Supervisor of Vet School tenure complainant resigns

The immediate supervisor of a former Veterinary School professor involved in a grievance against the University has resigned, officials at the Vet School said this week. Radiology Professor Darryl Biery asked to resign from his post as chair of Clinical Studies late last month, and his resignation has been accepted by Vet School Dean Edwin Andrews. Biery was the immediate supervisor of Vet School professor and former Chief of Oncology Ann Jeglum, who is currently protesting two tenure denials in 1987 and 1989 through the University grievance process. As her supervisor, Biery mat have been involved in the professor's confidential grievance proceedings in some way. Dean Andrews said Tuesday that the resignation is completely unrelated to the Jeglum case. He added that Biery will remain chair of Clinical Studies for six months until a replacement is found. Biery could not be reached for comment. Last week, the Faculty Senate Grievance Commission committee handling the reevaluation of Jeglum's case reported its recommendations on the matter to Provost Michael Aiken. Because of the report's confidentiality, it is not known whether the recommendation sides with Jeglum or the University. The provost must now decide how to resolve the case. Officials in the provost's office said Tuesday that he is still on vacation and that a decision is still several weeks away, but should come soon. However, Deputy Provost Richard Clelland added that the provost's office will be returning its report on the appeal of Vet School professor Jorge Ferrer to the Faculty Senate within the next week. Ferrer, a microbiology professor, accidently exposed staff and students to lambs carrying a leukemia-causing virus at the Vet School's New Bolton Center last summer. Dean Andrews imposed stiff sanctions on Ferrer after he was found principally responsible for the incident, although a committee found no policy violations and determined that no one was at risk of contracting the virus. Provost Aiken has stated previously that the charges were not unfounded and sanctions could be imposed.

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