Dear Readers

20 August 2013, 1926 EDT

I have decided, following the controversy surrounding my post on networking, to remove myself as one of the permanent contributors to the Duck of Minerva. Through poorly chosen and ill-considered language and images, I made light of women’s challenges both in their academic and in their daily lives, for which I am deeply sorry. I don’t want to get in the way of other people doing good work on important topics on the site. In the future, I will diligently and sincerely work towards educating myself on the unique experiences of women in academia and pass those lessons on to others. I will attempt to regain your trust.

The Duck of the Minerva has rightly become regarded as the best blog for international relations academics and others looking for guidance on contemporary policy issues. Readers would be well served by continuing to read it. To have tarnished the Duck was a great mistake. I was proud to be a part of it, and I wish you all well.

Brian Rathbun