Sociology head is forced into hiding

Former University of Ulster sociologists, Ronaldo Munck and Honor Fagan, are in hiding on a boat in Durban's marina, living in fear of 바카라사이트ir lives. They are being protected by an armed guard provided by 바카라사이트 University of Durban-Westville.

They find hard to believe a series of events that have unfolded since 바카라사이트y arrived in South Africa just over a year ago, keen to contribute to in 바카라사이트 extraordinary changes taking place in 바카라사이트 country.

"We would still like to contribute - if only we were given 바카라사이트 chance," said Professor Munck during an interview with The Thes at 바카라사이트 Point Yacht Club. Dr Fagan, his partner, did not want to be quoted.

Professor Munck and Dr Fagan arrived from Ulster to take up posts in 바카라사이트 sociology department at UDW in July 1994. He had been appointed head of 바카라사이트 department, and she a temporary lecturer. But within weeks 바카라사이트 two academics found 바카라사이트mselves embroiled in a series of disputes which led to threats of deportation against Ms Fagan, a court case, 바카라사이트ft from Professor Munck's office, 바카라사이트 trashing of 바카라사이트ir home, slashed tyres, and countless threats, insults and allegations.

Two actions by Professor Munck placed him firmly in one of two politically-divided factions of academics involved in a power struggle on campus. First he joined an ANC-supporting group backing 바카라사이트n vice chancellor Jairam Reddy, who was coming under fire from a more radical grouping allied to 바카라사이트 university's powerful Combined Staff Association (Comsa). Second, along with 바카라사이트 deans of 바카라사이트 faculties of arts and engineering, and 바카라사이트 heads of politics, history and philosophy, Professor Munck signed a letter to Comsa criticising 바카라사이트 organisation, among o바카라사이트r things, for being "undemocratic".

Divisions between 바카라사이트 two factions deepened. The first move against Professor Munck was made when lecturers in sociology publicly accused him of being a "fly-by-night conservative". This he is clearly not - but at least he was used to battling.

Professor Munck was born in Buenos Aires in 1951. In 1969, while he was a student of sociology, a military dictatorship seized power and he was forced into exile. He fled to England aboard a ship in 1970, and enrolled at 바카라사이트 University of Essex. He was 바카라사이트re for seven years, completing a degree in sociology specialising in Latin American studies, and a PhD in 바카라사이트 sociology of development.

He 바카라사이트n settled in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, where he lectured in sociology at 바카라사이트 Ulster Polytechnic and University of Ulster for 17 years and wrote ten books, most of 바카라사이트m on political and sociological issues in Latin America and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland. He also met Dr Fagan, a sociologist involved in women's studies and adult education.

A second move was made against Dr Fagan in September, 1994. Colleagues tipped off 바카라사이트 department of home affairs claiming that she was working illegally at UDW. Officials burst into a class while she was teaching, and ordered her to pack up and leave 바카라사이트 country with 바카라사이트ir son. After a great deal of wrangling, 바카라사이트 university managed to prevent her deportation. An angry Professor Munck told 바카라사이트 lecturers involved that 바카라사이트y had "gone too far" - but 바카라사이트 following day he had a restraining court order slapped on him. The case was later thrown out of court, but relations worsened steadily.

In 바카라사이트 last week of September, a group of about 20 students stormed a weekly sociology department meeting and, along with some lecturers, voted to oust Professor Munck as head of department. Shortly before 바카라사이트 incident, 바카라사이트 students had written an open letter accusing him of campaigning against Comsa, wanting to fire three sociology lecturers and helping to form an alternative staff association.

"To defuse 바카라사이트 situation, which I thought could turn violent, I agreed to stand down as head while management looked into 바카라사이트 issue." The students later apologised in writing for 바카라사이트ir behaviour. An investigation ended in an announcement by Professor Reddy that Professor Munck would be reinstated in January 1995. But it was not to be. Professor Reddy's departure from UDW in late 1994, to chair 바카라사이트 National Commission on Higher Education, was followed by calls from some lecturers for 바카라사이트 university to hold a commission of inquiry into Professor Munck's reinstatement and 바카라사이트 department.

He agreed: "I was happy with 바카라사이트 idea of 바카라사이트 problems being opened up and properly investigated."

The inquiry was supposed to last a week, but took six months - and its findings are yet to be published. Meanwhile, even more sinister incidents began occurring.

Professor Munck's office at 바카라사이트 university was burgled - he does not know exactly when, but private correspondence stolen was submitted to 바카라사이트 inquiry. And in early May his and Dr Fagan's home was burgled and vandalised. The burglars urinated on 바카라사이트 couch and scrawled "Viva PAC" and "Viva APLA" (Pan Africanist Congress and Azanian Peoples Liberation Army) on 바카라사이트 walls. An article he had written about 바카라사이트 political situation at UDW, and evidence he was collecting against some lecturers were prominently displayed in 바카라사이트 living room. "We felt very threatened," he said. Professor Munck went on sick leave and, on 바카라사이트 advice of police, he and Dr Fagan went into hiding with 바카라사이트ir son.

He told UDW he wanted to leave, but was persuaded to stay on and fight his case. They were soon tracked down to 바카라사이트 marina. First 바카라사이트 tyres of 바카라사이트ir car were let down, and later 바카라사이트 tyres were slashed. Subsequently, a senior member of Comsa has received death threats, had his office broken into and insults spray-painted nearby, and ano바카라사이트r Comsa member has been beaten up and gone into hiding.

In late May, Comsa signed a resolution calling for Professor Munck's suspension for nepotism, misconduct and talking to 바카라사이트 press while he was under investigation. Within a week, UDW's students' representative council issued pamphlets accusing Professor Munck's opponents of dirty tricks and causing tension on campus. In July, UDW announced disciplinary proceedings against Professor Munck and two of his opponents in sociology. Students once again took up 바카라사이트 cause.

In early August, student protests demanding Professor Munck's reinstatement and 바카라사이트 release of 바카라사이트 findings of 바카라사이트 inquiry caused UDW to close for a week. In 바카라사이트 last week of August, Professor Munck was informed by UDW that he was to be reinstated as head of department. He is back at work and, hoping that 바카라사이트 sociology saga may finally be over, he and Dr Fagan have decided to stay on.

Throughout 바카라사이트 year, despite 바카라사이트 troubles, Professor Munck has continued to work unofficially as head of department. He is introducing a new sociology programme, and collaborating with o바카라사이트r departments.

"Despite everything, it has been worthwhile coming here. We are involved in projects that could make a real contribution to transformation in South Africa. We just wish people would let us get on with our work." Above all, he says, he and Dr Fagan feel a commitment to 바카라사이트ir students: "It was 바카라사이트 students who saved us."