Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Patrick Mendis


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was   keep. Withdrawn — Malik Shabazz Talk/Stalk 16:27, 21 June 2014 (UTC)

Patrick Mendis

 * – ( View AfD View log  Stats )

Fails WP:BIO and WP:NAUTHOR. The article appears to have been written by someone closely associated with the subject. SW3 5DL (talk) 17:10, 19 June 2014 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of United States of America-related deletion discussions. • Gene93k (talk) 22:20, 19 June 2014 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Academics and educators-related deletion discussions. • Gene93k (talk) 22:20, 19 June 2014 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Authors-related deletion discussions. • Gene93k (talk) 22:20, 19 June 2014 (UTC)


 * Keep -- Reliable sources include:
 * "Commercial Providence: the secret destiny of the American empire," Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, May2011, Vol. 48 Issue 9. Abstract: A review of the book "Commercial Providence: The Secret Destiny of the American Empire," by Patrick Mendis is presented. (Database: Ebscohost)
 * "Book reviews." Australian Journal of International Affairs. Sep2004, Vol. 58 Issue 3. Abstract: Reviews various books on international relations. (Database: Ebscohost)
 * Tom Hintgen. "Former Spartan now a diplomat", Fergus Falls Daily Journal (MN), 03/23/2012. Abstract: Biographical piece. (Database: Ebscohost)
 * "Dr. Patrick Mendis", Daily News Sri Lanka, 16 Sep 2010. Abstract: Biographical piece. (Database: ProQuest)
 * "Patrick Mendis: Sri Lankan-American scholar appointed to UNESCO to represent US", Asian Tribune [Hallstavik] 27 July 2012. Abstract: Biographical piece. (Database: ProQuest)
 * "Sri Lankan-Born Former American Diplomat Meet with the Chinese Ambassador", Asian Tribune [Hallstavik] 04 Feb 2014. Abstract: Info on Mendis and visit by Chinese Ambassador. (Database: Proquest)
 * There are more in the article not listed here. -- Green  C  18:17, 20 June 2014 (UTC)


 * Comment: those are all the same book review/press release. He was appointed to UNESCO but he claims he worked for the U.S. State Department. I couldn't find any reliable source to verify that. He seems to have really only worked at and through University appointments. The internet is loaded with these webpages that have the same book review/press release. When he was in China, he was there through the Alumni Association of the UMinnesota. I can't find any reliable source that shows he's a diplomat or anything more than a college professor who has written a few books and is really good at self-PR. If you can find links that other editors can follow, and verify the claims in his BLP, I will withdraw the AfD but so far, I've not found it. SW3 5DL (talk) 20:36, 20 June 2014 (UTC)
 * He is an elected Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science which is a highly prestigious honor, only 730 fellows elected worldwide in an organization chartered by Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer. According to Wikipedia: "Election in the WAAS is considered as one of the highest honors that can be accorded a scientist." It meets WP:ANYBIO "The person has received a well-known and significant award or honor". The sources you are calling "press releases" are not visibly so, it's an accusation that all of these publications from over a 10+ year span are unreliable (reliable pubs publish PRs with notification). I'm not surprised the US State Dept doesn't have old stuff online through Google but lack of Google hits from 10+ years ago isn't inherit reason to believe he is a fraud. The article may contain a little puff, was he really technically a "diplomat", I don't know what the exact definition of that word is. Any source listed above not online is accessible through WP:REX, I provided the database source so it's easy to request. -- Green  C  22:04, 20 June 2014 (UTC)
 * Thanks for checking all that. I'll sort through it. His article is awfully puffed, and will need trimming. But I'll withdraw the AfD. SW3 5DL (talk) 22:14, 20 June 2014 (UTC)
 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.