Re: Letters of Recommendation - Problems

[Leigh Palmer <palmer@SFU.CA>]

> I'm wondering what Leigh does when  dense student asks for the
> recommendation and doesn't catch the hint?

I tell him that I can't write him a letter that will help. I've not
been pushed farther, but I suppose if I were to be I would tell the
addressee that I was writing the letter at the student's request
after I had informed him that it would not be a good recommendation.
It is difficult to imagine that that could happen, and even more
difficult to believe that I could expose myself to legal action if
I did so. I know I do get paid to write these letters, but there is
no requirement that the recommendations be laudatory; it is only
necessary that they be honest.

Leigh