UI Professors Petition Mason to Reconsider Mills Firing
By Jami Brinton, Reporter
Former University of Iowa vice president for legal affairs and general counsel UI President Sally Mason announced on Sept. 23, 2008, that he had been fired.
By
KCRG Intern
Story Created:
Oct 2, 2008 at 4:43 PM CST
Story Updated:
Oct 23, 2008 at 9:52 AM CST
IOWA CITY - Two former Hawkeye football players face sexual abuse charges. Two top administrators lost their jobs.
Now more than a hundred University of Iowa faculty members say things need to change after the university's handling of a sexual assault investigation.
A petition is circulating that asks the University of Iowa to justify the firing of general counsel Marcus Mills.
One person who signed it is a high-ranking professor who was paid to advise the university in its response to the alleged on-campus assault.
University President Sally Mason fired Mills nine days ago after the state regents released a report criticizing him for his role in the response.
For example, the university claimed Mills failed in his communication with the female victim's father.
And it says that was detrimental to the university's relationship with her family.
What petition supporters are most concerned about is how Mills was fired.
They say it was a rash, politically-charged decision that they believe was supposed to be a quick public relations fix.
But now it appears it has back-fired.
"This is about restoring his good name," said Michael Lewis-Beck, a political science professor who organized the petitiion.
U-I Professor Michael Lewis-Beck is one of many who believe Marcus Mills should not have been fired. Lewis-Beck says Mills deserved more than just a termination letter.
"Maybe it's something out of the old west but I think If you're going to get fired,someone should tell you face to face they're going to fire you and you're out of here," said Lewis-Beck. "And then you should have a chance to say, but why?"
Among those professors supporting the petition is Janette Waterhouse who was paid to help out on the University's investigation of the alleged sexual assault.
President Mason's office said they have not seen the petition, but the faculty has the right to respond, which many are doing.
"I don't think this kind of firing is justifiable at an academic institution," said 39 year math professor Paul Muhly. "I think they took advantage of his at-will status."
"The manner in which it was done as quickly as it was done without further reflection and discussion of what was done is seriously problematic," said John Allen, professor of law.
Then there are those who worry about what will happen if they do speak out against President Mason's decision to fire Mills.
"The University of Iowa has never really had this climate of distrust and almost fearfulness and sense of disorder," said Lewis-Beck. "It's never been this bad."
Professor Lewis-Beck believes it's his duty to stand up for the man many consider to be one of the most honest and trustworthy people they have ever met, even if it is a risk.
What has happened is so grievous I felt like I had to take a stand and speak truth to power so whatever the consequences are, that is what they will be," said Lewis-Beck.
Several people who signed the petition told me they are afraid of coming forward and expressing their concern about what happened to Mills because they don't want to face the administration.
No one I spoke with seems to understand why Mills lost his job and say the President's actions were unwarranted and should be justified, even if Mills was an at-will employee.
To clarify, an at-will employee means the person can be fired without just cause by the president.
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