Students speak out for professor
Derek Hawkins
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: News
At least 480 students, faculty and staff have signed a petition calling for transparency in the recent suspension of former math department chair David Massey.
Created by David Hildebrand, a senior, the petition accuses university administrators of skirting university procedure and denying Massey due process in the sanction.
"We are appalled by the administration's inappropriate treatment of Prof. David Massey and demand that his academic roles, responsibilities and freedoms be explicitly restored until and unless concrete allegations, duly filed, impartially investigated and unequivocally substantiated, are properly and transparently established," the petition reads. "Until such time, the university's administration must be held to account for its exercise of inappropriate, unsubstantiated, unfair and non-transparent disciplinary action."
About two-thirds of full-time math professors had signed the petition as of press time.
University officials have not publicly disclosed the reasons for Massey's suspension, but told students involved in the case that he had been suspended for violating the university's non-discrimination policy.
Several university officials could not be reached for comment.
At a March 17 Student Government Association (SGA) meeting, President Joseph Aoun addressed a question about Massey's suspension from a non-senator, who charged that the university had failed to explain its decision.
"This decision was difficult to make," President Aoun said in an open Q&A session. "I received a recommendation from the dean and the provost and there were real issues that we cannot discuss from various points of view, including legal. But I want you to be aware that the premises are not the way you presented."
Massey's suspension came March 3, with the caveat that he is banned from campus and barred from contact with undergraduate and graduate students at Northeastern through Fall 2008.
However, sources familiar with the case said Massey had submitted a letter to the math department resigning as chair as early as Feb. 22.
Created by David Hildebrand, a senior, the petition accuses university administrators of skirting university procedure and denying Massey due process in the sanction.
"We are appalled by the administration's inappropriate treatment of Prof. David Massey and demand that his academic roles, responsibilities and freedoms be explicitly restored until and unless concrete allegations, duly filed, impartially investigated and unequivocally substantiated, are properly and transparently established," the petition reads. "Until such time, the university's administration must be held to account for its exercise of inappropriate, unsubstantiated, unfair and non-transparent disciplinary action."
About two-thirds of full-time math professors had signed the petition as of press time.
University officials have not publicly disclosed the reasons for Massey's suspension, but told students involved in the case that he had been suspended for violating the university's non-discrimination policy.
Several university officials could not be reached for comment.
At a March 17 Student Government Association (SGA) meeting, President Joseph Aoun addressed a question about Massey's suspension from a non-senator, who charged that the university had failed to explain its decision.
"This decision was difficult to make," President Aoun said in an open Q&A session. "I received a recommendation from the dean and the provost and there were real issues that we cannot discuss from various points of view, including legal. But I want you to be aware that the premises are not the way you presented."
Massey's suspension came March 3, with the caveat that he is banned from campus and barred from contact with undergraduate and graduate students at Northeastern through Fall 2008.
However, sources familiar with the case said Massey had submitted a letter to the math department resigning as chair as early as Feb. 22.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 10
Terence Gaffney
posted 4/14/08 @ 8:41 PM EST
Those readers who do not know Professor Massey may be wondering what he did to deserve such a severe punishment. Let me assure you that he did nothing to deserve this. (Continued…)
Support Massey
posted 4/15/08 @ 1:42 PM EST
Support Massey- http://supportmassey.com/
kigusa
Kiyoshi Igusa
posted 4/15/08 @ 8:55 PM EST
Why are they so eager to prevent David Massey telling his side of the story to the students of Northeastern who obvious love him so much? See:
http://supportmassey. (Continued…)
Quest
posted 4/16/08 @ 9:22 AM EST
What if this guy did something awful that NU doesn't want you to know about?
asadastra
Alex
posted 4/16/08 @ 12:30 PM EST
What if he did something that HE doesn't want you to know about?
The petition says "Prof. Massey has been banned from campus and barred from direct or indirect contact and communication with students, both graduate and undergraduate. (Continued…)
Another Alumn
posted 4/16/08 @ 3:50 PM EST
As an alumn of Northeastern I have been able, and allowed, to speak with Professor massey regarding these issues. This insinuation that "HE doesn't want you to know about" is completely wrong. (Continued…)
Gordana Todorov
posted 4/16/08 @ 8:46 PM EST
Professor Massey is a highly respected person, professor and mathematician and we, who know him and the events quite well, feel that it is not proper to even talk about him that way. (Continued…)
mithu
posted 4/17/08 @ 9:51 PM EST
"Speculation is the exact problem here. We want transparency, not smoke and mirrors. I also tend to lean towards trusting Professor Gaffney over an anonymous undergrad. (Continued…)
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