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. June 3.
- Wales will receive the honorary doctor of laws degree.
I understand nothing of these honorary degree. Jimbo is not a lawyer, nor does he have any special knowledge on legal issues. What does that mean to receive a degree in a topic you know nothing about ?
/me confused.
ant
It's generally a recognition of some achievement outside of a university, usually for people who have achieved celebrity in some way. It's a nice recognition of some achievement for the recipient, but it's also nice for the university, which has another celebrity to add to its "list of celebrity alumni."
k
On 4/24/06, Anthere Anthere9@yahoo.com wrote:
Mathias Schindler wrote:
http://www.register-mail.com/stories/042406/LOC_B9J6O93V.GID.shtml
Monday, April 24, 2006
GALESBURG - Knox College has announced the names of the 2006 honorary degree recipients.
Stephen Colbert, star of "The Colbert Report"; Shirley E. Barnes, former U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar; and Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, will all received the award at Knox's 2006 commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. June 3.
- Wales will receive the honorary doctor of laws degree.
I understand nothing of these honorary degree. Jimbo is not a lawyer, nor does he have any special knowledge on legal issues. What does that mean to receive a degree in a topic you know nothing about ?
/me confused.
ant
WikiEN-l mailing list WikiEN-l@Wikipedia.org To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l
On 4/24/06, Katefan0 katefan0wiki@gmail.com wrote:
It's generally a recognition of some achievement outside of a university, usually for people who have achieved celebrity in some way. It's a nice recognition of some achievement for the recipient, but it's also nice for the university, which has another celebrity to add to its "list of celebrity alumni."
It's also a way of getting said famous people to speak at your commencement ceremony.
If anyone's going to be there, be sure to take a free image of Jimbo in academic dress. ;-)
-Noda
Frankly...
Jimbo is sure enough the Foundator of Wikipedia. It does not make him a doctor of law. Or the board would not need to look so much for legal expertise from others....
Jimbo did not study and graduate from this university either, so I fail to see how it bring recognition to the quality of the university... I hope real previous students appreciate.
ant
Katefan0 wrote:
It's generally a recognition of some achievement outside of a university, usually for people who have achieved celebrity in some way. It's a nice recognition of some achievement for the recipient, but it's also nice for the university, which has another celebrity to add to its "list of celebrity alumni."
k
On 4/24/06, Anthere Anthere9@yahoo.com wrote:
Mathias Schindler wrote:
http://www.register-mail.com/stories/042406/LOC_B9J6O93V.GID.shtml
Monday, April 24, 2006
GALESBURG - Knox College has announced the names of the 2006 honorary degree recipients.
Stephen Colbert, star of "The Colbert Report"; Shirley E. Barnes, former U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar; and Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, will all received the award at Knox's 2006 commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. June 3.
- Wales will receive the honorary doctor of laws degree.
I understand nothing of these honorary degree. Jimbo is not a lawyer, nor does he have any special knowledge on legal issues. What does that mean to receive a degree in a topic you know nothing about ?
/me confused.
ant
WikiEN-l mailing list WikiEN-l@Wikipedia.org To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l
WikiEN-l mailing list WikiEN-l@Wikipedia.org To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l
----- Original Message ---- From: Anthere Anthere9@yahoo.com
Frankly...
Jimbo is sure enough the Foundator of Wikipedia. It does not make him a doctor of law. Or the board would not need to look so much for legal expertise from others....
Jimbo did not study and graduate from this university either, so I fail to see how it bring recognition to the quality of the university... I hope real previous students appreciate.
ant
I think there may be something of a language barrier issue here. Amongst native English-speakers, only the very niave are unaware of the difference between an honorary degree and a degree.
Hope that helps, Pete
On 4/25/06, Pete Bartlett pcb21@yahoo.com wrote:
Jimbo did not study and graduate from this university either, so I fail to see how it bring recognition to the quality of the university... I hope real previous students appreciate.
ant
I think there may be something of a language barrier issue here. Amongst native English-speakers, only the very niave are unaware of the difference between an honorary degree and a degree.
And a doctors of law degree is almost always a honorary degree. I wonder why they picked law for that. The [[Doctor of Laws]] article doesn't explain it.
Garion
On 4/25/06, Garion1000 garion1000@gmail.com wrote:
And a doctors of law degree is almost always a honorary degree. I wonder why they picked law for that. The [[Doctor of Laws]] article doesn't explain it.
But [[honorary degree|honourary degree]] does - apparently at many American universities, LLD is only given on an honorary basis.
I would have expected Jimbo to get a Doctorate of Letters, if they were going to give him an honourary degree, that would be the more usual thing for someone like Jimbo (see [[Doctor of Letters]]).
-- Stephen Bain stephen.bain@gmail.com
On 4/25/06, Stephen Bain stephen.bain@gmail.com wrote:
On 4/25/06, Garion1000 garion1000@gmail.com wrote:
And a doctors of law degree is almost always a honorary degree. I wonder
why
they picked law for that. The [[Doctor of Laws]] article doesn't explain it.
But [[honorary degree|honourary degree]] does - apparently at many American universities, LLD is only given on an honorary basis.
I would have expected Jimbo to get a Doctorate of Letters, if they were going to give him an honourary degree, that would be the more usual thing for someone like Jimbo (see [[Doctor of Letters]]).
I agree - I was surprised that it was a JD and not an LLD. But I'm sure they have their reasons...though, despite all the wranglings, I would see Wikipedia as more of a revolutionary contribution to the world of writing than to the world of law (WP:NLT and WP:OFFICE aside)
Ian
On 4/25/06, Guettarda guettarda@gmail.com wrote:
On 4/25/06, Stephen Bain stephen.bain@gmail.com wrote:
On 4/25/06, Garion1000 garion1000@gmail.com wrote:
And a doctors of law degree is almost always a honorary degree. I wonder
why
they picked law for that. The [[Doctor of Laws]] article doesn't explain it.
But [[honorary degree|honourary degree]] does - apparently at many American universities, LLD is only given on an honorary basis.
I would have expected Jimbo to get a Doctorate of Letters, if they were going to give him an honourary degree, that would be the more usual thing for someone like Jimbo (see [[Doctor of Letters]]).
I agree - I was surprised that it was a JD and not an LLD. But I'm sure they have their reasons...though, despite all the wranglings, I would see Wikipedia as more of a revolutionary contribution to the world of writing than to the world of law (WP:NLT and WP:OFFICE aside)
Ian
Perhaps bu jimbo has done more in his life than wikipedia.
-- geni
Pete Bartlett wrote:
----- Original Message ---- From: Anthere Anthere9@yahoo.com
Frankly...
Jimbo is sure enough the Foundator of Wikipedia. It does not make him a doctor of law. Or the board would not need to look so much for legal expertise from others....
Jimbo did not study and graduate from this university either, so I fail to see how it bring recognition to the quality of the university... I hope real previous students appreciate.
ant
I think there may be something of a language barrier issue here. Amongst native English-speakers, only the very niave are unaware of the difference between an honorary degree and a degree.
Hope that helps, Pete
okay. thanks
ant
On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 11:14:30 +0200, Anthere wrote:
Jimbo did not study and graduate from this university either, so I fail to see how it bring recognition to the quality of the university... I hope real previous students appreciate.
There is a current line of research in economics that looks at the effects of non-monetary rewards. The patterns of "Dr h.c." awards (and similar awards like the knighting in the UK) indicate that the institutions handing them out do in fact expect to get some of the reputation of the recipients by mere association.
The mechanism is akin to showbiz stars endorsing a product in a commercial, or sponsorship in sports. Except that in the award case, reputation is often the only currency exchanged.
Roger
On 25/04/06, Anthere Anthere9@yahoo.com wrote:
Mathias Schindler wrote:
http://www.register-mail.com/stories/042406/LOC_B9J6O93V.GID.shtml
Monday, April 24, 2006
GALESBURG - Knox College has announced the names of the 2006 honorary degree recipients.
Stephen Colbert, star of "The Colbert Report"; Shirley E. Barnes, former U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar; and Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, will all received the award at Knox's 2006 commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. June 3.
- Wales will receive the honorary doctor of laws degree.
I understand nothing of these honorary degree. Jimbo is not a lawyer, nor does he have any special knowledge on legal issues. What does that mean to receive a degree in a topic you know nothing about ?
An honorary degree is a degree "honoris causa", "for the sake of honor". The idea is that the university is recognising the achievements of an individual made outside of their system, but which they feel compelled to honour. (Think of it as like the academic equivalent of a governmentally-awarded medal)
Historically these were simply recognitions of intellectual work by someone not involved with the university; of late, it's become more common to award them for general achievements. For example, in the 1750s Benjamin Franklin recieved one from Oxford for his scientific works; two hundred years later, his fellow-countryman Eisenhower was awarded the same degree by them for having won WWII. Some institutions give them to mark a visit by an important figure:
http://www.gustavus.edu/events/nobelconference/nobelfoundation/degrees.cfm
(It's also not unknown to award them to senior members of the faculty who unaccountably failed to ever actually study at the university, or to give them to people like governors or Visitors either when they take office or when they retire. But I digress.)
Traditionally, honorary degrees are chosen from a small set of degrees; in the US, the "doctor of laws" degree is one of these, and it's rarely if ever awarded as an actual PhD-level award. (In the UK, the common one is the "doctor of letters"). Generally, a given institution will pick the most appropriate, but they're pretty broad groupings. (Again using Oxford, since I have their Calendar on my desk, it generally falls into "politicians", "artists/writers/actors", "scientists", with rarely awarded doctorates in Music or Divinity)
In the case of Knox, they're awarding honorary doctorates of Fine Arts and of Laws, and have in the past awarded them in Humane Letters and in Science. This doesn't leave much to choose from - he's not a creative artist, and he's not a scientist.
So it's "doctor of laws" or "doctor of humane letters". The definitions here are vague and fuzzy - they can vary from place to place, and are rarely explicitly written down - but you could make a decent case that "laws" is for contributions to society, and "humane letters" for contributions to the humanities. (In the example mentioned above, Eisenhower, the leading commanders in 1945 were awarded doctorates in Civil Law...)
And is the project a contribution to society, or one to scholarship? Ay, there's the rub.
-- - Andrew Gray andrew.gray@dunelm.org.uk