Concordia suspends professor

Concordia University is citing false statements and repeated, disturbing references to engineering professor Valery Fabrikant, who killed four faculty members in August 1992, in its decision to suspend Vesselin Petkov from his teaching position.

For months, Petkov, who earned his PhD in physics at Concordia in 1997 and has taught philosophy at the university’s science and liberal arts colleges, has been waging a vigorous email campaign against his employer, depicting himself as the victim of "academic mobbing," or bullying, by colleagues.

In the most recent of several letters sent to The Gazette, Petkov said he had been suspended for three weeks for defending his rights and "for urging the administration to act against the academic mobbing campaign before another unstable person (unlike myself) be subject to its devastating practices."

Petkov describes his case as "the greatest case of mobbing in the academic world." He claims the minutes of a departmental meeting had been "doctored" and the university had cancelled the only courses it offers in the philosophy of physics. "The unstated reason for their elimination is that I have been teaching one of them and am supposed to teach the other."

Petkov likens his treatment by Concordia to political oppression he and his wife suffered when they fled Communist rule in Bulgaria in 1989. "We accuse all academic mobbers of destroying the moral values in the highest educational institution, where students should also be trained in high professional and moral principles through the personal example of professors and administrators."

In a written statement yesterday, Concordia said Petkov had been suspended as a result of "unfounded allegations" concerning the integrity and truthfulness of the university administration and internal panel appointed to review his complaints, as well as his "continued references to quadruple murderer Valery Fabrikant."

On Aug. 24, 1992, Fabrikant, a disgruntled engineering professor, opened fire on colleagues on the ninthfloorof Concordia’sHenryF. Hall building, killing four faculty members -Matthew Douglass, Michael Hogben, Jaan Saber and Phoivos Ziogas -and wounding secretary Elizabeth Horwood.

Concordia said administrators have tried to mediate with Petkov, who had been warned to "cease and desist" his allegations against the university on several occasions.

"This is an exceptional step, one which is used very sparingly and only under exceptional circumstances. Dr. Petkov’s behaviour, however, is inappropriate and is perceived as threatening by some members of the Concordia community."

Concordia official Christine Mota said confidentiality and legal obligations prevent the university from commenting at length on the grounds for the suspension.

Petkov has filed a grievance against the suspension.