Exhvor |
date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 17:40:38 -0400
"Kavita Pandit" S\Add to Address Book @ Add Mobile
From: ert
To: "Dezso Benedek"
"Gabriel Ruhumbika" , "James McGregor" ,
ce: "Garnett Stokes" , "Judith Shaw" , “Amett
Mace"
Subject: Travel to Jilin
Dear Dezso:
Lam following up on my email to you last week regarding your request
for travel funding to visit Jilin in July. T understand from Dean
Stokes that neither the Provost nor OTE will be funding this trip.
T conferred with Judy Shaw regarding UGA's interest in developing a
Chinese language study abroad program at Jilin, We appreciate your
efforts in traveling to Jilin in the last few months to explore this
project, We have decided, however, not to pursue this program at
present; developments since yout visit have caused us to focus on other
study abroad sites in China. Since we will not be making any
investments in the building of a UGA study abroad program in Chinese
languages at flin, you will not need to make further trips to Jilin on
behalf of UGA.
‘Again, thank you for your efforts. Even though we will not be pursuing
it further, we are most appreciative that out colleagues at Jilin were
so interested in partnering with UGA on this project.
Sincerely,
KavitaExhibit 2 - Gatewood: Jilin memo concealed by Attorney General prior to hearing
THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
In the Matter of:
Termination of Tenure Proceeding
DR. DEZSO BENEDEK
Courtroom
UGA Law School
Athens, Georgia
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The above-entitled matter came on for hearing at
9:30 a.m., pursuant to Notice.
BEFORE A HEARING COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF:
SARAJANE LOVE, Chair
ANNE BOTHE
BRUCE BECK
SCOTT WEINBERG
MALCOLM ADAMSAPPEARANCES:
On behalf of the University of Georgia:
REBECCA MICK, Senior Assistant Attorney General
Georgia Department of Law
40 Capitol Square
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
On behalf of Dr. Benedek:
STEPHEN HUMPHREYS, Attorney
Stephen F. Humphreys, P.C.
P.O. Box 192
191 East Broad Street, Suite 305
Athens, Georgia 30603
[these cover pages identifying the hearing as the source of the testimony, as well as the
counsel making appearnces, applies to all other hearing transcripts presented as
exhibits pursuant to this notice]CROSS EXAMINATION
12
13
14
15
16
7
18
19
20
a1
22
23
24
25
BY MR. HUMPHREYS:
Q_ Okay, Ms. Gatewood, the first question I'd like to
ask you, do you understand the difference between a study
abroad program and a student exchange program?
A I'm very clear on that.
Q_ Well, do you think that your contact you're
referring to in China was clear on the difference when she
was talking about Dr. Benedek being the contact for the
student exchange program?
A. You'd have to ask her. She wrote very clearly
that she understood that he was assigned as the contact
person.
Q_ Okay, well, we've talked about what Provost Mace
sent Dr. Benedek there to do, which | think you testified
197
was to go and set up a study abroad program.
A Correct.
Q Is that the same thing as a student exchange
program?
A No, its very different.
Q Okay. So -- also I noticed when your contact in
China was talking about the student exchange program, in
quotes, she was also referring to one-on-one instruction and
home stays similar to the study abroad programs that Dr.
Benedek had previously created at Huangshan and was asked to
create, by Provost Mace, at Jilin.
A. Isthat a question?
Q Yes, that's a question.
A Would you repeat the question?
Q Are you familiar -- | know there's been a lot of
correspondence back and forth between the Office of
International Education, OIE, and Dr. Benedek. Were you
familiar with those components as parts of the Huangshan
Study Abroad Program Dr. Benedek was trying to develop, the
one-on-one and home stays?
A Yes, as components of the Huangshan program.
Q_Butyou talked about a student exchange program
that existed before Dr. Benedek went there.
A Uh-huh.
Q__Did that student exchange program consist of home
1981 stays and one-on-one Chinese language instruction?
2 A No, itdid not.
3 Q Solamnot sure -- okay, the next question | want
4 toask you ~
5 A Well, actually if | may, | think the important
6 point is that Jilin understood Dr. Benedek's relationship to
7 be as a representative of the exchange program and he
8 effectively canceled that relationship.
9 — Q_lamhaving a very hard time understanding how Dr.
10 Benedek is sent by Provost Mace to Jilin University to set
11. up a Chinese language study abroad program and he cancels a
12 exchange program in nanotechnology and cancer research.
13 A It's actually not an exchange program in
14 nanotechnology and cancer research. It's an undergraduate
15 exchange program across the institutions, so students in
16 Chinese language could go there. It's not an exchange ~
17 our research exchange is in nanotechnology and cancer
18 research.
19 Q Well, let me be clear on what you're saying he
20 canceled. You're not saying he canceled the nanotechnology?
21 A No, but I'm saying he potentially compromised our
22. relationship with a very important part.
23 Q_ And how did he do that?
24 A Our partnerships are very complex and multi-
25. faceted and so while the nanotechnology and bioinformatics
199
1 piece of our exchange, if Jilin thinks that we're not
2 interested in collaborating with them and sending our
3. students to their institution, they may also decide that
4 they don't want to collaborate with us in research. It's a
5. shifting and ever-changing situation.
6 Q_ Well, that's true, so when Dr. Benedek was sent by
7. Provost Mace over to Jilin to set up a study abroad program
8 in Chinese language, it may have compromised the University
9 of Georgia's relationship with Jilin when the Office of
10 International Education canceled the study abroad program ~-
11 A We actually never did that.
12 Q and told Dr. Benedek not to pursue it
13 A That's actually untrue, we never did that.
14 MR. HUMPHREYS: This is from our documents that we
15. produced this morning, this page number 192. | apologize
16 for the document confusion.
17 BY MR. HUMPHREYS:18
19
20
at
22
23
24
25
Noasens
Q_ Now | want to be clear, if the University of
Georgia canceled ~ or the Office of International Education
canceled the Jilin --
MR. HUMPHREYS: Do you have some for the panel
members? This is not it.
BY MR. HUMPHREYS:
Q _I'mgoing to let you look at pages ~ oh, you have
it -- 192 and 193. This is an e-mail dated June 12, 2007,
200
down at the bottom it's signed "Sincerely, Kavita." Do you
know who Kavita is?
A. Yes, Ido.
Q Whois that?
A Atthe time of this writing, she was Associate
Dean of Franklin College.
Q Okay.
A And this was right before she left the University
of Georgia to go to the State University of New York System.
Q Okay, and the subject is travel to Jilin
A. Right.
Q It's an e-mail from Kavita Pandit to Dezso Benedek
and it's copied to Dean Stokes, Judith Shaw - that's the
Judith Shaw who is the current -- was the Director of the
Office of International Education.
A Uh-huh
Q And this is
to read the e-mail?
(The witness reviews a document.)
A. I've read it.
Q And this is the e-mail about funding for Dr.
Benedek to go to Jilin to pursue this study abroad program
that Provost Mace asked him to implement; is that correct?
A That is correct.
Q_ Okay, and then the second paragraph says -- this
well, do you want to take a minute
201
is Kavita Pandit saying, "I conferred with Judy Shaw.
that is the Director of Georgia's Office of International
Education at the time?
A. Thatis correct.
Q_ Okay. "...regarding UGA's interest in developing
a Chinese language study abroad program at Jilin. We
appreciate your efforts in traveling to vilin in the last8 few months to explore this project. We have decided,
9 however, not to pursue this program at present..."
10 A_ | would say that the first time I saw this e-mail
11. was last week. | will also emphasize that this came out,
12. not of the Office of International Education, as you're
13. saying
14 MS. MICK: Please repeat that statement.
15 THE WITNESS: This did not come out of the Office
16 of International Education and | will also say, to add
17 further context to this e-mail, Dr. Benedek was given $3000
18 to go to vilin, which is $3000 more than most UGA faculty
19 members receive to start UGA study abroad programs. When he
20 returned, he provided some details, but he also came back
21. asking for more funds to continue to develop the program at
22. Jilin, which | believe in conference with the Office of
23. International Education and Franklin College, the decision
24 was not to continue to fund his trips to uilin.
25 MR. HUMPHREYS: | don't mean to interrupt you, but
202
1 'mnot sure you're answering my question.
BY MR. HUMPHREYS:
3 Q_ Youtestified that Dr. Benedek was not instructed
4. to stop pursuing the program at Jilin.
5 A Tomy knowledge, he was not instructed to stop
6 pursuing it
7 Q Well, does this e-mail change your ~
8 MS. MICK: | believe ~
9 A Tomy knowledge at the time in 2007, he was not
10 instructed. To my knowledge in the fall of '09, | did not
141. know this until very recently.
12 Q_ Okay, but i'm not sure ~- are you disputing the
13. authenticity of this e-mail?
14 A No.
15. Q_ Okay.
16 A_ I'mnot confirming it either though.
17 Q_ Well, does this, as far as you can tell, purport
18 to be an e-mail instructing Dr. Benedek not to further
19 pursue the UGA study abroad program at Jilin?
20 A _Itsays that UGA is not interested, so yes.
21 Q Okay. So it was UGA and not Dr. Benedek that
22. stopped the UGA study abroad Chinese language program at
1 23 Jilin.Exhibit 3 - Shaw testimony on Jilin memo contradicting accusations
418
2. THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
3
(4 Seeseepcpossod
5 Inthe Matter of
6 Termination of Tenure Proceeding
7 DR. DEZSO BENEDEK
be
9
10 Courtroom
UGA Law School
1" Athens, Georgia
12 Thursday, July 29, 2010
13
The above-entitled matter came on for hearing at
14
9:30 a.m., pursuant to Notice.
15
BEFORE A HEARING COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF:
16
SARAJANE LOVE, Chair
17 ANNE BOTHE
BRUCE BECK
18 SCOTT WEINBERG
MALCOLM ADAMS
19
20
21
22
23
24
25450
Q_ Okay, let me -- Dr. Shaw, I'm showing to you
number 192 of the documents produced by Dr. Benedek. If
you'll take a minute to look at that.
(The witness reviews a document.)
Q This is an e-mail from Kavita Pandit. You know
who Kavita Pandit is.
A Yes.
Q_> Whatis her position?
A Atthe time, she was Associate Dean in Franklin
College and had responsibility for international programs.
Q And in the second paragraph, she says, "I
conferred with Judy Shaw...."
A. Right
Q Do you remember conferring with her?
A | didn't remember this e-mail at all, but I'm sure
we must have talked.
Q You don't remember the e-mail, but
A And | don't remember talking to her specifically,
but -
Q > Well, when you read this, by your recall, is this
conclusion correct which is "we have decided," referring to
you and Kavita Pandit?
A. Itwas always my position that there was a problem
trying to set up a year long language program in vilin
because of the lack of the sort of infrastructure that you
451
find at universities like Nanjing and because of the
weather. Dr. Benedek mentioned some of those problems when
he first came back from Jilin. He then requested more money
to pursue establishing a program there and | had expressed
my concerns to vilin myself and | discussed those with
Kavita. | didn't think that that was the place to have a
language program.
Q Well, let me ask you this, was it Dr. Benedek’s
idea to set up a Chinese language program at Jilin?
A No.
Q_ Whose idea was it?
A. Dr. Mace's
Q Dr. Mace. And again, | want to go back so
everybody knows about how the authority works at UGA. If
Dr. Mace says | want to establish a Chinese - UGA Chinese16
17
18
19
20
at
22
23
24
25
anena
language program at Jilin, does he have that sort of
because-|-said-so authority?
A. Well, OIE put $3000 in and Dr. Benedek went over
and began work on it.
Q_ Right.
A. He himself admitted to some of the problems I'm
talking about.
Q > Well, | think that's correct, I've heard of other
problems such as minus 22 degrees.
A Yes.
452
Q__ But 'm just trying to understand, Dr. Mace says,
Dr. Shaw, you may not like it, and Dr. Benedek, you may not
think it's a good idea, but | want you to go set up this
program in Jilin. Does he have the authority to say that?
A. The question | think here was funding, further
funding. And Franklin College wasn't going to fund it
further and my office wasn't going to fund it further,
Q_ So that’s what I'm trying to understand. If Dr.
Mace says go do it, then you and Dr. Pandit have the
authority to say no, Dr. Mace, we're not?
‘A We have the authority not to fund it.
Q_ Well, Dr. Mace said he wanted it done --
MS. MICK: Your Honor, I'm going to object, this
has been asked and answered ~
MR. HUMPHREYS: | haven't even asked my question,
‘so maybe she could wait
CHAIRWOMAN LOVE: You can ask one more question,
but you're not getting where you're going with your line of
questioning, it seems to me. Ask your next question.
MR. HUMPHREYS: Let me see if | can help you
understand where I'm going with this. You know, we've heard
a lot about Dr. Benedek was told
MS. MICK: I'm going to object to his testimony.
CHAIRWOMAN LOVE: Sustained.
MR. HUMPHREYS: |'m trying to help you understand
453
my question.
BY MR. HUMPHREYS:
Q Let me ask you this, when you and Dr. Pandit
conferred and made this decision, did you consult with Dr.
Mace?A. Ididn't make this decision. | didn't make a
decision to cancel the program. There was no program.
Q Well,
A. This was a Franklin College decision about whether
to further fund exploration, and because of the things that
Dr. Benedek had found out in his initial visit there, which
| agreed with, it didn't seem the place that we wanted to
put our students year-round.
Q And-
A. And that's what | talked to Dr. Pandit about.
Q And I take it Dr. Benedek agreed with you about
that, but --
CHAIRWOMAN LOVE: Mr. Humphreys, again, | want
to -- please don't testify.
BY MR. HUMPHREYS:
Q Okay. But my question is, Dr. Mace said he wanted
it done, did you or Dr. Pandit or you both confer with Dr.
Mace and say we know you said you wanted this done, but
MS. MICK: Objection, asked and answered.
CHAIRWOMAN LOVE: Sustained.
454
BY MR. HUMPHREYS:
Q Did you inform Dr. Mace of the decision to stop
the development?
‘A | didn't make the decision
Q_ And who did make the decision? Did Dr. Pandit
make the decision?
A. Idon't know. I mean, | told you I'd forgotten
this e-mail until | was shown it recently and heard about
it.
Q_ Well, | apologize, | think | am sincerely confused
now because I'm trying to understand if nobody made the
decision, how did this program stop?
MS. MICK: Objection, asked and answered.
CHAIRWOMAN LOVE: Sustained.
BY MR. HUMPHREYS:
Q If lcan refer you to Exhibit Book D of the
Attorney General, page 13. I'm looking at an e-mail from
you to Dean Fallows. It says, "...Dezso has spun off yet
another Humanitad China Program..." Do you see that?
A Yes.
Q And I guess | want to ask you ~- | can walk
through the sequence here -- Provost Mace asked Dr. Benedek23
24
25
Corvouron+
10
"
12
to go set up the Chinese program.
MS. MICK: I'm going to object to this testimony,
he needs to ask her questions about the document.
455
MR. HUMPHREYS: That's what I'm going to do.
CHAIRWOMAN LOVE: I'l sustain the objection. Get
to the document.
BY MR. HUMPHREYS:
Q_ Well, let me ask you a question, if UGA has sent
Dr. Benedek to set up a program in Jilin but for some
reason, we don't know how the decision was made, UGA says we
don't want this program any more, in your mind, is there a
problem --
‘A. When | wrote this e-mail, | was not aware or had
forgotten, | don't know which it is, the e-mail from Kavita
Pandit saying that we canceled the program.
Q_ Okay, so you said Dezso is going to get another
A. = dilin program, right
Q__ You didn't understand that UGA had said we don't
want that program.
A. Right
Q_ Sol guess my problem is, after UGA sends Dr.
Benedek over there to set up a program and then they say we
don't want that program --
MS. MICK: Objection, he's testifying.
CHAIRWOMAN LOVE: Sustained.
BY MR. HUMPHREYS:
Q_ Is there.a problem with Dr. Benedek turning over
the program to somebody else?
456
‘A wouldn't have written this e-mail if |
remembered the other e-mail or knew about it.
Q Now let me ask you also about vilin and maybe you
don't remember, since you don't remember this decision, but
my question is did anybody, to your knowledge, inform Jilin
of the decision by whoever that UGA was not going to
continue with the UGA program at Jilin?
A |don't know, | really don't know. Not from my
office, | don't think so.
Q Would that be a normal procedure if you're working
with a foreign university to set up a study abroad program
and you decide we're not going to do it; you would inform13. them?
14 A Yes,
15 Q Who would inform them?
16 A The person -- normally it would be the person who
17 was setting up the program, had started the negotiations.
18 Inthe case of Jilin, we have some very important links with
19. them and when it did come to my office's knowledge that
20. there might have been some misunderstandings there, we
21 contacted them to try to clear things up.
22 Q_ And when did that happen?
23 A_ I don't remember. Dr. Gatewood would know that.
24 Q And~
25 A _ actually went to the eminent research scientist
457
1. who goes to Jilin, and asked him on his trip over there, to
2 make sure that they had -- that things were all right. They
3. said they were all right, but | wanted him to go in and talk
4. specifically to some of the people | knew there and make
5. sure that there were no feathers ruffled.
6 Q Okay. Letme make sure | understand this. When
7 the decision -- wherever it came from -- to terminate the
8 UGA study abroad program at Jilin was made, it was up to the
9 program developer, in this case Dr. Benedek, to inform ulin
10 -~-
11 A__I don't think there's a protocol here for
12 something -- you know, a program in development.
13 Q_ It would not be inappropriate for Dr. Benedek to
14. inform Jilin that Franklin College and OIE had decided
15 they're not going to pursue the study abroad program, I'm
16 sorry, we can't do the program.
17 A Right.
18 Q_ And | want to go back to the charge if | can for a
19 second, if | can find my copy.
20 MR. HUMPHREYS: Does the panel have the Statement
21 of Charges?
22 CHAIRWOMAN LOVE: Yes, we do.
23 BY MR. HUMPHREYS:
24 — Q Looking at page 3 of the Statement of Charges
25 about the Jilin Program.
458
1 It says in the charge, the last sentence in the
2. charge, "You effectively canceled a UGA student exchangeprogram with Jilin..."
‘A Iknow nothing of that.
Q Now before that, it says, "...you used... UGA funds
to develop your own program..." with Jilin --
MS. MICK: | would object. The question --
CHAIRWOMAN LOVE: Sustained -- sustained. She did
not prepare the Statement of Charges, it is the hearing
committee's duty to sift through the evidence and apply it
to the Statement of Charges.
MR. HUMPHREYS: I'm asking ~
CHAIRWOMAN LOVE: | sustained the objection.
BY MR. HUMPHREYS:
Q Let me ask you this, Dr. Shaw, as far as the study
abroad program and the student exchange program at Jilin, |
think you just said that there was some confusion about what
was canceled
‘A | know nothing about that.
MR. HUMPHREYS: Okay. Allright, that's all the
questions | have.
MS. MICK: | have no questions.
CHAIRWOMAN LOVE: No questions. All right, then
you're excused, Dr. Shaw.
25 MS. MICK: Thank you, Dr. Shaw.
ona horns Roe pee
RBBVSosIsAAR SH ISC@NMHMAGEahisik &
UGR-ELT OE
Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 16:53:04 +0200
This is an enquiry e-mail via http://is.itk.hu/mbs
from:
Noel Fallows
Dear Prof. Bélik: Please forgive my writing in English.
I am wondering if you can send me some information
about the "Maymester in Budapest" study abroad program
at your university that University of Georgia (UGA)
students have attended? Specifically, our students have
been taking the following courses:
MM ELTE 3240
MM ELTE 3241
MM ELTE 3990
We do not have any course descriptions or syllabi on
file for these courses - could you please send them to
me for our records? I am also wondering if your
university issues the transcripts for this program? If
50, would you be able to send me a list of UGA students
who have received past credit for this Maymester
program?
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely, Prof. Noel Fallows (Associate Dean of
International Programs, UGA, Athens, Georgia, USA).from Lszl Boros
to nfallows@franklin.uga.edu
cc Dezso Benedek
date Thu, May 21, 2009, at 2:40 AM
subject Maymester in Budapest
Dear Dr. Fallows:
Your request for information on the Maymester in Budapest Program (MBP) of the
Humanitad Foundation was forwarded to me for an answer.
In 2004, for reasons unclear to us, the University of Georgia decided to discontinue
its affiliation with the MBP. This happened in November of 2004, when there were
students enrolled already, so the request of Dr. Clifton Pannell and Dr. Dezso
Benedek of UGA was for us to take over the academic sponsorship of the Program.
In my capacity of Vice Rector for International Relations, | decided to do so, with the
mutual understanding that ELTE will have no financial or any other organizational
responsibility as far as the running of the program is concerned. That remained,
and still remains, the responsibility of the Humanitad Foundation. We accepted the
academic sponsorship of the MBP agreeing to the following stipulations of UGA:
- there will be no official UGA involvement with this program
- UGA will accept the ELTE transfer credits only ifthe content of the UGA approved
courses remains the same, and if the instructor of record is a UGA professor. The
agreement was that we will forward the transfer credits as:
MM ELTE 3240 - equivalent of UGA CMLT/ANTH 3240
MM ELTE 3241 - equivalent of UGA CMLT/ANTH 3241
MM ELTE 3990 - equivalent of UGA CMLT 3990
In this designation "MM ELTE” stands for MayMester at Eotvos Lorand Tudomany
Egyetem (ELTE). Since these in fact are University of Georgia courses, | am sure that
you can have access to the syllabi at UGA, and | also trust that all the above
information is on file at UGA, and readily available to you from Dr. Pannell’ office.
Also, [am confident that the University of Georgia keeps a record of all students to
who it issues transfer credits and it could easily assist you with the information you
need. After all, UGA has been issuing credits for the MBP for almost a decade.
Since you do not seam to be familiar with the background of the MBP, I wish to add
some more information for you. In 2004, the only way we could accommodate the
UGA request to issue credits for UGA courses taught by a UGA professor, was if the
UGA professor was also an ELTE adjunct educator.
Since an earlier visit of an official UGA delegation lead by Vice President Dr. James
Fletcher, an academic cooperation agreement was signed between our Universitieswhich made it possible for us to accept Dr. James Fletcher and Dr. Dezso Benedek as
adjunct professors, Our academic cooperation with the University of Georgia has
been excellent for the past ten years. Within the academic projects established by
Dr. James Fletcher, Dr. Benedek has been delivering, yearly, guest lectures, has
served on dissertation committees, and conducted graduate study tests. We do
hope that this sound academic relationship will continue.
‘The Maymester in Budapest Program certainly is one of the better academic
programs around, for which, we issue credit, not only to the University of Georgia,
but, for other prestigious schools as well.
This year too, there is a group of UGA students enrolled in the Maymester in
Budapest Program, and after the exams, when the grades have been submitted, we
will send you the transfer credits as we have been doing for the past years.
Should you have more questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely yours,
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Laszlo BorosFrom: Noel Fallows
Subject: Re: Maymester in Budapest
To: “Lszi Boros” laciboros@yahoo.com
Date: Friday, May 22, 2009, 10:20 AM
Dear Dr. Boros:
Thank you for your response to my e-mail. Based upon your e-mail to me
it appears that you are representing Humanitad and not the University of
Budapest. Could you please confirm which organization you currently
represent and what your role is? | would be grateful if you could send me
your official title and affiliation along with your business address, since this
information is not included in your e-mail. | would also greatly appreciate it
if you could send me official documentation that confirms your authority to
grant credit for the University of Budapest.
With regards to my previous request for syllabi, | am wondering if itis
common practice for your university to issue credit for courses for which
you apparently do not have syllabi, and | would like to ask you once again
for copies of the Maymester-specific syllabi for the courses listed for 2009,
should these be available.
Finally, | would like to point out a very important issue, which is that the
UGA students currently enrolled in the 2009 Maymester in Budapest
Program will not in fact be able to transfer credit into the University of
Georgia, a decision that was conveyed to the program's director in early
January of 2008, in the wake of a rigorous and on-going review of all non-
UGA study abroad programs. In light of this situation, and for my own
records as Associate Dean of International Programs at UGA, | will need to
see the list of UGA students registered with the University and with
Humanitad in the 2009 Maymester in Budapest Program, and I would be
grateful if you could clarify to whom these students have paid tuition. | am
sure that you can understand my concerns, and I very much hope that you
will supply this information.
I do thank you for your message, and | look forward to hearing from you
again soon.
Sincerely, Noel Fallows.
= Show quoted text -
-- Dr. Noel Fallows
Professor and Associate Dean
Franklin College of Arts & SciencesUniversity of Georgia
316 Old College
Athens, GA 30602
USA.
Tel: 706-542-3400
Fax: 706-542-3422
E-mail: nfallows@franklin.uga.eduFrom: “Lszl Boros” laciboros@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Maymester in Budapest
To: "Noel Fallows"
Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 4:35 PM
Dear Prof. Fallows,
Perhaps my previous e-mail couldn’t be correctly clear in English but I’m
representing only my University, Eétvds Lorand University Budapest (EL’
have never had any personal interest, any position or any relationship with
Humanitad Foundation.
I send you my CV and you can see my positions at my University, in the
Hungarian and the European Higher Education Systems, in different sci
projects and research institutions.
tific
In this sence I can only repeat each sentence of my previous e-mail. I have only
academic responsibility for the MBP based on the academic cooperation
agreement between two Universities and my University has no financial or any
other organizational responsibility for the program.
Thope my answer can help to have a clear view of my role in this traditional
cooperation.
Sincerely
Lszl6 Boros
Prof. Laszlé Boros
Head of Department for European Studies and
Director of MA in International Studies
Faculty of Social Scences
E6rvés Lorand University Budapest
Pazmény Péter sétiny 1/A
H-1117 Budapest
HungaryTel: +36 20 358 1246
E-mail: laciboros@yahoo.comMay 27, 2009
TO: Rector Prof. Dr. Ferenc Hudecz
E6tvés Lorand University, Budapest
CC: Chancellor Dr. Juhaszné Huszty Katalin
FROM: Dr. Amett C. Mace, Jr., Provost
University of Georgia
RE: Academic credit
Dear Rector Professor Hudecz:
I write to you in my capacity as Provost and Senior Vice President for
Academic Affairs at the University of Georgia.
We are currently reviewing all of the study abroad programs that our
students attend, and some important questions have arisen about
academic programs of your university sponsored by the Humanitad
Foundation. The titles of these programs are "Maymester in Budapest" and
“Julymester in Budapest"
http://homepage.mac.com/humanitadprograms/culture/
As far as we can tell from this web site, the nature of the relationship
between the Humanitad Foundation and the University of Budapest is
unclear.
We would like to know if, or to what extent, these Maymester and
Julymester in Budapest programs are affiliated with the University of
Budapest, and if they are taught on the Eotvos Lorand campus by its
faculty? Some of the course numbers for these programs as they are listed
on the Humanitad website, and as they appear on transcripts received by
our university, are as follows:
MM ELTE 3240 - equivalent of UGA CMLT/ANTH
3240 MM ELTE 3241 — equivalent of UGA CMLT/ANTH
3241 MM ELTE 3990 - equivalent of UGA CMLT 3990
| enclose in the attachment a previously received transcript for Maymester
in Budapest. We would like to know if these courses listed are validUniversity of Budapest courses?
In addition, can you please tell us if the University of Georgia students who
are participants in the program are registered students of the University of
Budapest, and do they pay tuition to the institution? As you can see from
the attachment, the transcripts as we receive them are signed by Dr.
Laszlo Boros. We would like to know if Dr. Boros is an officer or faculty
member of the University of Budapest and if he has the authority to issue
transcripts. These transcripts are not written in Hungarian, but they are
being represented to us as official transcripts from your university. We
would like confirmation if they are indeed official University Budapest
transcripts.
Also, according to an email recently received from Dr. Boros, he states that
a faculty member at the University of Georgia, Dr. Deszo Benedek,
apparently holds a position with your university as "Adjunct Educator". We
would appreciate any further information about Dr. Benedek’s contractual
obligations to your institution in this or any other role.
Thank you for your time to respond to this email.From: Bélik Marton (HU)
To: asaye@uga.edu
Sent: Mon, June 8, 2009, 3:30 PM
Subject: Academic credit. Attn: Dr. Arnett C. Mace, Jr., Provost
University of Georgia
Dear Dr. Mace:
Your questions have been already addressed by Dr. Boros Laszlo, in his letter of
May 21, 2009 to Dr. Noel Fallows, Associate Dean of the Franklin College of Arts
and Sciences of the University of Georgia
As Dr. Boros has already explained, the "Maymester in Budapest’ courses are in
fact UGA courses, taught by a UGA professor, and simply mirrored in an ELTE
transcript. In 2004, we accepted to, yearly, return these credits at the request of
Associate Dean Clifton Pannell and Dr. Dezso Benedek of the University of
Georgia. At that time, our agreement stipulated that ELTE will have no
administrative or organizational responsibilities, and that UGA will have no official
relationship with the “Maymester in Budapest Program,” but it will continue to
accept the transfer credits for its own courses, as long as the instructor of record
remains a UGA professor. ELTE does not have any official relationship with the
Humanitad Foundation, which appears to be an NGO in charge of the
organizational, financial and logistic aspects of the Program. It is our assumption
that all the above information and records concerning these issues should be on
file in the offices of the appropriate UGA administrators.
We are certain that your records will also reflect that the location of the Program,
as we are sure you know, is Western and Central Europe, since the classroom of
the Maymester is the tour-buss in which the class travels through six or seven
countries, including Budapest.
Also, as it has been already clearly explained, Dr. Dezso Benedek is not under
any contract with ELTE, and has not, and is not receiving any payments from
ELTE. His scholarly activities here have started within an ELTE - UGA
cooperation agreement, of which you should also have your own records.
And lastly, Dr. Boros Laszlo, a respectable senior faculty and administrator, then
Vice Rector of ELTE, and in Charge of International Relations, certainly had the
authority to make decisions in such matters.
With this, we think we have exhausted alll information we can provide to you. If
you need more clarity in these issues, we suggest you contact the HumanitadFoundation, but first of all, also consult your own records, your own faculty and
academic departments, since UGA should be in the possession of all the above
information
Sincerely yours,
Marton Belik
Office of the RectorEOTV6s LORAND UNIVERSITY BuDaPEST
Egyetem tér 1-3, H-1053 Budapest, Hungary
Tel: +36 1266 4140 www.elte.hu
July 13,2009
Dr. Amet Mace
Provost
The University of Georgia
Athens GA, 30606
Dear Dr. Mace:
Lam writing to inform you that Eétvés Lorand University (ELTE) has forwarded the transfer
credits of the Maymester in Budapest Program to the home institutions of all the participating,
students, including to the Admissions Office of the University of Georgia.
I would also like to bring to your attention the fact that Dr, Noel Fallows has informed us that,
the University of Georgia will not accept these transfer credits. While any university,
including the University of Georgia, can take the liberty of not accepting transfer credit
usually such decisions are made at least one academic year in advance, and usually are based
on issues concerning academic rigor. I wish to point out to you that in 2004, the University of
Georgia requested of ELTE to assist with the transfer of credits, exactly because in December
of that year there were UGA students already enrolled in the program,
Although Dr. Noel Fallows contacted ELTE with his questions and his questionnaire after the
arrival of the Maymester students to Budapest, he claimed that his decision to refuse credits
was based on a rigorous and timely investigation of the program. While we cannot get
involved in your university’s internal affairs, my colleagues and I feel surprised about Dr
Fallows? dedication to deny credits to his own students, especially in the case of such an
excellent, and celebrated study abroad program as the Maymester in Budapest.
In his letter to ELTE, Associate Dean Fallows demanded that we send the syllabi of the
courses to his office. When I did not do that, apparently he could not understand that we just
wanted to save him the embarrassment of receiving syllabi of his own college from a
Hungarian university, so we just pointed out that his office must have had the requested
materials. Unfortunately, on a less collegial tone he questioned my identity, status and
authority and added that: “...[ am wondering if it is common practice for your university to
issue credit for courses for which you apparently do not have syllabi, and I would like to ask
you once again for copies of the Maymester-specific syllabi for the courses listed for 2009,
Should these be available.”
Although, we all know that such arrogance never helps, I will now send you the syllabi,which of course we had, and which we ate certain that are available also at the University of
Georgia. With this, I regard the Maymester credit issue closed.
ELTE has excellent international academic relations with over one hundred and twenty
institutions of higher education around the world. We are glad to be involved in good quality
academic programs with any university, including the University of Georgia, and we hope
that in the future you will be able to entrust our international cooperation into the hands of
qualified academic professionals with whom we can pursue together programs of academic
excellence.
Sincerely yours,
Prof. Laszl6 Boros
Head of Department for European Studies and
Director of MA Programs in International Studies
Faculty of Social Sciences
E6rvis Lorand University Budapest
Pazmény Péter sétiny 1/A.
H-1117 Budapest
HungaryExviibik & 1/3/11 1047
Gmail - Urgent: Stent Rights FERPA) Violation
Urgent: Student Rights (FERPA) Violation
3 messages
Joe Kubler Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 9:32 PM
To: presuga@uga.edu
Cc: dezsobenedek@gmail.com, balik.marton@rekthiv.elte.edu, rlloyd@iert org, ferpa@ed.gov
Dear President Adams:
My name is Joe Kubler. To date, we have not yet met, however I believe my uncle, Dr. Eli Capilouto of the
University of Alabama Birmingham, is a colleague of yours and has mentioned sharing your acquaintance on
multiple occasions. | am currently enrolled at UGA and am currently planning on graduating this December after
the completion of two more courses.
| write to you because | feel like | have exhausted my other options and that this is something that you need to
know about directly and urgently.
It has come to my attention that the UGA Franklin College of Arts and
Sciences sent my 2008 Maymester in Budapest transcript to an academic
evaluation agency and requested an evaluation of it. The agency
contacted the issuer of my transcript, Eotvos Lorand University (ELTE)
and told them that it was |, who provided UGA with this transcript,
and that UGA not knowing what the document really was, wanted a quick
answer because it was “quite anxious to move forward with their plans
for this student,” implying that | have committed academic fraud
which | have not.
Needless to say, | have never seen this transcript, which was sent in
September 2008 from Hungary directly to UGA. Therefore, | never
“provided” the University with anything to act on at my request.
What is more troubling though is that Arts and Sciences sent out my
official transcript with my name, social security number and grades
without my explicit permission, as FERPA rules would require. (In the
attached copy of my transcript, my social security is now removed).
When | found out about this, | requested through Open Records the
documents related to this issue. | was told that no such documents
existed, and when my attomey asked for the same documents, they were
denied to him, ironically, due to FERPA restrictions quoted by the
University
Lam sure that you also realize that there is something wrong with all
this, and | hope that you will be able to look into it and clarify the
situation for me.
Cordially,
Joseph (Joe) Kubler
ikubler@uga.edu
404-405-8874
aps: tmall. google.com /mall/ui-28ik-c68t3cb7e l&view=ptdsearch=inboxésh=1233301598819192 Page 1of2Gmail - geet: Student Rights FERPA) Violation
Related Documents.pdf
561K
Dezso Benedek
To: Stephen Humphreys
[Quoted text hidden}
Related Documents.pdf
561K
Dezso Benedek
To: Stephen Humphreys
Forwarded message
From: Joe Kubler
Date: Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 9:32 AM
Subject: Urgent: Student Rights (FERPA) Violation
To: presuga@uga.edu
Ce: dezsobenedek@gmail.com, balik.marton@rekthiv.elte,edu,
Wloyd@iertorg, ferpa@ed.gov
[Quoted text hidden
Related Documents.paf
DB soik
np: /mal. google.com mal/Pui~28ik~cbAc7eleview=ptbsearch=inboxéth=1233301598819F92
apna 1047 om
Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 11:08 PM
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 8:00 AM
Page 2of 2@
‘The University of Georgia
oi ee an San
5 May 2009
Rachel Lloyd, Manager of External Relations
International Education Research Foundation inc
Credential Evaluation Service
P.O. Box 3665
Culver City, CA 90231-3665
Dear Ms Lloyd
Please find enclosed the two transcripts we have discussed.
uses
£8850231318US
expres WN
Processed on
M05 09 um,
Cage
[would appreciate it if you would send your evaluations directly to me at
the following address
Asse: Dean Noe! Fallows
Dean's Office Frank College oF Ans & Sciences
University of Georgia
56 Old College
Athens, GA 30602-1792
Orvia email
nfilowse franklin. ug.edu
Look forward to hearing om you.
sincerely,
Need |
Dr. Noe allows
‘Associate Dean
‘sce «Aes Geng 16021738
Sloot tenn ese ttEVAL
gee 12 08
Eorvds LonAno UnwersiTy BUDAPEST
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
INSTITUTE FoR POLITICAL AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
DEPARTMENT FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES.
Mah Pardny Petr sty A, 11117 Budapest, una
are 1288 410 Ena poseidon:
* scademic Grade and Credit Transfer Transcript
“This is to conte that Me. KUBLER, Josep » pariipated inthe
Fa en Balapest Progam, between May 15—Iuns25, 2008, ands ompleed
Mayr ours eiements with the Ftowing ests
Course credit, Grade
‘ei ELTE 3240- equivalent of UGA CMLT 3240 3 =A
MIM ELTE 3241- equivalent of UGA CMLT 324)
IM ELIE 3990 equivalent of UGA CMT 3900 3
MMM ELTE 4920 equivalent of UGA LING 4920 3
~ 22°
Brot Bowatslo suly 7, 2008
Head of DeprtnetFrom: Rachel Lioyd fpailtoxlloui@ixt.ong} Semt: Monday, August 31, 2009 10:14
PM To: ektorsbludenselte.bu; fattkar@ludenselte du
nkouniog@ludens.cte hu Subject: FY: URGENT - Information regarding the
verification of study abroad program,
“To Whom tt May Cancer
{urgently request your assistance, | phoned on [une 11, 2009 and was told tw make
yy inguiry via email, {emailed on june 12, June 25, July 20, July 34,2009 and
‘August 13, 2009. Thave not yet recsived a response. hope that you can help us
‘with this problem as University of Georgia Athens is quite anxious to move Forward
(with ther plans for this student. Lam forwarding miy original email bolow:
International Educational Resoarch Foundation is a non-profit organization
registered in the State of California. We provide educational equivalency
assesment to those who have studied outside the United States of America and
‘conduct research on foreign educational systems. University of Georgia, Athens has
contacted us with che request that we verity information regarding astudent who
omipleted a study abroad program through Eétvés Lorand University. The student,
‘Mr. Joseph Kubler provided University of Georgia, Athens with transcript stating
the completed several courses a Eotvés Lorang University between May 15 and june
25, 2008 {see attachment}. We would like to know the following
1+ ts the program in which Mr, Kubler participated avai official study abroad,
program at Edtvos Lordnd UniversityZ/ERFIERF
2 Wasthe cranscrpt that Mr. Kubler submitted genuinely issued by Botvés
Lorind University?
3: HEMP, Kubler did complete the program at Botvos Lorind University, what are
the course ates ofthe listed courses?
JERF genuinely appreciates your help in our efforts to assist University of Georga,
-Atheas. [look forward to receiving your response soon.
Hook forward to your response
Regavds,
Rachel
Rachel Loyd Manager of fxternal Relations P.O. Box 3665 Culver City, CA
90231 Tel (310) 258.9451, extension 141 Fax (310) 342.7086 www.lertorg
‘oxtoder 15, 200%
laine Whocer.OPEN RECORDS REQUEST FORM
Office of Pubic Affairs
286 Oconee St. Suite 200N
Athens, GA 30602
(706) 542-8090
Fax: (706) 542-9492
Date of Request: Septanber 16, 2000
Roquostor: Josaph Kubler Phone #1404) 405.0574
Fax tt Email Address, jubier@ una cou
Requesting Agency/Department:
Subject of Request: 1 came to my sionion that n May of June 2009, UGA has
‘asked he Inomaiona Edveatonti Research Foundation
(LER) to veity te valty and academe vale o my
‘academic ancl creat, whieh UGA rooted fm Eats
rand University (EL TE) af Hungary, ne Sumer of
£2008, Trough the Georgia Open Record request | want to
framing UGA's ater a LER which has my name in
‘Comments: If known - where requested information can be found or
to whom which department can request be forwarded to}:
‘Tis lation shots be aval n any ao he tong tens: ceo he
‘eon ae Frrtin Colnye ot As ard Sconces, Assos Cte, Oe of
iiomatonl Eaueaten, Registers Ofies
Pasa sn tho roquestd tam omy adress
i ocaph Kubler
‘335 Norh Pope Street.
‘Ahens, GA S060t
Reviewed by. Date Data entered:From: Mitch Clayton
to Bryarf, Mac, Michaef, (Timothy,
Mr. Sitton and Webb, please call me to discuss what is known about
the plans for departing Georgia of the proposed defendants, Kasee Laster
and Jane Gatewood, who as UGA employees are being represented by
the Attormey General.
You can reach me at 706 207 6982, or please provide a good number to
reach you. Thank you.
Stephen F. Humphreys
Mac Sitton
tome, Bryart
Ms. Laster and Ms. Gatewood are not parties to this case, and | have
no knowledge of what such plans they may have, if any.
Mac Sitton Assistant Attorney General (404) 651-9312 / (404)
656-3370 msitton@law.ga.gov
‘Stephen Humphreys to Mad, michael. dantig}, Bryarf, bcc: [Dezsd, bec: Jeff, boo: Barbara
Itis my understanding that the Attorney General purports to represent the
University of Georgia and the Board of Regents.
The proposed parties in question are employees of the University of
Georgia. The Attorney General has notice that they are potential party-
defendants and witnesses
Some cooperation in ascertaining their status would be helpful in
determining the urgency of taking action to avoid prejudice to the Plaintiff
in this action, and | am sure that some assurance that it will not be too late
on May 15 would be helpful to the Court, as well
Please advise.
Mac Sitton
tome, Bryart
Mr. Humphreys,
Your understanding that this Office represents the Board of Regents
and its unit, the University of Georgia, in this case is correct. Your
statement that this Office “has notice” that certain persons are
“potential party-defendants and witnesses” is meaningless.
First, the only “notice” that will serve as an initial basis for a waiver ofsovereign immunity is that specified under the Georgia Tort Claims
Act. Second, as attorney for the parties that you have sued, i.e, the
Defendants, it is not my place to track down for the Plaintiff “potential
party-defendants and witnesses” outside the scope of discovery
provided for under the Georgia Civil Practices Act. Finally, as noted in
our response to your motion for expedited service, your notion that
you cannot serve someone out of state has no basis in law, so | fail to
see why you contend that it will.
Mac Sitton Assistant Attorney General (404) 651-9312 / (404)
656-3370Ethibik V4
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF FULTON COUNTY
STATE OF GEORGIA
DEZSO BENEDEK,
Plaintiff, 5
: Civil Action No.: 2014 CV246185
vs,
JANE GATWOOD, JUDITH SHAW,
KASEE LASTER, NOEL FOLLOWS AND_
SAM OLENS, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF
GEORGIA,
Defendants.
PERSONALLY APPEARED before the undersigned officer, authorized by law to
administer oaths, J. Price, who, being duly sworn, deposes and states as follows:
1
[am a licensed, legal investigator and Process Service. I am over the age of eighteen, suffer from
no legal disabilities and am otherwise competent to testify. 1 am not related by blood or marriage to any
‘of the parties inthis action. Iam employed by Dial Services, Inc., an investigative and legal support
business located in Loganville, Georgia
2.
On behalf of Stephen F. Humphreys, Attorney At Law, and during the course our employment,
Dial Services, Inc., and its agents were assigned the task of serving Jane Gatewood, defendant in the
above referenced matter, whose last known address was 677 Overlook Wood Way, Lawrenceville,
Georgia 30043Affidavit
Page?
On Saturday, May 10, 2014, at approximately 10:05 am., | attempted to serve Jane Gatewood at
677 Overlook Wood Way, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043, During tk
s attempt [ was not able to place
anyone at the residence and there was a for sale sign observed in the front yard of the residence.
4
On Thursday, May 15, 2014, at approximately 6:45 p.m., I attempted to serve Jane Gatewood at
677 Overlook Wood Way, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043. During this attempt I was not able to place
anyone at the residence.
5.
On Friday, May 16, 2014, at approximately 12:45 p.m., | attempted to serve Jane Gatewood at her
reported office, located at 1324 S. Lumpkin Street, Athens Georgia 30605. During this attempt I was
advised that Ms. Gatewood had left to attend a conference for the day. Also on this date at approximately
7:15 pim., service was again attempted at Ms, Gatewood’s reported residence located at 677 Overlook
Wood Way, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043. During this attempt, I was not able to place anyone at the
residence.
6
(On Saturday, May 17, 2014, at approximately 7:35 a.m., service was attempted on Ms. Gatewood
at 677 Overlook Wood Way, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043. During my attempt, | talk with the occupant
who stated that Ms. Gatewood did not reside at this address, nor did they know Ms. Gatewood,
‘An investigation was then initiated in an effort to locate an additional address for Ms. Gatewood.
This search revealed the following additional addresses associated with Ms. Gatewood. However, during
my attempts to serve MS. Gatewood at these reported addresses I was not able to place Mrs. Gatewood at
jer of these residences, nor was I able to find anyone at these addresses that knew Ms. Gatewood,
475 Meigs Street Apartment 3, Athens Georgia 30601
197 Childs Street apartment 2 Athens Georgia 30060
175 Arch Street Athens, Georgia 306011
(On Tuesday May 20, 2014, at approximately 10:30 am service was again attempted at Ms.
Gatewoods reported office, located at 1324 8. Lumpkin Street, Athens Georgia 30605. During this
attempt I was advised that Ms. Gatewood was not at work,
8.
‘On Thursday May 29, 2014, at approximately 2:15 pm service was attempted at Ms. Gatewoods
reported office, located at 1324 S. Lumpkin Street, Athens Georgia 30605. During this attempt { was
advised that Ms. Gatewood no longer worked there and had left the state.
9
Continued investigation has failed to locate a more current address for Ms. Gatewood other than
the 677 Overlook Woods Way, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043, where the occupant advised that Ms.
Gatewood did not reside at the residence.
13.
Evety effort has been made by me and agents of Dial Services to locate and serve Jane Gatewood
in a timely manner.
FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NOT, this 12th day of July, 2014.
ice/Special Process Agent
“Agent of Dial Services, Ine.
‘Sworn to and subscribed
before me this 12th day
of July, 2014 site,
a0 PAtiyy 7,
we, he,
smth
My commigsiEthie b |S
Investigator sought to examine ex-
University System employees’ cases
Posted: 12:00 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014
By Janel Davis - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An Athens attorney has asked Gov. Nathan Deal to appoint a special attorney general to investigate
allegations of criminal activity within the state’s public college system.
Stephen Humphreys made the request to Deal in a recent letter that also asks that the governor direct state
Attorney General Sam Olens to investigate the activity, which Humphreys said Olens has not done.
Humphreys represents several former University System of Georgia employees who have filed lawsuits
against college administrators and system officials alleging racketeering and corruption, The former
employees” accusations involve various alleged infractions, including withholding of evidence and being
pushed out of their jobs for reporting wrongdoing by system officials.
“Gvery court that has reached a conclusion on Mr, (Humphreys") frivolous lawsuits has ruled against him,”
said Lauren Kane, a spokeswoman for the Attorney General's Office. “He has already wasted enough of our
lawyers" time with his nonsensical claims, and we will not respond to his latest attention-seeking gimmick.”
‘The University System does not comment on pending litigation
“The allegations in our complaints are extensively documented,” Humphreys said. “In spite of all the
documents in our allegations, the attorney general maintains there are no credible allegations, even though they
are extensively documented. Those are the main reasons why we asked for a special attorney general to look at
this.”
Humphreys’ clients have gone through legal proceedings at their individual campuses, and various courts have
rejected their further conspiracy and retaliation claims.
Humphreys represents:
+ Anthony Trico, the former president of Georgia Perimeter College, He filed a racketeering lawsuit
against several college and University System officials in May, claiming they conspired to blame him for
1 $25 million school budget deficit. That deficit led to Tricoli’s eventual resignation in 2012, layoffs of
almost 300 faculty and staff, and sanctions against the school by an accreditation agency. Tricoli has said
hhe has been unable to find another job in higher education because of his reputation being purposely
sullied in the fallout from Georgia Perimeter’s financial problems, The case is pending in DeKalb Superior
Court.
+ Denise Caldon, a former executive assistant to the president at Macon State College, which has since
merged with Middle Georgia College to become Middle Georgia State College. In her whistleblower suit
against the University System, Caldon alleged that she was released after she refused to sign off onfalsified personal leave reports for the president. Caldon unsuccessfully appealed her termination and lost
the whistleblower case. A Fulton County judge sealed depositions in that case that Caldon says would
prove wrongdoing by system officials. She has unsuccessfully appealed several times to have the
documents unsealed. The Attorney General's Office has objected to unsealing the documents in the case.
+ Michael Brandenburg, who was fired from Georgia Medical College in 2005. The school says
Brandenburg was dismissed after making a derogatory comment about a patient. But Brandenburg claims
his firing was in retaliation for reporting a conflict of interest by a member of the Board of Regents who
had a contract with the college. His case seeking a termination review is pending, Humphreys said
+ Dezso Benedek, a professor at the University of Georgia. Benedek filed a lawsuit accusing Olens and
UGA administrators of falsifying evidence and trying to revoke his tenure because of his criticism of
former UGA President Michael Adams. He filed a similar lawsuit in 2013. A judge dismissed some of the
claims in the first suit and sent others to a lower court, and it was later dismissed, The initial suit is being
appealed. ‘The second lawsuit includes racketeering or corruption claims against the system, Humphreys
said,
Humphreys’ clients are seeking compensatory damages, including lost wages and attorney fees. Punitive
damages against individual USG officials are also being sought in some cases, the attorney said,