Thu, October 29, 2009 - 9:58:47

Yale University Learns the Hard Way that Little Mistakes Spell Disaster

Earlier today, we were catching up on the latest in The New York Times, when we saw a headline that really got our attention.  “After Error by Yale, Anger and a Court Fight Ensue,” it read.  And naturally, one might have imagined that the mistake that made international news must have been one of epic proportions.  But, as John Schwartz’s article reveals, Yale’s current legal battles are actually rooted in one tiny error; proving once again that contrary to what you might think, little mistakes can spell disaster.

The New York Times reports that Korea’s prestigious Dongguk University is accusing Yale of negligence and a subsequent cover-up after it mistakenly confirmed the doctoral degree of Shin Jeong-ah, an emerging artist who had been offered a teaching position at the Korean school in 2005.  After students and fellow professors began to have doubts about her illustrious educational background, the university sent a letter to Yale asking to verify Shin’s claims.  Dongguk then received a response and faxed it to Yale’s offices asking for additional confirmation, which a Yale administrator further approved.

It seems simple enough, but it turned out that the initial letter verifying Shin’s Ph.D. was actually a forgery.  And although it contained numerous typos and inaccuracies, including the misspelling of her own name, the Yale administrator accidentally confirmed that she had, in fact, written it.

Then, in 2007, amid a sea of rumors, Dongguk contacted Yale a third time asking them again to check their records and upon investigation, Yale discovered that Shin was never enrolled as a student.  So, they issued an apology to the Korean university, stating that the administrator made the mistake “in the rush of business.” 

But, embarrassed by the scandal which became known as “Shin-gate” throughout Korea, Dongguk was unsatisfied by Yale’s apology and filed suit for $50 million, claiming that Yale’s tiny slip-up had caused the school to lose millions in donations and to be “publicly humiliated and deeply shamed in the eyes of the Korean population.”
While Yale denies any negligence, wrong-doing, or concealment, the entire situation may have easily been avoided if the busy administrator had taken the time to read the letter carefully.
 
When you’re caught up in the whirlwind most of us face in our professional and personal lives every day, paying attention to so-called trivial details like spelling and typos can seem nitpicky and obsessive.  But in truth, just one tiny mistake can land you in hot water, hurt your prospects, or even derail your career.

So, the next time you’re about to shoot off a hastily written email or approve an official form without really reading it, give yourself a minute and take a second look.  After all, a typo isn’t always just a typo. 

Posted by Linda and Robin