Professor Sues ULM
By: Janice Park
Updated: April 9, 2009
A ULM professor is speaking out tonight.
He says top officials at the university have harassed and humiliated him after he suffered a stroke.
Now the university is being sued.
Since migrating from India 45 years ago -- Dr. Harry Mehendale has dedicated his life to learning and spreading that knowledge to others.
But after recovering from a stroke, 5 months he returned to work. But Mehendale says he returned not to a life of teaching and research -- but one of harassment, isolation and humiliation. Mehendale is now suing the university. He says his grad students were taken away from him. then forbidden to contact him.
Also, he alleges that his lab equipment-- purchased through millions of dollars in grant money he acquired-- was taken away and given to other faculty members. Mehendale is also making strong allegations against some of the top officials, at the College of Pharmacy.
He states in a letter to the school's dean that Provost Stephen Richters told him he wasn't mentally competent to teach. Mehendale says his body may be weak -- but his mind is not. He also states in the letter that Pharmacy Department Chairman Kevin Baer humiliated him by telling him he was no longer allowed to teach.
University officials say they are unable to comment at this time. For now, Mehendale will continue to fight his physical disability - and his right to teach.
But after recovering from a stroke, 5 months he returned to work. But Mehendale says he returned not to a life of teaching and research -- but one of harassment, isolation and humiliation. Mehendale is now suing the university. He says his grad students were taken away from him. then forbidden to contact him.
Also, he alleges that his lab equipment-- purchased through millions of dollars in grant money he acquired-- was taken away and given to other faculty members. Mehendale is also making strong allegations against some of the top officials, at the College of Pharmacy.
He states in a letter to the school's dean that Provost Stephen Richters told him he wasn't mentally competent to teach. Mehendale says his body may be weak -- but his mind is not. He also states in the letter that Pharmacy Department Chairman Kevin Baer humiliated him by telling him he was no longer allowed to teach.
University officials say they are unable to comment at this time. For now, Mehendale will continue to fight his physical disability - and his right to teach.
