Provost Phil Hanlon last week said that the academic decisions made regarding a graduate student who claimed she was targeted because of her union activities were “justified, correct and appropriate.”
Hanlon, the university’s chief academic officer, said he had personally reviewed the student’s academic record.
“The facts also indicate the decisions were made entirely based on academics — nothing more. The faculty employed a thorough and fair process to reach an appropriate decision based on academic considerations, and I want to go on record as strongly supporting that process,” Hanlon said during the Jan. 19 Board of Regents meeting.
Hanlon was responding to allegations made during a press conference Wednesday organized by former graduate student Jennifer Dibbern and leaders of the Graduate Employees’ Organization. They singled out Rachel Goldman, professor of materials science and engineering, in their allegations that graduate students were being intimidated in regards to the unionization effort among some graduate student research assistants.
University officials swiftly denied those allegations. “The university does not condone threats, intimidation or retaliation against graduate students for union activity or any other reason,” university spokesperson Rick Fitzgerald said.
