Northern Kentucky University President James Votruba on Friday renewed his criticism of “provocative” remarks attributed to a tenured teacher at a campus race relations forum.

        But Dr. Votruba refused to speculate on what discipline it might entail. “I take this very seriously,” he said, but first, “I want to know what happened.”

        The furor involves what Clinton Hewan, a tenured associate professor of political science, said April 20.

Hewan

Votruba

        Wednesday, The Northerner, the student newspaper,reported that Dr. Hewan had advocated revenge killing of the police officer who shot and killed a young black man and triggered Cincinnati's recent riots.

        Thursday, Dr. Votruba sent everyone on campus an e-mail saying “the irresponsibility demonstrated by these remarks is indefensible” if The Northerner was accurate.

        Friday, with angry regents and calls pouring in from the community, Dr. Votruba met with reporters.

        He said he had talked with others who heard Dr. Hewan — one of NKU's seven tenured black professors — and “in general, they confirm what is reported.”

        Dr. Votruba also said he finally talked with Dr. Hewan on Friday. He said the professor insisted he had been misquoted or quoted out of context.

        The controversy was ignited by these paragraphs in The Northerner: “A need for self-protection against police brutality was a concern of Political Science Professor Clinton Hewan.

        “I do not advocate any violence as an initiate,” Dr. Hewan is quoted as saying. “But in the case of willful murder, the family should go out and get that policeman.”

        “Hewan said the family of Timothy Thomas, as an acceptable way to stand up for themselves, should "quietly stalk that S.O.B. and take him out.'”

        Dr. Votruba said he would decide “what steps are appropriate” next week at the earliest.

        If NKU administrators conclude the story was accurate, it could “have some impact” on Dr. Hewan's next annual performance review, Provost Rogers Redding said.

        Two consecutive negative evaluations would trigger NKU's new post-tenure review.

        Dismissal is a possible outcome because, as Dr. Votruba said, “tenure is not absolute.”

        Nor is his freedom to punish Dr. Hewan if that's what he decides to do.

        The faculty handbook that imposes professional ethics on teachers limits NKU disciplinary options.

        Friday, Dr. Hewan, who teaches courses in international relations and is the benefits chair of the Faculty Senate, and is an affiliated professor with the school's Afro American Studies curriculum, could not be reached for comment. Complicating the controversy is the absence of an audio or video recording of the April 20 forum on race relations where Dr. Hewan spoke.

        Dr. Hewan is one of seven black professors (3 percent) among 225 tenured faculty. Blacks are 3.8 per cent of the undergrads.

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