I personally have experienced almost the exact same circumstances as you. After 7 years of abuse, I managed to graduate over $50,000.00 in debt. When I followed the graduate schools procedure for reporting the abuse, I found myself brought up on charges for making a complaint!!! The guidelines specifically stated to report such problems to your program director. My program director promptly gave my thesis advisor a copy of the transcript of my complaint (recorded without my knowledge). The dean of the school took the side of the advisor even though I had not violated any rules. Two days after my defense, I was called down to answer the charges. My charges of mental as well as, physical abuse ( I was physically grabbed and pulled into the face of my advisor, who is at least twice my size). During this, my father passed away and I developed arrhythmia related to the stress. Now that I have graduated, I have found that Ph.D.s can't earn a decent wage. Additionally, President Clinton has just signed a bill allowing an increase in foreign scientists entering the country to make up for a "so called" shortage of Ph.D.s. What a sham this process is!!!!! What we all need to do is strike!!! What would all these abusive mentors do without their slave labor.....they certainly wouldn't publish!!!
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