Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
Dear Theo, On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 8:45 PM, Theo10011 de10...@gmail.com wrote: 1) I can't seem to understand the rationale behind hiring academicians here at all. There was no rationale behind hiring academics. It just happens that two of the three people that the recruitment committee selected turned out to be academics. The other finalist was not an academic. Your organization chose researchers and academicians but the job requirement was and is, for a management person to oversee and direct a team. We did not choose. The recruitment committee chose. I don't think either of the candidates present that kind of expertise. Their field of reference is narrow to begin with, limited to the discipline of their speciality, add to that how little exposure they have to Wikipedia or similar online culture - this doesn't sound like remotely a good fit. - this fact was actually the first point that made me think other interests were put ahead of the Job requirements. We did not have enough Wikipedians applying. I am sure the Recruitment Committee would have gone with a Wikipedian if there had been enough applications from the community. I have been a Free Software activist for the last 10 years. I have contributed to national policy formulation and practice w.r.t. Free Software, Open Standards and Open Content in multiple countries including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Moldova and Tajikistan. But I have never submitted a line of code to any Free Software project. Similarly, I believe that those who don't edit Wikipedia can also make significant contributions to the Wikipedia movement. Best wishes, Sunil ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
Thanks Sunil. I really appreciate the replies and the clarification on some of these points. Kind Regards Theo On Thu, Feb 14, 2013 at 7:00 AM, Sunil Abraham su...@mahiti.org wrote: Dear Theo, On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 8:45 PM, Theo10011 de10...@gmail.com wrote: 1) I can't seem to understand the rationale behind hiring academicians here at all. There was no rationale behind hiring academics. It just happens that two of the three people that the recruitment committee selected turned out to be academics. The other finalist was not an academic. Your organization chose researchers and academicians but the job requirement was and is, for a management person to oversee and direct a team. We did not choose. The recruitment committee chose. I don't think either of the candidates present that kind of expertise. Their field of reference is narrow to begin with, limited to the discipline of their speciality, add to that how little exposure they have to Wikipedia or similar online culture - this doesn't sound like remotely a good fit. - this fact was actually the first point that made me think other interests were put ahead of the Job requirements. We did not have enough Wikipedians applying. I am sure the Recruitment Committee would have gone with a Wikipedian if there had been enough applications from the community. I have been a Free Software activist for the last 10 years. I have contributed to national policy formulation and practice w.r.t. Free Software, Open Standards and Open Content in multiple countries including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Moldova and Tajikistan. But I have never submitted a line of code to any Free Software project. Similarly, I believe that those who don't edit Wikipedia can also make significant contributions to the Wikipedia movement. Best wishes, Sunil ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
On 14 February 2013 18:30, Theo10011 de10...@gmail.com wrote: I really appreciate the replies and the clarification on some of these points. Gracious of you to do so. Now could you please apologise for your half baked assertion of facts backed by nothing more substantial than your thoughts? In particular: 3) I am still curious about some of the relationships here. As far as I know achal still serves on your board? because I have a distinct memory of there being some association here. Your caveats notwithstanding. ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
On Thu, Feb 14, 2013 at 11:21 AM, Gautam John gau...@prathambooks.orgwrote: On 14 February 2013 18:30, Theo10011 de10...@gmail.com wrote: I really appreciate the replies and the clarification on some of these points. Gracious of you to do so. Now could you please apologise for your half baked assertion of facts backed by nothing more substantial than your thoughts? No. In particular: 3) I am still curious about some of the relationships here. As far as I know achal still serves on your board? because I have a distinct memory of there being some association here. Perhaps you didn't read the clarification where Achal did serve on their board till September of 2011, he does happen to still be a member of the registered society who is still consulted by CIS. Perhaps you can read again below and clarify what you are characterizing as baked assertion on facts. -Theo On Thu, Feb 14, 2013 at 5:33 AM, Sunil Abraham su...@mahiti.org wrote: Achal used to be on our board from the time we registered in July 2008. He has not attend board meetings since September 2011. Current board members of CIS are listed here: http://cis-india.org/about/people/board-members. Achal continues to be a member of the registered society and CIS does contract him occasionally for research support activities like editing manuscripts. ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
On 14 February 2013 19:15, Theo10011 de10...@gmail.com wrote: Perhaps you didn't read the clarification where Achal did serve on their board till September of 2011, he does happen to still be a member of the registered society who is still consulted by CIS. Perhaps you can read again below and clarify what you are characterizing as baked assertion on facts. You didn't send that email in September of 2011 or prior to that. You sent it in February of 2013 - when Achal no longer serves on the board. Nor is he listed on the page Sunil referenced. And it's half baked. I do wish you'd be more careful in your reading. Quick to make assertions and slow to offer corrections. You truly are a joy Theo. ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
On Thu, Feb 14, 2013 at 11:49 AM, Gautam John gau...@prathambooks.orgwrote: On 14 February 2013 19:15, Theo10011 de10...@gmail.com wrote: Perhaps you didn't read the clarification where Achal did serve on their board till September of 2011, he does happen to still be a member of the registered society who is still consulted by CIS. Perhaps you can read again below and clarify what you are characterizing as baked assertion on facts. You didn't send that email in September of 2011 or prior to that. You sent it in February of 2013 - when Achal no longer serves on the board. Nor is he listed on the page Sunil referenced. And it's half baked. I do wish you'd be more careful in your reading. If you read again, I questioned, denoted by a question mark - if achal *still* serves on their board and if there was still an association. I asked still, because I knew he did at one point and I don't follow either of them. I asked Sunil directly instead of forming conjectures and basing accusations. Quick to make assertions and slow to offer corrections. You truly are a joy Theo. What assertions? He *did* serve on their board, he just quit some time ago. I don't follow achal or CIS's internal structure. You are getting awfully defensive here for achal, for asking a direct question if Achal was still on their board or not. The answer was, Yes, he was on our board but not any longer, though we do consult occasionally - Apparently, that is all baseless by your standards. What correction should I offer for asking that question? -Theo ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
On 14 February 2013 19:31, Theo10011 de10...@gmail.com wrote: If you read again, I questioned, denoted by a question mark - if achal *still* serves on their board and if there was still an association. I asked still, because I knew he did at one point and I don't follow either of them. Which is why I said Your caveats notwithstanding. What assertions? He *did* serve on their board, he just quit some time ago. I don't follow achal or CIS's internal structure. As far as I know achal still serves on your board? or Does Achal still serve on your board?. Weasel wording will take you places. You are getting awfully defensive here for achal, for asking a direct question if Achal was still on their board or not. Oooh! Look! A red herring! ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
On Thu, Feb 14, 2013 at 12:04 PM, Gautam John gau...@akshara.org.in wrote: On 14 February 2013 19:31, Theo10011 de10...@gmail.com wrote: If you read again, I questioned, denoted by a question mark - if achal *still* serves on their board and if there was still an association. I asked still, because I knew he did at one point and I don't follow either of them. Which is why I said Your caveats notwithstanding. What assertions? He *did* serve on their board, he just quit some time ago. I don't follow achal or CIS's internal structure. As far as I know achal still serves on your board? or Does Achal still serve on your board?. Weasel wording will take you places. Jeez!? You think that is weasel wording. Fine, let's say I assumed he was still on the board. Boy, was I wrong! It was the worst accusation ever! He should be here demanding an apology for that defamation himself. How dare I! You are getting awfully defensive here for achal, for asking a direct question if Achal was still on their board or not. Oooh! Look! A red herring! I'm getting awfully tired by your point, if you make it one of these days. I'm not sure if you defending achal's reputation by repeatedly pointing out that he quit the board or just chose a weak point to begin with. So, saying that you are getting defensive is a red herring now? I don't see you defending anyone else hereor anywhere. -Theo ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
Thanks for the clarification Sunil. So I came to know that the committee involved in the selection process, most member doesn't have any wiki experience, and only few have on-wiki experience. Correct me if I am wrong. It's surprising to know people, who doesn't have experience on wiki recruiting people for the same! May be it's fair as WMF has given the responsibility to CIS! But I am worried about the support, as many are upset and not convinced, whether or not they are going to support A2K. Or may be A2K doesn't care about them who doesn't support, without their support A2K is going to succeed! I think we should support, as we can do nothing about it now. This way it's best for everyone, at least for Wikipedia and it's sister projects. I'd like to apologize if I didn't sound neutral before any time. But believe me I don't want to make or see this worse. And I'd like to have the A2K team (all of them) respond positively to the criticism. You should take it as a part of your job! Sorry, I don't see any other option. I have been a Free Software activist for the last 10 years. I have contributed to national policy formulation and practice w.r.t. Free Software, Open Standards and Open Content in multiple countries including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Moldova and Tajikistan. But I have never submitted a line of code to any Free Software project. Similarly, I believe that those who don't edit Wikipedia can also make significant contributions to the Wikipedia movement. Can you tell me how this is similar? You are into policy formulation and you never submitted a line of code. Are you saying now you are able to write codes all of sudden even if you don't know how to? Anybody can contribute to Wikipedia, but to know everything and understand completely, and then teach others it takes more time then you think. And particularly in this case, it should not be like this! If you don't believe me ask somebody you know active on English Wikipedia. I think nobody is raising this other than me, because you don't have the support from them! Ansuman ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
Dear Theo, On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 8:45 PM, Theo10011 de10...@gmail.com wrote: 2) The hiring process wasn't nearly as neutral as you are suggesting. From what I know CIS didn't have 1 in 5 vote, it first picked who got selected for the first round to even have a vote, and I am told that qualified candidates were eliminated outright by Jadine in the first week before they were put up for any vote. This is indeed a serious concern. I can think of one way of determining whether CIS [Jadine and I made those decisions jointly after some background checks regarding the ethical fibre for the candidates] has indeed eliminated qualified candidates. Could you send me or the members of the recruitment committee directly a list of such candidates? I will then organise a con-call of the recruitment committee without me participating and one of them will post to the list with their final verdict on whether those candidates should have made the short list. If indeed such mistake has been committed by CIS - I will personally publish a public apology on the CIS website which will feature in our monthly bulletin which in turn reaches 4k people and will also be fwded to this mailing list. Best wishes, Sunil ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
Dear Theo, On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 8:45 PM, Theo10011 de10...@gmail.com wrote: 3) I am still curious about some of the relationships here. As far as I know achal still serves on your board? because I have a distinct memory of there being some association here. He also still serves on the Advisory board of WMF and had a lot to do with selecting Bishakha. He was also a fellow for WMF, some time after the start of the India programs. Achal used to be on our board from the time we registered in July 2008. He has not attend board meetings since September 2011. Current board members of CIS are listed here: http://cis-india.org/about/people/board-members. Achal continues to be a member of the registered society and CIS does contract him occasionally for research support activities like editing manuscripts. Best wishes, Sunil ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
Hi, Having tried to leave before, I concur with planemad. Its easier to leave this list than it is to quit Wikipedia :) Pradeep Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
Dear All, My name is Nishant Shah and I work at the Centre for Internet and Society. I am the Director-Research and have been one of the co-founders of CIS and currently on a research fellowship a the Centre for Digital Cultures, Germany. My involvement with the Wikipedia community (online and offline) has been more in terms of understanding it as a significant and systemic move in our knowledge production practices and as a way to learn new forms of self-organisation, collaboration and governance. This means that I haven’t been an active editor on Wikipedia but that I have tried to interact with Wikipedia both as a concept as well as a platform and worked with other communities of researchers in the area through the ‘Critical Point of View’ project which also resulted into an English language Wikipedia Reader. I have variously, in my academic as well as my public writing, I have looked at the principles of Wikipedia as signalling new practices of learning and pedagogy, and am in the process of editing a special issue for the MIT Press’ *Journal of Media and Learning* on ‘The Classroom in the time of Wikipedia’. Also, in my teaching, I have used Wikipedia as a pedagogic tool, encouraging students to edit both English and local language Wikipedias as a part of their assessment. I am joining this conversation to try and give some information that different members have sought, and which might help in throwing some light on how we welcome our collaboration with the Wikimedia foundation through the A2K programme, and also perhaps, to explain some of the rationale behind the current state of transition and building of the project. I just want to begin with 2 disclaimers: 1. It has been our attempt at CIS to build a new kind of research organisation where we do not have only voice and one ‘party-line’ that everybody subscribes to. So my responses will neither be exhaustive nor singular, and my colleagues will join with more details and ideas, perspectives and explanations soon. We are right now, slightly emotionally fragile, because we have just lost a dear friend, colleague and champion of causes that we firmly believe in – Rahul Cherian – and a lot of the people are at his funeral, trying to cope with the loss this means to them personally and politically. However, more people will join the conversations in the coming week, and hopefully there will be more clarity on things. 2. I am what might be called the official CSCS – CIS link because I have done my doctoral work at CSCS, and have had research collaborations with colleagues there on several small projects. Which means that Vishnu and I have been fellow-students and Dr. Tejaswini Niranjana has been a key advisor and collaborator for my own intellectual trajectories. Having made that small introduction, let me try and address some of the questions that I think I might be able to contribute to, and others will chip in soon. *Srikanth wrote: Would you or someone from CIS help me understand the rationale for selecting two individuals affiliated with CSCS which is also affiliated with CIS?* * Theo wrote: “I don't know you and I don't know Dr. Niranjana, try and understand Wiki-movement in India doesn't have any relation with you, in fact, it barely knows you. I barely know CIS, the organization that hired you. If there is an older link that might have conflict of interest in this hiring, I believe it should have been disclosed.” *and* “You are probably missing an year and a half of context. The problem with your predecessor and the previous direction has been criticized, not just by some people on the list, but several Wikipedians abroad, even in an official report, for not having enough experienced Wikimedians on hand. Add to that your hiring, and your advisor, it is odd how 2 people who barely know about Wikipedia will be leading a team that has been criticized for not having enough experience and exposure in the first place.“* Dear Srikanth and Theo, thank you for the questions and I appreciate that they help us make things as transparent as possible to build common grounds for working together. CIS has had a few reciprocal and mutual research collaborations with CSCS so far. Under the CIS-Researchers At Work Programme, we commissioned four people at CSCS, students and faculty, to help us work on disciplinary histories of the Internets in India. Ashish Rajadhyaksha, Zainab Bawa, Nitya Vasudevan (with Nitin Manayath), and Dr. Aparna Balachandran and Dr. Rochelle Pinto (with Abhijit Chaterjee), have joined us as CISRAW fellows, for contracts between 300,000 – 500,000 INR, depending upon the nature of deliverables and scope of work. Apart from this, CIS has entered into a contract on 2 significant projects with CSCS – The first is to do a monograph examining the history of privacy in India and its implications on identity in the face of new e-governance initiatives like the Aadhar Project. The research is spear-headed by Malavika Jayaram
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
Hi Nishant That is an excellent, lengthy, professional, PR-friendly response. I congratulate and thank you on it. I appreciate the effort you took to explain and I wish that you might have disclosed the conflicts and the history before the hiring. Allow me to offer this critique that some of the facts were a bit needlessly obfuscated. Most of the assumptions were right, but you clarified them now, which I think is still helpful. Jadine is indeed an intern, who was the primary contact between the list and CIS, though she might have been overseen, it was still true. The conflict was indeed present. But I'll go ahead and direct questions to you directly that appeared in my mind after a quick read- 1) I can't seem to understand the rationale behind hiring academicians here at all. Your organization chose researchers and academicians but the job requirement was and is, for a management person to oversee and direct a team. I don't think either of the candidates present that kind of expertise. Their field of reference is narrow to begin with, limited to the discipline of their speciality, add to that how little exposure they have to Wikipedia or similar online culture - this doesn't sound like remotely a good fit. - this fact was actually the first point that made me think other interests were put ahead of the Job requirements. This seems like a step or two further back than ahead, and brings me back to assume that older contacts/relationships might have been put ahead of qualifications, and it seems very apparent when you see the mismatch. 2) The hiring process wasn't nearly as neutral as you are suggesting. From what I know CIS didn't have 1 in 5 vote, it first picked who got selected for the first round to even have a vote, and I am told that qualified candidates were eliminated outright by Jadine in the first week before they were put up for any vote. 3) I am still curious about some of the relationships here. As far as I know achal still serves on your board? because I have a distinct memory of there being some association here. He also still serves on the Advisory board of WMF and had a lot to do with selecting Bishakha. He was also a fellow for WMF, some time after the start of the India programs. Regards Theo PS my condolences on the passing of your colleague. On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 7:53 AM, Nishant Shah itsnish...@gmail.com wrote: Dear All, My name is Nishant Shah and I work at the Centre for Internet and Society. I am the Director-Research and have been one of the co-founders of CIS and currently on a research fellowship a the Centre for Digital Cultures, Germany. My involvement with the Wikipedia community (online and offline) has been more in terms of understanding it as a significant and systemic move in our knowledge production practices and as a way to learn new forms of self-organisation, collaboration and governance. This means that I haven’t been an active editor on Wikipedia but that I have tried to interact with Wikipedia both as a concept as well as a platform and worked with other communities of researchers in the area through the ‘Critical Point of View’ project which also resulted into an English language Wikipedia Reader. I have variously, in my academic as well as my public writing, I have looked at the principles of Wikipedia as signalling new practices of learning and pedagogy, and am in the process of editing a special issue for the MIT Press’ *Journal of Media and Learning* on ‘The Classroom in the time of Wikipedia’. Also, in my teaching, I have used Wikipedia as a pedagogic tool, encouraging students to edit both English and local language Wikipedias as a part of their assessment. I am joining this conversation to try and give some information that different members have sought, and which might help in throwing some light on how we welcome our collaboration with the Wikimedia foundation through the A2K programme, and also perhaps, to explain some of the rationale behind the current state of transition and building of the project. I just want to begin with 2 disclaimers: 1. It has been our attempt at CIS to build a new kind of research organisation where we do not have only voice and one ‘party-line’ that everybody subscribes to. So my responses will neither be exhaustive nor singular, and my colleagues will join with more details and ideas, perspectives and explanations soon. We are right now, slightly emotionally fragile, because we have just lost a dear friend, colleague and champion of causes that we firmly believe in – Rahul Cherian – and a lot of the people are at his funeral, trying to cope with the loss this means to them personally and politically. However, more people will join the conversations in the coming week, and hopefully there will be more clarity on things. 2. I am what might be called the official CSCS – CIS link because I have done my doctoral work at CSCS, and have had research collaborations with
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 8:45 PM, Theo10011 de10...@gmail.com wrote: 3) I am still curious about some of the relationships here. As far as I know achal still serves on your board? because I have a distinct memory of there being some association here. He also still serves on the Advisory board of WMF and had a lot to do with selecting Bishakha. He was also a fellow for WMF, some time after the start of the India programs. Since there are probably many people on this list who are not familiar with the process of recruiting 'appointed' trustees to the WMF board, it's best I provide some information here. By way of background, please see this page to understand the composition of board members and how they are selected: http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Board_of_Trustees In my case, the process began with Achal giving my name to the Nominations Committee, after which I went through the following steps (as did other candidates, although I don't know who they were or are): -A phone interview with a headhunter or recruitment firm -In-person interviews at the WMF office in San Francisco with three board members (Michael Snow, then board chair; Kat Walsh; Stu West) and the executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation, Sue Gardner -Skype interview with board member Jimmy Wales I was then invited to be on the WMF board in March 2010. I remember this process well, since even though I serve on other non-profit boards, I had never gone through such an extensive and rigorous selection process before this. The board positions are unpaid; all of us serve in a volunteer capacity. Best and hope this throws some light on the WMF trustee selection process. Just so people know, there is currently a vacancy on the board and another search process is underway. Bishakha ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
Theo ad WIkimedians, As a member of the interview committee and as a chapter nominee on the panel a response is due from me. I have been part of the interview process post shortlist of applications by CIS. Sunil and the CIS team have extended all due process and courtesies since then till the final selection. Within the panel I have been vocal on a few matters and all the feedback has been give due consideration and acted upon by the CIS team. I have no hesitation in saying that the post short list interview process has been very open to the panel and decisions taken by consensus of the panel. We spent time to drive consensus than merely go by votes. As far as the two short listed candidates are concerned, I have no hesitation in saying they will bring immense value to the movement. They were the pick of the shortlisted candidates. I say this as a volunteer, a wikipedian passionate about the movement and as someone who spent a lot of my personal time in getting the chapter off the ground as a co-founder. The community should know that the panel did its due diligence sincerely and to the best of our abilities. We should all as Wikimedians welcome VIshnu and Dr. Tejaswini to the movement. They bring rich experience from their careers and that would be very helpful to the movement. I see no reason why they being academicians and researchers ought to make their candidatures any less compelling. A warm welcome to Vishnu and Dr. Tejaswini. It is great to have you join the movement in India. regards Arun On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 8:45 PM, Theo10011 de10...@gmail.com wrote: Hi Nishant That is an excellent, lengthy, professional, PR-friendly response. I congratulate and thank you on it. I appreciate the effort you took to explain and I wish that you might have disclosed the conflicts and the history before the hiring. Allow me to offer this critique that some of the facts were a bit needlessly obfuscated. Most of the assumptions were right, but you clarified them now, which I think is still helpful. Jadine is indeed an intern, who was the primary contact between the list and CIS, though she might have been overseen, it was still true. The conflict was indeed present. But I'll go ahead and direct questions to you directly that appeared in my mind after a quick read- 1) I can't seem to understand the rationale behind hiring academicians here at all. Your organization chose researchers and academicians but the job requirement was and is, for a management person to oversee and direct a team. I don't think either of the candidates present that kind of expertise. Their field of reference is narrow to begin with, limited to the discipline of their speciality, add to that how little exposure they have to Wikipedia or similar online culture - this doesn't sound like remotely a good fit. - this fact was actually the first point that made me think other interests were put ahead of the Job requirements. This seems like a step or two further back than ahead, and brings me back to assume that older contacts/relationships might have been put ahead of qualifications, and it seems very apparent when you see the mismatch. 2) The hiring process wasn't nearly as neutral as you are suggesting. From what I know CIS didn't have 1 in 5 vote, it first picked who got selected for the first round to even have a vote, and I am told that qualified candidates were eliminated outright by Jadine in the first week before they were put up for any vote. 3) I am still curious about some of the relationships here. As far as I know achal still serves on your board? because I have a distinct memory of there being some association here. He also still serves on the Advisory board of WMF and had a lot to do with selecting Bishakha. He was also a fellow for WMF, some time after the start of the India programs. Regards Theo PS my condolences on the passing of your colleague. On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 7:53 AM, Nishant Shah itsnish...@gmail.comwrote: Dear All, My name is Nishant Shah and I work at the Centre for Internet and Society. I am the Director-Research and have been one of the co-founders of CIS and currently on a research fellowship a the Centre for Digital Cultures, Germany. My involvement with the Wikipedia community (online and offline) has been more in terms of understanding it as a significant and systemic move in our knowledge production practices and as a way to learn new forms of self-organisation, collaboration and governance. This means that I haven’t been an active editor on Wikipedia but that I have tried to interact with Wikipedia both as a concept as well as a platform and worked with other communities of researchers in the area through the ‘Critical Point of View’ project which also resulted into an English language Wikipedia Reader. I have variously, in my academic as well as my public writing, I have looked at the principles of Wikipedia as signalling new practices
