LECTURERS at Trinity College Dublin are setting up a forum for academic freedom, amid claims of bullying at Ireland’s oldest university.

Dr Sarah Alyn Stacey, a French lecturer, says that academic debate is discouraged in Trinity’s hallowed halls. She claims that some lecturers are too intimidated by their faculty bosses to air their views on academic matters such as how courses are run, choice of texts and staff appointments.

One lecturer, who asked not to be named, claimed he was reprimanded by his boss for sending a letter to The Irish Times criticising an academic appointment. Another lecturer claimed her course was withdrawn after a dispute with her department. She said: “Because of my differing views on a number of issues with senior members of this department, a course I was due to teach was cancelled. When I protested I was told I was being difficult.”

Alyn Stacey is spokesman for the group of discontented lecturers, who now plan to establish a National Board of Academic Freedom.

She envisages a board of lawyers and academics, either elected or appointed by the government, to investigate and mediate on academic issues. The board would host a regular conference, and a support group would offer advice to academics.

“Speaking out is seen as a sign of disloyalty to the institution rather than as an attempt to improve the system in place,” said Alyn Stacey. “All too often, severe penalties are meted out to those who speak out, penalties such as bullying or disciplinary actions.”

Five academics at Trinity have so far joined forces, and lecturers at other universities will be invited to join them.

The university’s most senior academics were unimpressed with the lecturers’ campaign. Professor Cyril Smyth, senior dean of the college, described the proposal as “outrageous and absurd.”

“Academic freedom is a privilege and not a right,” he said. “The college has proper channels for instances such as these to be dealt with. Those who refuse to use those channels cannot be entertained.”

Dudley Dolan, a senior lecturer in the university’s computer science department, said: “It is not an issue I have ever thought about. I have as much academic freedom as I need. I’m of more mature years and I certainly have never encountered bullying. I’m sure that what the group are talking about happens, just I have never experienced it.”

Dr Mona O’Moore, who heads the anti-bullying research centre at Trinity College, said bullying is more common among staff than among students. “There is a genuine fear of reprisal and of adversely affecting career prospects, and that situation must be addressed,” said O’Moore.

Alyn Stacey previously worked in the University of Wales, Swansea, scene of the United Kingdom’s biggest test case of academic bullying in recent times. Two philosophy lecturers were suspended for complaining about falling academic standards. Four colleagues resigned in protest. A subsequent internal inquiry found in their favour.

Academic spats have featured regularly in Ireland’s scholarly circles. Nine years ago, Michael Mortell, the president of University College Cork, fell out with its registrar, Professor Aidan Moran, over how the college should be run.

Last year, Ailbhe Smith, a writer and academic at University College Dublin, claimed discrimination when she was passed over for promotion. She went to the Equality Tribunal but the case was thrown out.

Dr Gerald Morgan, an English lecturer, was suspended from Trinity College for allegedly harassing a female colleague. Morgan claimed he was a victim of bullying within the college, in a failed High Court bid to halt disciplinary proceedings.

Anne Clune, an English lecturer for more than 30 years, says she took early retirement because of a strained working environment. She said successive disputes with senior colleagues over course development isolated her in the department.

“Had I continued working there, I would not be alive today. Conditions in the department had become so bad by the time I left, my health was suffering. All one has to do is look at the rate of attrition in staffing levels and the number of early retirements and illnesses within the department, to get an idea of the work-related stress.”

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