Surgery and oncology professor Howard Gordon arguing the case for a Quebec screening program for colon cancer. Although it is the second leading killer among cancers, colon cancer is almost always treatable if detected early. Gordon was quoted in The Medical Post. Don't believe what you read Letters of recommendation play a crucial role in the scholarly world, notes The Chronicle of Higher Education. They can derail a tenure bid, clinch a job, tip the scales for that Guggenheim grant.
Problem is, they can be woefully unreliable.
Academics, for the most part, are reluctant to jeopardize the career prospects of colleagues and former students by pointing out their weaknesses in writing. People want their students to succeed. It becomes like a nuclear arms race. If Michigan is using lots of adjectives, UCLA better, too. Someone who is candid risks damaging their students, because candour is uncommon.