The John Hall investigation; four months later and no info

It has been over four months since Professor John Hall publicly accused a student of being an FBI informant during an economics lecture. Since then, Hall was placed on administrative paid leave and an investigation was launched—which continues with no end in sight.

According to the Portland State website, Hall is currently scheduled to teach two economics courses next fall: EC 201 and EC 446/546. However, if Hall is terminated, the classes will not be cancelled. Instead, another instructor will replace him, said PSU Director of Communications Scott Gallagher.

“Students will not be affected in any way,” he said.

During his suspension, Hall has been paid his regular salary, Gallagher said. According to public records, Hall’s regular monthly salary was $10,192.69, as of Nov. 1, 2009. However, this does not account for the faculty salary restorations that were implemented on April 1, 2010.

The investigation, which is being carried out by the Office of Academic Affairs, is following the process defined by Article 27, Section 3 of PSU’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors’ Collective Bargaining Agreement, Gallagher said. When asked why the investigation is still ongoing—after four months—he said that it is because it is following the CBA process.

According to the CBA, faculty members are suspended during the investigation “only if immediate harm to the member or others is threatened by the member’s continuance” at PSU.

Despite the Vanguard‘s attempts to contact those allegedly involved with the investigation process¬—including Vice Provost for Academic Administration and Planning Carol Mack and Economics Department Chair Randy Bluffstone—it has received no response.

Currently, the Office of the General Counsel will not release the Campus Public Safety Office reports, citing Oregon Revised Statute 192.501(12).

In a letter to the Vanguard, the Office of the General Counsel wrote, “[The statute] exempts from disclosure documents regarding ‘[a] personnel discipline action, or materials or documents supporting that action.'”

Hall, who has taught at PSU for 24 years, could face losing his tenure, though the administration has not arrived at a resolution and no sanction has been imposed.

“We’re still working through the process with the union,” Gallagher said. “We’re not sure how long it will take.”

When asked if Hall would provide a public statement regarding his investigation, Phil Lesch, executive director of PSU’s AAUP chapter, said that no further statements would be made.

“The process is and will remain confidential,” Lesch said. “The investigation and resolution will be treated with the confidentiality and respect required of all human resource matters.”

The incident for which Hall is being investigated occurred on Jan. 14, 2010. According to an article published by the Vanguard on Feb. 4, Hall accused student Zachary “Zaki” Bucharest of being an FBI agent during his “EC 445/545: Comparative Economic Systems” class. In addition, Hall said that Bucharest served as a sniper in the Israeli army, and made claims that Bucharest was a threat to the student body.

Aside from the claims about his military background, Bucharest denied most of the accusations and has since been supported by several student leaders within ASPSU, for which Bucharest served as chief-of-staff. Since the incident, Bucharest was cleared of all charges during a student code of conduct hearing.