Manchester Dis-united
The conduct of Dr Ralph Waller, Principal of Harris Manchester College, has been called into question by an HMC graduate, who claims that Dr Waller placed her under undue pressure over a recent open letter calling for a review of the state of the college. This is the latest incident in a saga which has seen a growing sense of unease amongst many connected with HMC, fuelled by stories in the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) regarding the financial status of the college.
The open letter, signed by 30 HM alumni, was addressed to Sir Eric Anderson, Visitor of the college and also Provost of Eton, and asked him to investigate matters brought to light by the THES regarding uncertainties about the college's financial endowment.
One signatory, who wishes to remain nameless, has alleged that Dr Waller put her under pressure to withdraw her support from the letter, and to contact publications in which it was due to be printed, telling of her discontent. Speaking to The OxStu, Dr Waller, who admits that he rang the HMC graduate, claimed that she said "she hadn't seen a final copy of the letter and wasn't happy with it." She, however, contests that the only regret she had was that there was no mention of the recent axing by HMC of history as an undergraduate degree. In her response to the final version of the letter, the graduate confirmed that she was happy to have her name added, writing: "By all means put my name. Good stuff!"
The woman also claimed that Dr Waller and Judith Nisbet, Academic Administrator at HMC, called her a total of four times on 29th October, "in increasing stages of panic." Sources have told The OxStu that the woman said she felt "harassed" by their repeated calling. Dr Waller, however, assured The OxStu that he "only called her once".
It is understood that Dr Waller also contacted the THES, trying to force them to "reconsider" publishing the piece, which the THES refused to do.
Jim Reed, editor of the Oxford Magazine, who had been considering printing the letter, told The OxStu that he was emailed by Mrs Nisbet, who told him two signatories had come forward saying they were unhappy with the letter. Without enough time to confirm this, Reed decided not to print the letter. Dr Waller told The OxStu that he had only ever spoken to one signatory, despite Nisbet's claims.
The open letter also asked Sir Eric what action had been taken over recommendations made by the previous visitor, Sir Tony Wrigley, that an independent adjudicator be called to address allegations of "unauthorised payments" made against Dr Waller. The Governing Body of the college had rejected this proposal. Speaking to The OxStu, Sir Tony refused to confirm that he was completely happy with the college's resolution of the previous conflict.
Sir Eric Anderson told The OxStu that the signatories had "misunderstood" the Visitor's role. He said that he can only act in the adjudication of "the interpretation of the statutes of the college" and suggested that the matters be "raised with the [college's] Governing Body". The OxStu has been told that some alumni are suspicious of the Governing Body, the make-up of which was altered during Sir Tony's earlier investigation. One graduate told The OxStu "Obviously we would have taken the matter to the Governing Body in the first place; but we are not sufficiently confident that it is wholly impartial."
30th Oct 2003