The LSU Faculty Senate proposed a resolution Tuesday that would give protection to faculty, staff and student whistle-blowers.
The proposed plan would encourage those who learn of misconduct to tell authorities without fear of backlash.
“A whistle-blower is one who makes a good faith allegation of misconduct,” said Charles Delzell, mathematics professor and Faculty Senate member. “As long as it’s in good faith, you should be protected.”
Delzell said there are already various policies that protect whistle-blowers in special situations, such as sexual harassment or violence in the workplace, but there is no protection for other kinds of misconduct, such as academic dishonesty.
Supporters of the resolution, co-sponsored by Delzell, are hoping this policy can help fix the loophole that leaves certain whistle-blowers unprotected.
“There have been several cases of retaliation or apparent retaliation of whistle-blowers,” Delzell said. “The only one that made it to court was the one involving some kinesiology instructors who alleged that there was some scandal going on with the football players.”
Delzell spoke of the highly publicized 2002 court case in which an instructor and a teaching assistant alleged the administration changed grades for some University football players and allowed them to plagiarize.
After the public and the press identified the name of the instructor, the instructor received threatening phone calls and harassment, according to a University news release.
The instructor sued the University and received $150,000 from LSU, but the University lawyer who argued the case said that the form of whistle-blower protection the instructor sought was too narrow to apply to the kind of misconduct she exposed.
Delzell said he did not know that much about the incident, but he is helping one whistle-blower remain protected.
Professor Kevin Cope said the bill is still pending in the Senate because it is the custom for senators to have a month to consider the resolution, but he believes the bill will pass.
Delzell said the Senate will vote on the resolution at its May 15 meeting.
“I’m pretty sure it will pass, probably with some amendments, but it will pass,” Delzell said.
 
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