Wave of corporate bullying sweeps universities

STUART NEILSON’S poignant evocation of the bullying and injustice of disciplinary procedures in Ireland’s universities (Irish Examiner letters, October 18) serves as a timely reminder that no effective action is being taken by heads of universities, their officers and the academic unions to address the problem.

It is a fact that in the universities, grievance investigators are under no official obligation to apply disciplinary procedures with regard for precedent or uniformity. It is therefore not surprising that serious allegations of, for example, physical assault, sexual harassment, censorship of mail and interference with promotion procedures are not dealt with in an even-handed way.

Some colleagues against whom such serious allegations are made will be suspended immediately before they are given the opportunity to defend themselves, while others who are accused of a similarly serious misdemeanour will continue to wield power and position (and even be promoted) during the course of the investigation.