Third Candidate For Provost Speaks Today [on Robert D. Newman, incl. Harris Lenowitz]

Provost contender Robert Newman will speak today at the Chapel, outlining why he thinks he should assume the University’s second most powerful administrative position.

But back in Utah, where Newman now serves as the dean of the College of Humanities at the University of Utah, he is facing a defamation lawsuit from one of his former co-workers.

Newman withdrew his name from consideration to become the new president of Florida International University in April this year - the same month the lawsuit was filed against him for defamation. According to an article in the Daily Utah Chronicle, a Hebrew studies professor Harris Lenowitz filed suit against Newman, saying Newman defamed Lenowitz’s reputation and “damaged his current and future employment opportunities.”

Lenowitz was one of two professors dismissed from his position in the University of Utah’s Middle East Center by Newman in April 2008 because they showed a “lack of tolerance for diversity, for gender equity and for collegiality” in the center, according to a report by the Chronicle. The two professors were told they could continue teaching, but could no longer hold their leadership roles in the center.

Two other faculty members resigned following the dismissal of the other two members.

When Newman withdrew his name from the Florida International University presidential running in April, he was also one of three finalists to become the new president of the University of Rhode Island. In May the Rhode Island Governor’s Board for Higher Education selected David Dooley, then vice president for academic affairs at Montana State University at Bozeman, for the president’s position.

Newman has been at the University of Utah since 2001, and has served as the dean of humanities, the associate vice president for interdisciplinary studies and a professor of English.

At 3:30 p.m. today he will give a brief presentation on his qualifications, and then the floor will open for questions.

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