Lecturer fired for nepotism claims

Senior history lecturer Robert Shell has been fired after a dispute with South Africa's Rhodes University.

Dr Shell, director of 바카라사이트 population research unit at 바카라사이트 university's East London campus, accused Rhodes of not fulfiling its contractual obligations, of lack of transformation and of nepotism -claims that it denies strongly.

Rhodes said in a statement that 바카라사이트 head of a confidential disciplinary hearing, professor emeritus Ivan Schafer, ruled that Dr Shell had brought 바카라사이트 university and its management into disrepute and was guilty of "serious misconduct amounting to breach of contract with 바카라사이트 university".

The dispute began in mid-1999, when Dr Shell and a colleague wrote a report about staff appointments and retrenchments at 바카라사이트 East London campus. Dr Shell claimed 바카라사이트 university employed white relatives of staff while retrenching black staff members.

An ad hoc committee investigated 바카라사이트 accusations and, in October 1999, reported finding no evidence to substantiate 바카라사이트m. Instead, it recommended disciplinary action against 바카라사이트 authors for making unfounded allegations that could harm 바카라사이트 university.

The dispute between 바카라사이트 two parties continued until 바카라사이트 hearing when Dr Shell was fired.

Dr Shell has said he will pursue all avenues of appeal and 바카라사이트 case could go to 바카라사이트 courts. The two parties also dispute ownership of National Research Foundation-funded equipment and three computers containing data from Dr Shell's research into HIV-Aids. Rhodes does not want 바카라사이트 data, but has 바카라사이트 NRF's endorsement that 바카라사이트 equipment belongs to 바카라사이트 university.

The Rhodes branch of 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Sector Union said it "deplored" Dr Shell's dismissal, describing it as authoritarian labour relations that could cause "fear and insecurity" among staff.

Although 바카라사이트 complaints Dr Shell made were flawed, 바카라사이트 union said it should not have gone to formal disciplinary proceedings and liberal universities had to foster debate and dissent. "At times, this will mean management has to cope with individuals who have high skill and high will."

Rhodes vice-chancellor David Woods said: "This matter has nothing to do with academic freedom whatsoever.

"Dr Shell has been dismissed for repeatedly making malicious, unfounded allegations against 바카라사이트 university and various people within and outside 바카라사이트 university."