| Dr. Paul Barrows, former UW vice chancellor for student affairs, continued to garner support for his appeal of the university's disciplinary actions against him when he appeared before the African American Council of Churches at their monthly meeting at the old Mr. P's on Beld Street June 24. Barrows has been in a struggle with the University of Wisconsin since 2004 when he was demoted from his vice chancellor position based on sexual harassment allegations that were never made into formal charges during the disciplinary process. Barrows was eventually placed in a back-up position earning $72,000 while he was making $191,000 as vice chancellor. It is reported to be the steepest drop in pay in the university's history. On April 10-11, Barrows' case was heard by the Academic Staff Appeals Committee, which later ruled in a 5-0 vote that the university hadn't showed just cause in its disciplinary proceedings and deemed the university's investigation to have "serious flaws." On June 12, newly appointed provost Patrick Farrell responded to the committee's recommendations. Farrell stated that he would remove the letter of reprimand from Barrows' file and replace it with a letter of counsel. Farrell also ruled that several of the other recommendations from the committee were outside of their purview. On Saturday, Barrows told the Council of Churches that he would appeal Farrell's decision to the UW Board of Regents. He was very disappointed with Farrell's ruling. "Basically, he selectively went back through the transcript and picked out elements he needed to resurrect the allegations the committee threw out," Barrows said. "The other thing he did was throw out just about everything the committee ruled on in my behalf. His letter of counseling to me is a euphemism for a reprimand. The letter has the same net effect. The committee demanded that all of the time that I was forced to take off because I was pushed off campus and not put into my backup appointment as I appropriately should have, he threw all of that out. The committee said I should be placed in a position at the proper level. He threw that out as well." Barrows feels that his case is worthy of a hearing by the Regents. "I meet all of the four different criteria that the Regents have established to hear the appeal," Barrows said. "1) Is there a claim of a constitutional violation? 2) Did the Chancellor exceed his or her authority? ;3) Is there any system wide implications? 4) Are there items of evidence that were not available to the person filing the appeal that might change the outcome if a new hearing was granted? I meet all four of the tests and you only need to meet one. So the expectation I have is that Regent Chair Walsh will use his authority to grant me a full hearing before the personnel matters review committee." The people present reiterated their support of Barrows. "We stand behind Dr. Barrows," exclaimed Linda Hoskins, president of the NAACP-Madison Chapter. "We know and we believe the Provost's decision is not a good decision. I have written to the provost, Chancellor Wiley and the Regents Committee about what we feel needs to happen, which is the Regents need to hear Dr. Barrows' appeal. This is unfair justice." The African American Council of Churches also plans to get involved. "We plan on standing beside Dr. Barrows, supporting him in getting his due process and continued fair treatment and to make sure any allegations that were found to be false are wiped from his record and if he desires to, to be reappointed to his position so that he gets justice," Rev. Smith, the head of the council, said. "We're going to circulate a letter to the pastors to sign in support of Dr. Barrows. We also have a petition that we will be circulating as well." Barrows plans to submit his appeal July 12. Barrows mention that a support rally on the Library Mall is being planned. |
| African American Council of Churches The struggle continues by Jonathan Gramling |
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| (Left) Dr. Paul Barrows makes his case to the Council of Churches. |
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