POI is angry, wants to withdraw an offer

[NothingButTheRain]

Again -- you don't know how that will be perceived. You risk burning a bridge doing this. bsharpe's suggestion makes a lot more sense.

 

It depends on how it's worded: "you really hired this *&^clown?" is definitely going to burn the bridge.  Tactfully letting them know exactly why otherwise-qualified candidates are heading elsewhere, on the other hand, is pretty hard to misperceive.  If their reaction is to throw their weight behind a professor who willing acts this unprofessionally when interacting with people outside the department, then I would argue it's not a bridge worth saving.

 

That said, I'm a non-traditional student with other options; my views may be different from those who "need" to become situated in academia.

Edited April 10, 2014 by NothingButTheRain