Friday, June 12, 2009
Private Hearing Public Lynching
On the continuing saga of Professor Perry Mills, the appellate court ruling in his favor has forced the Western Washington University board of trustees to mobilize mainstream media for a public lynching. The trustees, caught with their pants down in violation of the Washington State Administrative Procedures Act, are now attempting to avoid an investigation into the official cover-up that culminated in the private hearing used to secretly convict an innocent whistle-blower.
Western's legal counsel did not make a mistake, she made an example. As a state attorney, following the Administrative Procedures Act is one of the first things taught in law school. Her harping on the faculty handbook is merely a means of throwing up flack to confuse the issue.
But she is just a mouthpiece for the WWU Trustees, doing their bidding to silence a whistle-blower. By making an example of Professor Mills, they have clearly signaled other faculty that criticizing the top brass will be severely punished.
Western's legal counsel did not make a mistake, she made an example. As a state attorney, following the Administrative Procedures Act is one of the first things taught in law school. Her harping on the faculty handbook is merely a means of throwing up flack to confuse the issue.
But she is just a mouthpiece for the WWU Trustees, doing their bidding to silence a whistle-blower. By making an example of Professor Mills, they have clearly signaled other faculty that criticizing the top brass will be severely punished.
