UCC governor fights against removal

A GOVERNOR of University College Cork is preparing to resist efforts to have him removed from the position.

A motion to expel Professor Des Clarke from the college’s governing body was proposed at its last meeting five weeks ago but was deferred. He believes the matter might be raised again and has asked colleagues to argue against the move. The head of UCC’s philosophy department, Prof Clarke, is one of five professors elected to represent his counterparts.

He has been vocal in raising questions about proposals to extend college president Prof Gerry Wrixon’s term of office. The plan, which would allow him continue in the job after reaching the age of 65 later this year, requires changes to university statutes and approval from Finance Minister Brian Cowen because of implications for public service pensions. At last month’s meeting, the governing body passed a motion dissociating itself from statements made by Prof Clarke about the Victoria Lodge student accommodation development. His comments were made in a circular letter marked “confidential” and sent by him to each governor, but the content also appeared around the same time in a Sunday newspaper.

“The governors considered that Prof Clarke had abused his position in what he had stated in his circular letter and voted by a large majority (20 in favour, 7 against, 4 abstentions) to formally dissociate itself from his statements.”

Prof Clarke has asked a number of other professors to contact other staff, outlining their concerns about any move to expel an elected representative. He claims such efforts would involve procedural irregularities, making them illegal. He argues the item was raised at last month’s meeting without prior notice and in breach of standard procedures of natural justice.

In a letter to UCC staff co-signed by his governing body colleagues Prof Patricia Coughlan and Dr Rosarii Griffin, Prof Clarke questioned last month’s decision to press ahead with moves to extend the president’s term.

They claimed members were not given prior notice and the university’s academic council must be consulted before the governing body can make changes to university statutes. However, a UCC spokesperson rejected the claim and said it was an issue solely for the governing body.