In early June, CAUT's executive committee established an independent committee of inquiry into the situation of Dr. Kin-Yip Chun, a physicist at the University of Toronto.

"We hope the committee can get to the heart of this very contentious situation that has eluded successful remedy," said CAUT executive director James Turk.

In the early 1990s, Chun filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission alleging racial discrimination in his denial of a tenure track position in the physics department at U of T.

After a lengthy inquiry, commission staff issued a report in early 2000 which concluded: "The totality of the evidence corroborates the complaint's allegations on a prima facie basis that his race, colour, ancestry, place of origin and ethnic origin were factors in his failure to obtain an academic appointment and that he was subject to a series of reprisals culminating in his dismissal." The report recommended a hearing by a board of inquiry, which the commission declined to establish.

The matter appeared resolved seven months later as a result of a mediated agreement that saw Chun appointed as a U of T research scientist and associate professor (without tenure), and a member of the graduate department of physics. In addition, he received start-up funds for his research, personal compensation, and compensation for his legal fees.

Since then, there have been allegations of serious violations of the settlement agreement and of Chun's academic freedom and human rights.

The committee of inquiry has been asked to investigate the dispute between Chun and the U of T; to determine whether there were breaches of or threats to his academic freedom, to his human rights and to his rights as a faculty member; to determine whether there were violations of the September 2000 settlement agreement; to determine how allegations of systemic as well as covert discrimination can be handled by academic institutions to allow issues to be dealt with fairly, thoroughly and expeditiously; and, to determine appropriate ways for such disputes to be resolved.

Committee members will be announced shortly.