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University of West Georgia President Dr. Behruz Sethna declines to elaborate on the future of the school’s current vice-president, one week after school officials admit that the termination of a former assistant vice president was “improper” and that officials regret the action. Dr. Sethna responds… “Regarding what kinds of repercussions might be faced by university personnel: as a practice, the university does not comment on personnel matters, positive or otherwise.”
Former Assistant VP Jim Naughton reportedly settled a civil suit against the university last week. Naughton has claimed he was fired for bringing forth accusations of alleged unlawful and unethical practices by Dr. Michael Ruffner. Sethna does not say if a financial settlement was reached in the dispute with Naughton but does say general state funds would be used to meet such expenses, adding that “Any time a lawsuit is filed against a public entity, whether the case is settled or goes to court and the ruling does not go in its favor, there are always expenses associated with that matter. Sethna continues, “State funds from a multiplicity of budgets are almost invariably used to pay those expenses.”
Ruffner is also referenced in a finding by the American Association of University Professors that says Ruffner’s former employer, Louisiana State University punished a former professor for speaking his mind and denied the professor due process.
http://www.aaup.org/NR/rdonlyres/28F1CE64-5ABE-4FB0-829C-3D9C9807A44D/0/LSUJuly2011Report.pdf