University College Dublin has begun a formal disciplinary inquiry into allegations that a senior lecturer made racist comments to a group of foreign students.
The decision was made by UCD's governing authority yesterday. The meeting also agreed new procedures for the election of president which will give non- UCD academics an opportunity to gain the post; and a detailed inquiry into the appointment of Mr Gary Santry, an American academic who misled the college about his academic credentials.
This inquiry will focus on how Mr Santry was recommended for a senior post in the Smurfit Business School.
Three members of the governing body have been designated to examine allegations that Dr Desmond Norton, a lecturer in economics, made racist remarks to a group of foreign students. Dr Norton is alleged in media reports to have referred to the students as "China", "Japan" and "darkie".
The students have made a complaint to the college authorities and UCD's registrar has already conducted a fact-finding report. According to a report in the College Tribune student newspaper, Dr Norton says he made "some errors of judgment" when addressing the students during the lectures.
He said if apologies were appropriate he would make them. He said the names mostly referred to where the students were from and the reference to "darkie" was "mischosen".
The new system for president replaces the traditional one in which only the 40 members of the governing body are entitled to vote in the election. In practice, this meant that non-UCD academics enjoyed little prospect of becoming president.
Under the new procedures, search and selection committees will be established to select the president. These will recommend a candidate to the governing body, which can either confirm the nomination or reject the candidate. If the candidate is rejected, the selection process will recommence.
The governing body also heard a report from historian Dr Ronan Fanning on his inquiry into the case of Mr Santry, the American academic who falsified his qualifications to secure a senior post at the Smurfit Business School. It is understood that six academics have already been interviewed by the inquiry team. Their full report is expected within three weeks.
Mr Santry claimed to have an MBA from Notre Dame university and an MA and PhD from Southern Methodist University, Texas. However, UCD believes he did not receive these qualifications.