Page 114 - The Love Hypothesis

Olive: Yeah, well. Tell it to Greg.
Adam: I have. I explained the weaknesses in his study. He’ll

revise his proposal accordingly, and then I’ll sign off on his
dissertation.

Olive: So you admit that you are the one behind the decision to

fail him.
Olive: Or, whatever. To fail his proposal.
Adam: Yes. In its current state, the proposal is not going to

produce ndings of scientific value.
Olive bit the inside of her cheek, staring at her phone and wondering if
continuing this conversation was a terrible idea. If what she wanted to say

was too much. Then she remembered the way Greg had treated her earlier,
muttered, “Fuck it,” and typed:

Olive: Don’t you think that maybe you could have delivered that

feedback in a nicer way?
Adam: Why?

Olive: Because if you had maybe he wouldn’t be upset now?
Adam: I still don’t see why.

Olive: Seriously?

Adam: It ’s not my job to manage your friend’s emotions. He’s in
a Ph.D. program, not grade school. He’ll be inundated by

feedback he doesn’t like for the rest of his life if he pursues

academia. How he chooses to deal with it is his own business.
Olive: Still, maybe you could try not to look like you enjoy

delaying his graduation.

Adam: This is irrational. The reason his proposal needs to be
modified is that in its current state it ’s setting him up for failure. Me

and the rest of the committee are giving him feedback that will
allow him to produce useful knowledge. He is a scientist in

training: h e should value guidance, not be upset by it.
Olive gritted her teeth as she typed her responses.