USPGATE: Historian Tuimaleali'ifano's accuser Dr James Johnson refuses to answer if it is HIM who was fired as professor from the University of North Carolina for touching female students inappropriately

22/9/2017

Fijileaks Update: Our sources in North Carolina have confirmed that it is the same James Johnson. We challenge Vice-Chancellor Rajesh Chandra, and Johnson, to produce evidence from UNCW that Johnson was CLEARED. Johnson joined USP in 2013, two years after he was fired from his position at UNCW in 2011; Johnson was also suspended for 30 days and given a Final Warning letter in 2005 for allegedly touching another student inappropriately

"UNCW [University of North Carolina, Wilmington] says it found clear and convincing evidence that Johnson inappropriately touched and made unwelcome advances toward a number of his female students. And this appears to be a pattern of behavior. While Johnson's termination stemmed from incidents that happened in 2011, Johnson was suspended for 30 days and given a Final Warning letter in 2005 for allegedly touching another student inappropriately. This isn't the first time a college professor has been fired for inappropriate conduct with a student. But you may be surprised to hear that Professor Johnson received his full pay for almost 8 months after UNCW's provost recommend he be fired." - 2012 Report

Dr James Johnson has suddenly blocked all Fijileaks e-mails to him, including the last one where we put to him:
IS THIS YOU IN THE STORY?

A UNCW Professor fired for inappropriate conduct with students drew full pay for 8 months after Provost recommended his termination.

One of the most interesting cases involved a professor at UNCW. James Johnson was a long-time psychology professor there before being fired in July. According to his termination letter, he was terminated for inappropriate conduct with students.

UNCW says it found clear and convincing evidence that Johnson inappropriately touched and made unwelcome advances toward a number of his female students. And this appears to be a pattern of behavior.

While Johnson's termination stemmed from incidents that happened in 2011, Johnson was suspended for 30 days and given a Final Warning letter in 2005 for allegedly touching another student inappropriately.

This isn't the first time a college professor has been fired for inappropriate conduct with a student. But you may be surprised to hear that Professor Johnson received his full pay for almost 8 months after UNCW's provost recommend he be fired.

UNCW officials declined our request for an interview to explain why. But they did forward us a link to the UNC system policy manual. It explains that tenured faculty are entitled to full pay and due process during a suspension.

What's not clear is why that suspension dragged on for so long for a state employee making $88,000 a year. We were able to reach Johnson and his attorney for comment late Monday afternoon. Johnson denies any wrong doing.

He is appealing his termination to the Board of Governors. Johnson also says that a faculty review panel found that UNCW had not provided clear and convincing evidence of misconduct that would justify termination.

However, the chancellor chose to follow the provosts recommendation that Johnson be fired.

As you can see, the official e-mail address of Dr James Johnson on the USP official site is now blocked to Fijileaks

Fijileaks: As the whole world knows, the Vice-Chancellor Rajesh Chandra does not respond to our questions and the Education Minister - THE TOPPER - Mahendra Reddy is the same; now he is busy attending the Suva Magistrates Court after he was told that there is a case for him to answer on charges of abuse of office; he had also blocked Fijileaks from being read by students and staff at the Fiji National University. We call on Dr James Johnson to respond to us - to admit or deny whether its HIM in above story from 2012. And if its him, the USP Staff and Student Associations should DEMAND that Rajesh Chandra explain whether USP had carried out a thorough background check on a professor who was accused and later fired for allegedly touching FEMALE STUDENTS inappropriately! There is no need to play psychological game with us, and we would be happy to publish a reply from Dr James Johnson on the identity of the professor in question in the above story - we are merely after the truth since USP states that most recently, Johnson is the lead investigator of a $293,000 research project funded by Fiji Department of Women, the Australian High Commission, and UNWomen.
What is the topic of the Johnson-led research project?
Fijileaks: editor@fijileaks.com

Fijileaks: Dr James Johnson has used the same profile photos in the UNCW and USP official sites (which seem to be a younger version of him); if you have seen this Dr James Johnson in the photo below at USP please drop an anonymous e-mail to editor@fijileaks.com

UNCW Newsletter: Travis Newkirk successfully defended his final project titled "Commodification of African American Culture and Hip-Hop" onFriday, April 27, 2007 at 1:15 pm in Bear Hall, Room 102. Pictured are Travis, Dr. James Johnson (reader), and Dr. Mike Wentworth (project director).

http://www.wect.com/story/20307337/uncw-professor-fired-for-touching-students-inappropriately

To Frank Bainimarama, then post 2006 coup Prime Minister:

MORGAN at a recent seminar

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/uspgate-one-of-usps-top-historians-tuimalealiifano-suspended-by-vice-chancellor-after-social-psychologist-and-interpersonal-conflict-lecturer-james-johnson-claims-he-was-shouted-at-and-called-gutless

7 Comments

Welcome Home

22/9/2017 07:11:13 pm

What was it about 2012 that so much that was inappropriate occurred that year? Phases of the moon? At the very same time apart from three serious flash floods in March/April and a Category 4 Hurricane in December for which scarcely any preparation or due warnings were issued, the then C
Vice Chancellor at University of Fiji was reportedly grooming and taking inappropriate advantage of numerous young females: staff and students. He was appointed despite our preference specifically for a worthy overseas candidate from West Indies. He appeared to have benefitted from unfair interference by a close relative, a member of the judiciary. The reports came in from various quarters that could not be overlooked. Despite this, the VC continued in situ and was joined by a questionably appointed Registrar who now faces charges of Abuse of Office. If Due Diligence was neglected in this latest appointment at USP, then it will not be the first time that students and staff have been allegedly corruptly and wrongly served. We need to shape up!

Chiku

22/9/2017 09:32:49 pm

Did USP do a proper background check on this professor from America before hiring him? Did USP know he was fired previously from the University of North Carolina for inappropriate conduct with students.
Now Vice Chancellor and President Rajesh Chandra THAT is what you call a " Major Misconduct". Did you fail to carry out due diligence in appointing this professor at USP?

Samjoe

22/9/2017 10:12:24 pm

Many will relate to Two things in this Fijileaks revelation :
1. That, this James Johnson professor is not the first to be fired for inappropriate conduct with female students. Remember our own Karma Sutra Professor? Some of course don't get fired. They remain parked in their position in the university carrying on business as usual - with different female students.
2. That, the Fiji Department of Women, Australian High Commission and UNWomen funded a $293,000 research project led by this rogue professor. Throwing good money on bad people doing useless " research project " is a common feature of international bodies. What's surprising is Fiji Department of Women also partnering in funding this project. They hardly have money to fund destitute women in Fiji.

Dekho

22/9/2017 11:46:00 pm

Another thing to remember in the context of this discussion on the conduct of university bosses is that some female students are willing to let themselves be touched inappropriately to get good grades for themselves or their mates. The university big man know this vulnerability on the part of some female students and exploit it.

Chiku

23/9/2017 02:50:33 am

James Johnson was fired from a university in America and then hired by USP. At the time of his hiring in 2013 Fiji was still under a military dictatorship and the VC was a supporter of the dictatorship. There is very little accountability, transparency and public scrutiny in a dictatorship and a certain variety of professionals gravitate to serve in such a political environment . Such professionals are shown as prove that all is good under the dictatorship.
With all his fancy qualifications and credentials why couldn't James Johnson get a job ( a better paying job ) in the US instead of coming to a university in a Third World region?

Welcome Home

23/9/2017 05:41:06 am

The situation in tertiary institutions of learning in Fiji requires some very close and fully independent scrutiny. The assertion that threats come raining down upon those who decide to 'rock the boat' or feel obliged to resign from Council in order to blow a whistle on malfeasance may be fully verified. In September 2012 having been approached by the Students Union at Unifiji, resignation was the only option. Not a single member of Council chose to act in support and a Registrar was spuriously and disgracefully inserted in a situation were young women were At Risk of serious harm. We should recall that the USP VC was formerly employed at UNIFIJI. An incestuous arrangement existed between three institutions: a culture of toxicity for Higher Education. Thus the Academic Year derailed into extra-curricula activity which must NEVER be countenanced if the advancement of a nation is sought. Students deserve and require a safe environment in which to study. Members of Council are duty-bound to determine this and to have access to stringent remedies. To fail students, bona fide staff and funders is to fail Fiji and all Fijians who are entitled to have high aspirations for their future. The USP is a regional seat of learning. Its standards must be ethically sound. The funders of programmes must require compliance. The world is watching.

Bahuki

28/9/2017 11:39:23 am

Never realized that someone could be so egoistic that they would somehow influence USP to punish someone over something completely meaningless.

I guess USP itself is "gutless" when it comes to freedom of speech and expression that the VC or whoever the genius involved don't always practice what they preach about allowing student and staff to freely speak responsibly.

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