Oxford college refuses to tell don why she was suspended

Colleagues back academic amid accusations college is acting as a ‘law unto itself’ by ostracising her

AN OXFORD don has been suspended for more than six months “without explanation”, her colleagues claim as they accuse the college of acting as a “law unto itself ”.

The academic has been banned from setting foot in university premises and from speaking to fellow academics since last summer, The Daily Telegraph understands.

Her colleagues have been left “dismayed” by her treatment and terms of suspension, which they say are “draconian”, arguing that it would not be tolerated in the commercial world.

“We believe this is to keep everything under wraps while the internal workings of the college try to force her to resign,” a source said.

“The college is acting as a law unto itself. This length of suspension seems bizarre and unfair.”

The source said that the college, St Cross, had given no explanation of why the academic had been suspended for such a lengthy period of time.

“If they had done something so terrible as to warrant this treatment, they would have been dismissed months ago,” the source said.

“We think there is a sort of bullying element. We believe that the college is hoping that the situation will become so intolerable that they will simply resign.”

Oxford dons have written to the college’s fellows and senior management to raise their concerns about the academic’s treatment, arguing that the affair was damaging St Cross.

“Whatever problems may have arisen, the way in which her case has been handled is degrading both to her and to the reputation of the college,” a letter to the fellows of St Cross said. St Cross is the latest Oxford college to become embroiled in a dispute with a senior don. The dean of Christ Church was suspended in 2018, a move which led to an outcry from alumni who felt he had been treated unfairly.

The college was accused of a “catastrophic misjudgement” over its failed attempts to oust The Very Rev Prof Martyn Percy, who presides over both the college and the cathedral.

Christ Church, which was founded by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, said that Dr Percy had committed “immoral, scandalous or disgraceful” conduct, prompting speculation about the nature of his alleged offences.

Under pressure to clarify the nature of the allegations, the college clarified that his suspension related to a dispute over pay.

St Cross, which caters for graduate

‘If they had done something so terrible as to warrant this treatment, they would have been dismissed months ago’

students, is officially classed as a society of the university rather than a fully autonomous college.

A St Cross College spokesman said: “The college does not comment on individual staffing matters, all of which are dealt with confidentially and in line with the university’s agreed HR policies. These are designed to promote fairness and the resolution of issues.”

The academic did not respond to a request for comment.

♦ Universities have spent more than £1million using non-disclosure agreements (NDAS) to silence student grievances including sexual assault.

Since 2016, a third of Britain’s universities have used confidentiality clauses when resolving student complaints, according to new data obtained under freedom of information laws by the BBC.

In the past four years, universities have paid out £1.3million to students relating to NDAS, ranging in value from £250 to £40,000.