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[prof_smartypants]

I had a colleague like this in my PhD program. He was an absolute terror. He was well on the way to alienating the entire faculty, particularly his dissertation committee. He wasn't exactly "brilliant", but he was very smart and an excellent researcher with an interesting (and hot) research focus.

The faculty started pushing him toward non-academic jobs that were research focused, and he ended up leaving ABD for a really good job. Perhaps this might work with this person.

Of course, now he puts Douchy Colleague, ABD on his business cards, but that's a tale for a different thread.

Doesn't he know "ABD" isn't an official title and is not even understood outside of academe anyway? Yeah, ProfSP, I agree that he isn't "exactly 'brilliant.'"

He's international, so I blame that.

In other news, I looked him up today, and on his linked in account, he says he has the PhD. He does not have a PhD. He never finished his dissertation. I know it shouldn't matter to me, but this makes me very angry. Do I tell someone?

[mouseman]

I had a colleague like this in my PhD program. He was an absolute terror. He was well on the way to alienating the entire faculty, particularly his dissertation committee. He wasn't exactly "brilliant", but he was very smart and an excellent researcher with an interesting (and hot) research focus.

The faculty started pushing him toward non-academic jobs that were research focused, and he ended up leaving ABD for a really good job. Perhaps this might work with this person.

Of course, now he puts Douchy Colleague, ABD on his business cards, but that's a tale for a different thread.

Doesn't he know "ABD" isn't an official title and is not even understood outside of academe anyway? Yeah, ProfSP, I agree that he isn't "exactly 'brilliant.'"

He's international, so I blame that.

In other news, I looked him up today, and on his linked in account, he says he has the PhD. He does not have a PhD. He never finished his dissertation. I know it shouldn't matter to me, but this makes me very angry. Do I tell someone?

You may want to contact his chair, but first I would check if he actually finished his PhD in the meantime.

[prof_smartypants]

I had a colleague like this in my PhD program. He was an absolute terror. He was well on the way to alienating the entire faculty, particularly his dissertation committee. He wasn't exactly "brilliant", but he was very smart and an excellent researcher with an interesting (and hot) research focus.

The faculty started pushing him toward non-academic jobs that were research focused, and he ended up leaving ABD for a really good job. Perhaps this might work with this person.

Of course, now he puts Douchy Colleague, ABD on his business cards, but that's a tale for a different thread.

Doesn't he know "ABD" isn't an official title and is not even understood outside of academe anyway? Yeah, ProfSP, I agree that he isn't "exactly 'brilliant.'"

He's international, so I blame that.

In other news, I looked him up today, and on his linked in account, he says he has the PhD. He does not have a PhD. He never finished his dissertation. I know it shouldn't matter to me, but this makes me very angry. Do I tell someone?

You may want to contact his chair, but first I would check if he actually finished his PhD in the meantime.

He didn't. I think I might contact my diss chair, who is/was on this guy's committee. She can't stand him, either.

[humanista]

I had a colleague like this in my PhD program. He was an absolute terror. He was well on the way to alienating the entire faculty, particularly his dissertation committee. He wasn't exactly "brilliant", but he was very smart and an excellent researcher with an interesting (and hot) research focus.

The faculty started pushing him toward non-academic jobs that were research focused, and he ended up leaving ABD for a really good job. Perhaps this might work with this person.

Of course, now he puts Douchy Colleague, ABD on his business cards, but that's a tale for a different thread.

Doesn't he know "ABD" isn't an official title and is not even understood outside of academe anyway? Yeah, ProfSP, I agree that he isn't "exactly 'brilliant.'"

He's international, so I blame that.

In other news, I looked him up today, and on his linked in account, he says he has the PhD. He does not have a PhD. He never finished his dissertation. I know it shouldn't matter to me, but this makes me very angry. Do I tell someone?

I think you really should, starting with the chair of the department and dean of the college where he was supposed to have received the degree.

[shamu]

A grad student responds even to mild advice with long, aggressive emails littered with moral jabs and sarcastic pseudo-compliments/insults. Several faculty, here and at other institutions, have commented on this, as well as on his hostile public behavior, with concern and alarm. When student was told of this, he escalated.
The student is otherwise brilliant.
Question: what to say in any recommendations.

First and foremost, if you agree, make sure you get your institution's FERPA statement signed. You don't want this person coming back and saying that he never agreed to your releasing the info.

Secondly, I do warn students for whom I cannot write a good letter that they may be better of asking someone else. To my amazement, some still insist on the letter, and a few go as far as attempting to negotiate, which I do not allow. In fact, most FERPA statements allow for the option of letting the student access their file, unless they waive their right to do so, which does not affect my letter. My letter is what it is and can only speak about what I know about the candidate.

[shamu]

Would you ask the student to write the letter and you both can discuss the content?

No. Pawning off the writing of letter to its recipient is unethical. On occasion, discussing the content may occur, but NOT as a negotiation (more like asking the student if I forgot something). The gist of the letter is the writer's responsibility. It has to be honest and not up to negotiation.