Docherty was suspended for negative vibes and inappropriate sighing

Top English Prof Thomas Docherty was suspended because of “inappropriate sighing”.

Thomas Docherty was banned from the University of Warwick in January this year when he was accused of giving off “negative vibes”.

The English and Comparative Literature professor was accused of undermining the authority of the former head of the English department, Catherine Bates, and suspended for nine months.

The case against him is said to have included “inappropriate sighing”, “making ironic comments” and “projecting negative body language” when interviewing candidates for a job.

Professor Docherty was banned from the campus and writing references for students without permission during the suspension.

He was also stopped from returning their work or providing guidance on PhDs and was not permitted to have contact with undergraduates.

But now the controversial professor’s suspension has been lifted. Eearlier this week he was cleared of all allegations against him.

Prof Docherty said: “I’m looking forward to getting back to teaching, working with students and colleagues, and writing again, as normal.”

And writing on a Facebook page set up by students to show support for the popular professor, he added: “I’m now able to say that none of the allegations against me were upheld.

“Throughout this past year, I have been deeply moved and touched by the level of support that I have received.

“The only way I can think of beginning to repay that is through my teaching and writing – and look forward to returning properly to that in the hope that it will be adequate to what you deserve.

“There are many colleagues – students as well as staff – whose position has been more difficult than mine.

“They now deserve the benefit of our combined reasoning, arguing, and sustained democratic debate.

“Thanks again to you all – and, with luck, I’ll see some of you in class, in conference, or just around and about.”

Katja Rebmann, a research assistant at the university, replied: “Your teaching has been and I’m sure will continue to be inspiring – very pleased to have you back.”

The University and College Union (UCU) – who welcomed the lifting of the suspension – have now blasted the University of Warwick’s procedures.

UCU regional official Anne O’Sullivan said: “It beggars belief that an academic can be suspended with no contact with students or colleagues for almost a year while charges are finalised.

“The one thing this protracted process should ensure is that the University of Warwick looks closely at its internal procedures.

“There is clearly the need for a better structure to deal with these kinds of issues and to ensure that academics have a speedier form of redress.

“Academic freedom is a key tenet of our universities and staff should not be worried for their careers if they wish to speak out about matters of concern.”

Dennis Leech, president of the University & College Union branch at Warwick, added: “The fact that a member of the academic staff can be suspended for almost nine months and subject to such a protracted disciplinary process suggests that there is a need to review the governance of the university.

“I hope the university will look again at how it can strengthen its procedures to protect and defend academic freedom, which this case exemplifies to be threatened from obtrusive managerialism.”

A spokesperson for the University of Warwick said the process had taken the time it did “in order to accommodate the specific requests and needs of all the participants in the process”.

* Professor Docherty is well-known as a critic of the marketisation and bureaucratisation of higher education in the UK.

He has described the Russell Group – of which the University of Warwick is a member – as “a self-declared elite and even exerting a negative influence over others”.

Professor Docherty refused to comment further yesterday (Fri) because of an agreement with his lawyers. 

A spokesperson for the University of Warwick said: “The University has received the decision of the Tribunal established to consider complaints made against Professor Thomas Docherty by another senior employee. 

“The University has accepted the Tribunal’s findings.

“The University has committed not to make any further public comment on the proceedings at this time so as to assist any follow-on discussions to take place.

“Professor Docherty welcomes and reciprocates that commitment.”