Ohio University President Roderick McDavis granted tenure to popular journalism professor Bill Reader yesterday - going against the recommendations of the dean and director of one of OU's most nationally prominent programs.
Reader, who has taught at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism since 2002, argued that despite consistently positive performance reviews, administrators and other faculty members conspired to prevent him from receiving tenure.
He was the first journalism professor to be denied tenure in 14 years.
This is
without question the most difficult tenure appeal that has come before me McDavis wrote in a letter announcing his decision. McDavis stated the decision was based on the fact that Reader's yearly performance reviews contained no mention of the inappropriate behavior Scripps administrators later used to justify denying him tenure.
I am very grateful to President McDavis for his respect for the process and for his careful and ethical consideration of my appeal
Reader said in an e-mail.
McDavis overturned the decision of Scripps College of Communication Dean Greg Shepherd and rejected the recommendation of E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Director Tom Hodson.
The president has the final decision and I respect his decision on the matter
Hodson said. He's the one who finally decides.
The decision ends a year-long battle between the professor and Scripps administrators.
The school's promotion and tenure committee recommended Reader receive tenure, but in the week following that recommendation three tenured journalism faculty members accused Reader of threatening them and filed formal harassment complaints.
Despite the committee's recommendation, Hodson said the complaints and Reader's bullying
disrespectful and volatile demeanor made him unfit for a permanent position.
The college's promotion and tenure committee also recommended unanimously against granting Reader tenure.
Shepherd agreed with Hodson's recommendation against tenure and, in April 2009, informed Reader he had not been granted tenure.
Reader appealed that decision to Shepherd, who again denied him tenure, and later to then-Provost Kathy Krendl and finally to Faculty Senate.
After a contentious public hearing, the committee recommended McDavis grant Reader tenure.
At the hearing, Hodson called Reader a bully, stating that Reader threatened him and three faculty members, making it impossible for Reader to work collegially at Scripps in the future.
Reader countered that Hodson and Shepherd foster an environment of top-down bullying and disrespect in the school.
Assistant Dean Eddith Dashiell took Reader's side at the hearing, testifying that the journalism school has historically had a culture of bullying and disrespect
which Hodson and Shepherd should have taken into account when considering Reader's collegiality.
Reader and Hodson met to discuss Hodson's recommendation against tenure last spring. At that meeting, Reader showed Hodson and Bob Stewart, associate director of the school, scars from when he carved the words truth and comfort into this forearms - an act which Hodson said was followed by a threat.
In a previous interview, Reader said he showed the barely visible scars, which he cut after drinking during his painful divorce, to Hodson because he thought he could trust him
adding that he never threatened Hodson.
Reader added that communication between him and Hodson has been scarce
and added that the two have spoken at least twice in person in addition to a few e-emails.
There have been no overtures, Reader said
adding that Hodson has communicated with him almost exclusively through Stewart since the incident.
McDavis noted the ongoing conflict and pending investigations into Reader's workplace conduct in his letter.
Beyond the tenure decision, ethical and professional behavior continue to be expected of our faculty, McDavis said. ...the pending Professional Ethics proceeding should move forward promptly. The matter should be resolved before the end of the 2010 Spring Quarter.
During his appeal Reader received support from a large number of current and former students.
More than 50 students
who organized via Facebook
