A professor at the University College of Cape Breton has been reprimanded for publicly questioning the publications record of the university's president.

David Mullan, associate professor of history and religious studies, wrote a letter to the Cape Breton Post in response to a newspaper report referring to "numerous articles and books" authored by UCCB president Jacquelyn Scott.

Mullan said he searched a number of library catalogues but found no books written by Scott. He asked for a copy of her publications from the university administration which refused his request. Mullan later questioned whether two publications by Scott later cited by the administration really qualified as books.

After refusing to write an apology, Mullan received a disciplinary letter from the university describing his criticism of Scott as improper and contrary to his employment duties and responsibilities.

Mullan and the UCCB faculty association launched a grievance to have the reprimand removed, arguing it violates the principles of academic freedom as defined in the collective agreement.

"The text of my letter does not criticize President Scott," Mullan said. "It criticizes the department within the university that produced the inaccurate article and also criticizes the Cape Breton Post for publishing without checking the veracity of its alleged facts."

Scott defends the university's actions, saying Mullen's comments have hurt her reputation. She insists her books do not show up on library catalogue searches because they were issued by non-academic publishers. "Academic freedom exists to prevent people from being persecuted on political, religious and moral grounds. It does not give me free rein to libel somebody," Scott said.

But CAUT executive director Jim Turk says the principles of academic freedom mean faculty members should be free from all forms of institutional censorship and that professors have the right to criticize their administration. He also wonders why Scott was so reluctant to hand over her publications list in the first place.

"It's mysterious because most of us who are academics are dying for people to know what we have written," Turk stated.

Peter MacIntyre, the faculty association's grievance officer believes Mullan's letter was not malicious and was justified. "If President Scott publicly wants to claim certain accolades, then she becomes subject to public scrutiny," he said.

Mullan says he feels the whole affair is "bizarre and surreal. We are talking about the veracity of a sentence in a local newspaper, but the president has chosen to turn this into a show trial. I believe I have been harassed, without justification."

In its grievance, which is now going to arbitration, the faculty association is also asking for a letter of apology from President Scott to Mullan.