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USPGATE: One of USP's top historians Tuimaleali'ifano suspended by Vice-Chancellor after social psychologist and interpersonal conflict lecturer James Johnson claims he was shouted at and called 'GUTLESS'

21/9/2017

17 Comments

 
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Pacific Researchers N Academics
Follow · September 19 ·
 
From an Academic:

"Attack on Academic Freedom at USP Continues

IN a worrying trend noticed over the past 6 or so years, USP has been purging academic freedom The case of termination of employment of Professor Wadan Narsey is well known. So are the cases of termination of employment of Deputy Vice Chancellor/Pro-VCs Susan Kelly and Dilawar Singh Grewal, and of Professor Biman Prasad.

NOW comes the suspension of a long standing and well regarded Pacific historian Dr. Morgan Tuimaleali'ifano.

Official Reason given: He had used the term "gutless" to his supervisor who was hesitating to raise a requisition for payment to the department teaching staff, who had remained unpaid for over 10 weeks.

EVENTS OF NOTE: It is well known that Dr. Tuimaleali'ifano had organised a highly successful panel discussion a week earlier on "Rewa Vakatokayaca Peace Process", where amongst other speakers were the Opposition Leader and Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa. The discussion was on the formal adoption of Girmitiya descendants as 'Luvedra ni Ratu' (Children of the Chief of Noco). Earlier, Dr. Tuimaleali'ifano had also participated, as part of his research, in a discussion on chiefly titles in Natewa, Vanua Levu.

The suspension is a clear cut case of an attack on academic freedom, under guise of 'disciplinary proceedings'. This must be opposed by all who value academic freedom. Please post, without my name; I hope you understand"
— with Morgan Tuimaleali'ifano.
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17 Comments
Chiku
21/9/2017 11:53:06 pm

I don't know this James Johnson fala. So I don't know whether he is gutless. But I know USP has some history of appointing useless people and yes man and woman in high positions. I also know the label " gutless" and " spineless " can be applied to the current USP vice chancellor and president Professor Rajesh Chandra. Academic freedom at USP in post coup Fiji has been seriously damaged because Professor Chandra has become a shameless arselicker of Aiyaz Khaiyum the main boy in the Bainimarama regime. He has used his position to persecute critical academic voices at the university as the henchmen of the regime. Fijileaks has provided examples of this malicious persecution.
Morgan Tui is one of the most calm, gentle and peaceful person one can come across . If someone like him is moved to act in a loud and aggressive manner then some real shit must have happened.
Shits been happening fairly regularly under Rajesh Chandra's
"presidency" at the USP.

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Asheesh
22/9/2017 12:33:21 am

You have some really good sources Victor.... I worked for a few years with Morgan in the Senior Staff Union and personally I can't see him going ninja on anyone....sure we have had differences of opinions in the past but on the whole, Morgan is very chilled out. Having said that, much has changed ....rather obviously at USP so circumstances might be putting additional and possibly unreasonable pressure on him....that said, vigorous and robust disagreements are very common in academia, and to suggest that an off the cuff remark carries such significant intent is possibly a stretch.....that said, this appears to be a process and I don't see anything wrong in following a process that is well documented. Lets let the process play out and see what the actual outcome is.....in my limited assessment, there is no case to answer aside from the slightly bruised ego of the head of school....and Morgan will get nothing more than a note to exercise better judgement in selecting his "verbs" in the future :)

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John
22/9/2017 12:49:45 am

Very true Chiku, Morgan is a calm, soft-spoken person, with a gentle sense of humor and great respect for everyone, age and rank notwithstanding. I have worked with him for years and can vouch for these.

To paraphrase Smokie, "James, who the f*** is James?"

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Asheesh
25/9/2017 01:06:43 am

If this is the same James Johnson..... the yet again, USP's vetting practices leave alot to be desired.....

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

so to answer John's question above.....if this article refers to the same person, he's a guy who is .........very "hands on" with his students :) ....if you know what I mean..... hahahaha

hopefully sensibility will prevail.....and this matter is resolved quickly.... and without too much carnage.

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Chiku
22/9/2017 01:22:31 am

This suspension and disciplinary action against a longstanding member of the university fraternity for a " Major Misconduct " nonsense is reminiscent of the pathology of bureaucracy that characterise the civil service. But that's what the once highly esteemed university has been reduced to by Vice Chancellor and President Rajesh Chandra - a well known sycophant of the post coup regime in Fiji.

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Sanjay Sharma
22/9/2017 01:58:28 am

Going by the contents of the letter, VC was right to suspend the lecturer. Until there is another story behind this saga, I feel that the right action has been taken. Infact, termination and police case against Morgan is also justified. No matter who you are, there is no place for violent behaviour. A lecturer displaying such behaviour is unworthy of the position. Morgan should consider getting physiatrist assistance and counselling for anger management.

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Samjoe
23/9/2017 02:09:12 am

Sanjay you have jumped the gun. You have found Morgan guilty as per the allegations without Morgan having had a fair hearing. That is a denial of natural justice. I am curious why you so quick to side with the VC...

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Socho
22/9/2017 09:58:21 am

Major Misconduct?
The Prime Minister of the country swore at a respected padre. Was that a major misconduct? A government minister killed a padestrian driving whilst drunk. Was that a major misconduct? People have committed treason and never got suspended. And we are to believe an academic losing his cool with a fellow university academic is" equivalent to Major Misconduct".
Like fuck!

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Charmine Druvi link
22/9/2017 12:11:55 pm

A professor swears at VC in public but VC does nothing since he's the VCs hitman.. Same Professor swears and threaten multiple staff, nothing is done. A Dean threatens staff who wrote complaint against the Dean. The complaint was directed to VC but VC chooses to share with the Dean, who in return ensures all who complained get fired. Deans are appointed without proper procures, but one- yes sir to Maharaja.
VC appoints staff as senior management level with hefty salary while academic are fired, threatened, bullied and intimidated.
VC and wife travel business class around the world while ordinary staff have to justify their tea money, travel allowances and asked to travel by cheapest means.
USP is grooming a class of people who think they own the place. Little is done to boost academic moral. Little is done to people who surround the Maharaja'.
What happened to Morgan isn't new. Many have left in frustration. Millions paid in court cases. Yet academics and students don't even have decent spaces. USP has become a primary school run by an incompetent head master.

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Mini
22/9/2017 09:54:26 pm

You are correct. Anyone that stands up against them is cut down. There needs to be an official investigation into the suspensions.

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56736
22/9/2017 01:32:51 pm

Those who work and study at USP know that Morgan is a good man. His reputation as an educator and a researcher has been well established over decades of committed scholarship at the USP. What do we know about Johnson? A simple google search shows that he was fired from his previous workplace for touching students inappropriately (http://www.wect.com/story/20307337/uncw-professor-fired-for-touching-students-inappropriately). How can the USP stand by a Head of School with such a salacious and despicable past history? Are your children safe studying at a university which employs people like Johnson?

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Chiku
23/9/2017 12:01:20 am

No there is no need for an official investigation into suspensions under the " presidency " of Rajesh Chandra. The university student and staff body should do a sit in protest to demand his resignation for his failure to ensure duty of care by hiring a sexual predator as a staff at USP.
About time the university community stood up against this mediocre university " maharaja ".

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Jaani
24/9/2017 07:09:28 am

Chiku, if only you’d know the leadership of AUSPS, at the helm of which is the well known, mediocre LTC reject Govinda Lingam. True to his name, he’s penchant for Rajesh’s own “Ling” is legend around USP. That is why, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for this sit out protest. I might die of hypoxia.

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Chiku
23/9/2017 01:37:26 am

Shouldn't the democratic opposition in Fiji be raising questions regarding the leadership of Professor Rajesh Chandra as VC and President of the USP, a man well known as a lackey of the twin dictators of Fiji?

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Welcome Home
24/9/2017 08:43:57 am

A close look at the Research Topic and Areas of Interest for Students appears revealing: 'sexual aggression' is stated and it suggests wide latitude in associated realms of study. Surely, this demanded a detailed inquiry prior to funding being released? 'Gutless' might be relevant were this probing overlooked. It is a license for any academic 'On the Prowl' for unsuspecting prey. Does Dr James Johnson's past suggest he merits this tag? It is tiring and frustrating to even imagine that yet another such deviant slipped through a slack net.

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Refugee
25/9/2017 10:31:10 pm

"Gutless" is a word - and words is all I have...

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Bahuki
28/9/2017 11:35:47 am

This clearly goes to show how freedom of speech in USP is quite a farce that they even slam you just for something as meaningless as calling someone "gutless" like someone's got a huge ego.

Reminds me of that one time in an open seminar on West Papua where the Indonesian delegation was given "royal treatment" by university officials to muzzle the students and anyone who dare challenged them on human rights abuse allegations.

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