FW: Emory University News Release – bellesiles

Release date: Oct. 25, 2002
Contact: Jan Gleason, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs,
at 404-727-0639 or [email protected]

Oct. 25: Michael Bellesiles Resigns from Emory Faculty
October 25, 2002

Robert A. Paul, Interim Dean of Emory College

I have accepted the resignation of Michael Bellesiles from his
position as
Professor of History at Emory University, effective December 31, 2002.

Although we would not normally release any of the materials connected
with a
case involving the investigation of faculty misconduct in research,
in light
of the intense scholarly interest in the matter I have decided, with
the
assent of Professor Bellesiles as well as of the members of the
Investigative Committee, to make public the report of the
Investigative
Committee appointed by me to evaluate the allegations made against
Professor
Bellesiles (none of the supporting documents, however, are being made
public). The text of the report is now available online at
www.emory.edu/central/NEWS/.

Emory considers the report authoritative.

In conducting this investigation, Emory has scrupulously observed the
procedures laid out in our published policy statement regarding
matters of
alleged research misconduct. Throughout the investigation process our
efforts have been guided by the objectives of maintaining the highest
standards of scholarly integrity, while also striving to ensure the
confidentiality of the proceedings and to protect the rights of a
member of
Emory’s faculty.

The Investigative Committee was chaired by Stanley N. Katz, Professor
of
Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, and included
Hanna
H. Gray, Judson Distinguished Professor of History Emerita and
President
Emerita, University of Chicago, and Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, James
Duncan
Phillips Professor of History, Harvard University. I hereby express my
appreciation to these distinguished scholars for contributing their
effort
and expertise to the resolution of this matter of such great
importance not
only to Emory but to the wider scholarly community. Committee members
have
stated that they will not discuss or respond to questions about the
investigation or the report.

Emory also wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to Professor
Bellesiles for his many years of service and his many valuable
contributions
to the University.

Emory now considers the investigation of allegations of research
misconduct
against Professor Bellesiles in connection with his book Arming
America: The
Origins of a National Gun Culture to be concluded and resolved.

=========================

Click here for a link to the Investigative Committee Report.

Click here for a link to Dr. Bellesiles’ statement.